What Does John 18:20 Mean?
Jesus answered him, I have spoken in the open to the world. I always taught in the gathering place and in the temple, where all the Judeans gather, and in hiding I have spoken nothing.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.THE KEY
Jesus claims no secret tier of teaching: his words stand openly in the shared world, where people gather.
THE MEANING
The verse places Jesus’ words among gathered listeners and says there is no second teaching reserved for a private circle. Its claim reaches you as something available to hear in the open, not guarded by insider access. Here, openness is part of the message itself.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that Jesus’ truth is a secret doctrine reserved for insiders: he says he has taught nothing in secret.
THE ROOT
παρρησίᾳ
parrēsia
GROWS FROM
παρρησια
Frankness, openness of speech
“in the open” in this verse is parrēsia. The Greek word παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia, openness or frankness) describes speech without concealment, not merely speech at high volume. Its word family names both the open manner of speaking and the act of speaking freely.
ALSO GROWS
parrēsiazomai: Speak freely or openly
παρρησιάζομαι
This related verb makes the openness an act of speaking, as in Jesus’ claim about his teaching.
parrēsiastēs: A frank or outspoken speaker
παρρησιαστής
This related noun names a person characterized by the same frankness that marks the speech in this verse.
κρυπτῷ
kryptōi
GROWS FROM
κρυπτ
Hide or conceal from view
“in hiding” in this verse is kryptōi. The phrase ἐν κρυπτῷ (en kryptōi, in secret) uses the family of κρύπτω (kryptō, to hide). The word οὐδέν (ouden, nothing) negates speech in that concealed sphere, setting hiddenness directly against frank speech.
ALSO GROWS
kryptō: Hide or conceal
κρύπτω
This verb supplies the core idea behind “in secret”: something kept out of view.
apokryptō: Hide away or conceal
ἀποκρύπτω
This related verb carries the same hiddenness into a stronger sense of putting something out of sight.
THE PATTERN
Truth is brought into the open so it can be heard beyond a private circle.
I have not spoken in hiding, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Seek me in emptiness. I, the LORD, speak alignment; I declare straight things.What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear into your ear, proclaim upon the rooftops.For the king knows of these things, before whom I also speak with every word. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this was not done in a corner.THE THREAD
And look, he speaks in the open, and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know in truth that this is the Anointed One?Both verses use παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia, openness or frankness), rendered “boldly” here and “openly” in John 18:20. John 7:26 makes that public frankness visible to onlookers; John 18:20 names it as the quality of Jesus’ teaching.
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