John 21:21

21 Kefa seeing him, said to Yeshua, "Lord, what about this man?"

John 21:21 Meaning and Commentary

John 21:21

Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus
Peter took a great deal of notice of John, and very likely understood, that he meant by his rising up and following Christ, to signify his readiness for service and suffering in the cause of Christ: and therefore says,

Lord, and what shall this man do?
The phrase in the original is very short and concise, "Lord, and this what?" The Arabic version renders it, "and this, of what mind is he?" it looks as if he was of the same mind with me to follow thee; but it is better rendered by us, "what shall this man do?" in what work and service shall he be employed, who seems as willing as I am to serve thee? or it may be rendered thus, "and what shall this man suffer?" shall he suffer at all? and if he shall, what kind of death shall he undergo? what will become of him? what will be his end? how will it fare with him? this he said, partly out of curiosity, and partly out of concern for him, they two being associates and intimates, who had a strong affection for each other.

John 21:21 In-Context

19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."

20 Then Kefa, turning around, saw a talmid following. This was the talmid whom Yeshua sincerely loved, the one who had also leaned on Yeshua' breast at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is going to betray You?"

21 Kefa seeing him, said to Yeshua, "Lord, what about this man?"

22 Yeshua said to him, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me."

23 This saying therefore went forth among the brothers, that this talmid wouldn't die. Yet Yeshua didn't say to him that he wouldn't die, but, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?"