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Sayings of Jesus
in the Gospel of John

JESUS HIMSELF says "I Am" ( Greek  ei mi ) fifty-four times in John's Gospel (including when other characters quote Jesus' words). Twenty-four of these are more emphatic, by explicitly including the pronoun "I" (Greek  egw eimi - bold references).

 

These emphatic references can also be sub-divided into "Absolute" or "Predicate" statements, as explained below.
John 4:26; 6:20; 6:35; 6:41; 6:48; 6:51; 7:28; 7:29; 7:33; 7:34; 7:36; 8:12; 8:16; 8:18; 8:23 (twice); 8:24; 8:28; 8:58; 9:5; 10:7; 10:9; 10:11; 10:14; 10:36; 11:25; 12:26; 13:13; 13:19; 13:33; 14:3; 14:6; 14:9; 15:1; 15:5; 16:32; 17:11; 17:14; 17:16; 17:24; 18:5; 18:6; 18:8; 18:37; 19:21

 

Absolute Emphatic "I AM" Statements
In these sayings, there is no predicate
John 4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:5, 6, 8
(Caution: the RSV and other English Bibles often translate this phrase, "I am he", but the pronoun "he" is not explicit in the Greek text.)
Many interpreters believe that the Johannine Jesus is making divine claims with these statements, since in the Hebrew Bible the  meaning of God's name (YHWH) is closely related to "I am"
(Exod 3:14; 6:2-3; Deut 32:39; Isa 43:25; 51:12; etc.)


To the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's well near the town of Sychar:
Jn.  4:26
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Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am (he)."
[lit.: "I am, the one speaking with you."]


To his disciples in the boat while Jesus is walking on the Sea of Galilee:
Jn. 6:20
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but he said to them, "It is I (lit. "I Am"); do not be afraid."


To "the Jews" in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles:
Jn.  8:24
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"I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am (he)."


Jn.  8:28
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So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am (he), and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me."


Jn.  8:58
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Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."


To his disciples at the Last Supper in Jerusalem:
Jn.  13:19
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"I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am (he)."


To the soldiers and guards who come to arrest Jesus in the Garden   of Gethsemane:
Jn.  18:5
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They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am (he)." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.


Jn.  18:6
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When he said to them, "I am (he)," they drew back and fell to the ground.


Jn.  18:8
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Jesus answered, "I told you that I am (he); so, if you seek me, let these men go."

 

Predicate
Emphatic "I Am" Statements

In these sayings, a metaphorical image completes the thought: 
John 6:35, 41, 48, 51; 8:12, 18, 23 (twice); 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1, 5


To the crowds in Galilee after the Feeding of the 5000:
Jn.  6:35 wpeB.jpg (11925 bytes)Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.


Jn.  6:41 
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The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."


Jn.  6:48
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"
I am the bread of life."


Jn.  6:51wpeE.jpg (15812 bytes)
  "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."


To "the Jews" in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles:
Jn.  8:12
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Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


Jn.  8:18 wpe10.jpg (7235 bytes)

"
I bear witness to myself (lit. "I am the one bearing witness...") to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me."


Jn.  8:23 wpe11.jpg (10760 bytes)

He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world."


To "the Jews" just after Jesus gives sight to the Man Born Blind (the "Good Shepherd Discourse"):
Jn. 10:7
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So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep."


Jn. 10:9
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"
I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."


Jn. 10:11wpe14.jpg (8020 bytes)
"
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."


Jn. 10:14 
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"I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,"


To Martha of Bethany, just before Jesus raises her brother Lazarus back to life:
Jn. 11:25
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Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"


To his disciples at their last meal together (the "Last Supper Discourse"):
Jn. 14:6
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Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.


Jn. 15:1
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"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser."


Jn. 15:5
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"
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

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