• John 1:51
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 51 καὶ And λέγει he is saying αὐτῷ to him ᾿Αμὴν Amen ἀμὴν amen λέγω I am saying ὑμῖν, to YOU, ὄψεσθε YOU will see τὸν the οὐρανὸν heaven ἀνεῳγότα having been opened καὶ and τοὺς the ἀγγέλους angels τοῦ of the θεοῦ God ἀναβαίνοντας ascending καὶ and καταβαίνοντας descending ἐπὶ upon τὸν the υἱὸν Son τοῦ of the ἀνθρώπου. man.

  • John 1:51
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 51 And he saith unto him—Verily, verily I say unto you: Ye shall see heaven—when set open, And the messengers of God ascending and descending unto the Son of Man.

  • John 1:51
    King James Version

    • 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

  • John Study Notes—Chapter 1
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 1:51

      Most truly: Lit., “Truly, truly.” Greek, a·menʹ a·menʹ. The Greek word a·menʹ is a transliteration of the Hebrew ʼa·menʹ, meaning “so be it,” or “surely.” Jesus frequently uses the term a·menʹ to preface a statement, a promise, or a prophecy, thereby emphasizing its absolute truthfulness and reliability. Jesus’ use of “truly,” or amen, in this way is said to be unique in sacred literature. (Mt 5:18; Mr 3:28; Lu 4:24) Only John’s Gospel repeats the term in succession (a·menʹ a·menʹ), and it does so in all 25 occurrences. In this translation, the doubling of a·menʹ is rendered “most truly”; alternative renderings could be “very truly” or “most assuredly.” The whole phrase “Truly [or, “Most truly”] I say to you” could also be rendered: “I assure you” or “I tell you the truth.”

      heaven: The Greek term used here can refer to the physical heavens, that is, the sky, or to the spiritual heavens.

      angels: Or “messengers.” The Greek word agʹge·los and the corresponding Hebrew word mal·ʼakhʹ occur nearly 400 times in the Bible. Both words have the basic meaning of “messenger.” When spirit messengers are meant, the words are translated “angels,” but if the reference is definitely to humans, the rendering is “messengers.” The context usually makes clear whether human or angelic messengers are meant, but where both meanings are possible, footnotes often show the alternative rendering. (Ge 16:7; 32:3; Job 4:18, ftn.; 33:23, ftn.; Ec 5:6, ftn.; Isa 63:9, ftn.; Mt 1:20; Jas 2:25; Re 22:8; see Glossary.) In the highly symbolic book of Revelation, certain references to angels may apply to human creatures.​—Re 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14.

      to the Son of man: Or “in the service of the Son of man.” When speaking about angels . . . ascending and descending, Jesus may have had in mind Jacob’s vision of angels ascending and descending a stairway, or ladder (Ge 28:12), indicating that angels minister in an important way between Jehovah and humans who have his approval. Jesus’ statement likewise shows that those who walked with Jesus had evidence that God’s angels ministered to him and that in a special way, he was under the care and guidance of his Father.

      Son of man: See study note on Mt 8:20.