John 11:51 (DBY)

Passage

But this he did not say of himself; but, being high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation;

Nearby Context

John 11:49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, Ye know nothing

John 11:50 nor consider that it is profitable for you that one man die for the people, and not that the whole nation perish.

John 11:51 But this he did not say of himself; but, being high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation;

John 11:52 and not for the nation only, but that he should also gather together into one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

John 11:53 From that day therefore they took counsel that they might kill him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "himself", "high", "priest", "year", "prophesied", "jesus", "going", and "nation". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "himself" and "high", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 50's "nor consider that it is profitable for..." into verse 52's "and not for the nation only but...", so "himself" and "high" 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 "himself" and "high" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.