John 11:57 (YLT)

Passage

and both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if any one may know where he is, he may shew <FI>it<Fi> , so that they may seize him.

Nearby Context

John 11:55 And the passover of the Jews was nigh, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, that they might purify themselves;

John 11:56 they were seeking, therefore, Jesus, and said one with another, standing in the temple, `What doth appear to you--that he may not come to the feast?'

John 11:57 and both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if any one may know where he is, he may shew <FI>it<Fi> , so that they may seize him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "both", "chief", "priests", "pharisees", "given", "command", "where", and "shew". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "both" and "chief", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "they were seeking therefore Jesus and said...", giving immediate footing for "both" and "chief". 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 "both" and "chief" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.