John 10:40 (ASV)

Passage

And he went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there be abode.

Nearby Context

John 10:38 But if I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.

John 10:39 They sought again to take him: and he went forth out of their hand.

John 10:40 And he went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there be abode.

John 10:41 And many came unto him; and they said, John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true.

John 10:42 And many believed on him there.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "went", "away", "again", "beyond", "jordan", "place", "where", and "john". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "went" and "away", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 39's "They sought again to take him and..." into verse 41's "And many came unto him and they...", so "went" and "away" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "went" and "away" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.