Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
JOHN 20:27KJVWhat does John 20:27 mean?
John 20:27 shows Jesus inviting Thomas to touch His wounds so that Thomas can see for himself that Jesus is truly alive, encouraging Thomas to move from doubt to belief. Jesus tells Thomas not to be "faithless" but to become "believing," directly addressing Thomas’s earlier uncertainty about the resurrection.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to Thomas, one of His disciples, after rising from the dead. Thomas had previously said he would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus’s wounds. Jesus responds by offering exactly what Thomas asked for, showing a personal and understanding approach to Thomas’s doubts, and urging him to trust what he now sees.
The Greek behind John 20:27
- The word for "faithless" is ἄπιστος (apistos), which means "unbelieving" or "without faith." Jesus uses it to describe Thomas’s current state, not as a harsh rebuke, but as a contrast to what He wants for Thomas.
- The word for "believing" is πιστός (pistos), meaning "faithful" or "trusting." Jesus invites Thomas to shift from doubt to trust, making it clear that belief is the goal.
- The verb "thrust" is βάλε (bale), which means "to put" or "to cast." Jesus’s invitation is direct and physical, showing He is not afraid of Thomas’s need for tangible proof.
Why John 20:27 matters
- John 20:27 clears up the idea that Jesus is impatient with honest doubt; instead, He meets Thomas’s need for evidence with patience and understanding.
- The verse highlights the physical reality of Jesus’s resurrection, showing that His body still bears the marks of crucifixion.
- This moment connects to the wider story by showing how Jesus helps His followers move from skepticism to faith, setting up Thomas’s famous confession in the next verses.