John 11:52 (DBY)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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.

John 11:54 Jesus therefore walked no longer openly among the Jews, but went away thence into the country near the desert, to a city called Ephraim, and there he sojourned with the disciples.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "nation", "only", "should", "gather", "together", "children", "scattered", and "abroad". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "nation" and "only", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 51's "But this he did not say of..." into verse 53's "From that day therefore they took counsel...", so "nation" and "only" 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 "nation" and "only" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.