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John chapter 7

English Standard Version

1After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5For not even his brothers believed in him. 6Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9After saying this, he remained in Galilee.
10But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.
14About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
25Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
32The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”
37On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43So there was a division among the people over him. 44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
45The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51“Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
53[[They went each to his own house,
New International Version

1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3Jesus' brothers said to him, 'Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.' 5For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6Therefore Jesus told them, 'My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.' 9After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, 'Where is he?'
12Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, 'He is a good man.' Others replied, 'No, he deceives the people.' 13But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
14Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15The Jews there were amazed and asked, 'How did this man get such learning without having been taught?'
16Jesus answered, 'My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?'
20You are demon-possessed,' the crowd answered. 'Who is trying to kill you?'
21Jesus said to them, 'I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man's whole body on the Sabbath? 24Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.'
25At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, 'Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? 26Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.'
28Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, 'Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.'
30At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, 'When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?'
32The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.
33Jesus said, 'I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.'
35The Jews said to one another, 'Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36What did he mean when he said, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me,' and 'Where I am, you cannot come'?'
37On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.' 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40On hearing his words, some of the people said, 'Surely this man is the Prophet.'
41Others said, 'He is the Messiah.' Still others asked, 'How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David's descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?' 43Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, 'Why didn't you bring him in?'
46No one ever spoke the way this man does,' the guards replied.
47You mean he has deceived you also?' the Pharisees retorted. 48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law--there is a curse on them.'
50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?'
52They replied, 'Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.'
53Then they all went home,
New American Standard Bible

1After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 2Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 3So His brothers said to Him, 'Move on from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4For no one does anything in secret when he himself is striving to be known publicly. If You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.' 5For not even His brothers believed in Him. 6So Jesus *said to them, 'My time is not yet here, but your time is always ready. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it, that its deeds are evil. 8Go up to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet fully arrived.' 9Now having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.
10But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as though in secret. 11So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and saying, 'Where is He?' 12And there was a great deal of talk about Him in secret among the crowds: some were saying, 'He is a good man'; others were saying, 'No, on the contrary, He is misleading the people.' 13However, no one was speaking openly about Him, for fear of the Jews.
14But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple area, and began to teach. 15The Jews then were astonished, saying, 'How has this man become learned, not having been educated?' 16So Jesus answered them and said, 'My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me. 17If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself. 18The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
19Did Moses not give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why are you seeking to kill Me?' 20The crowd answered, 'You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill You?' 21Jesus answered them, 'I did one deed, and you all are astonished. 22For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and even on a Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23If a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry at Me because I made an entire man well on a Sabbath? 24Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.'
25So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, 'Is this man not the one whom they are seeking to kill? 26And yet look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 27However, we know where this man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.' 28Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, 'You both know Me and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29I do know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.' 30So they were seeking to arrest Him; and yet no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, 'When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has done, will He?'
32The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest Him. 33Therefore Jesus said, 'For a little while longer I am going to be with you, and then I am going to Him who sent Me. 34You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.' 35The Jews then said to one another, 'Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He does not intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, does He? 36What is this statement that He said, ‘You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?'
37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘ From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’?' 39But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40Some of the people therefore, after they heard these words, were saying, 'This truly is the Prophet.' 41Others were saying, 'This is the Christ.' But others were saying, 'Surely the Christ is not coming from Galilee, is He? 42Has the Scripture not said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?' 43So a dissension occurred in the crowd because of Him. 44And some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
45The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, 'Why did you not bring Him?' 46The officers answered, 'Never has a man spoken in this way!' 47The Pharisees then replied to them, 'You have not been led astray too, have you? 48Not one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 49But this crowd that does not know the Law is accursed!' 50Nicodemus (the one who came to Him before, being one of them) *said to them, 51Our Law does not judge the person unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?' 52They answered and said to him, 'You are not from Galilee as well, are you? Examine the Scriptures, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.' 53[[ And everyone went to his home.
Christian Standard Bible

1After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since he did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2The Jewish Festival of Shelters was near. 3So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples can see your works that you are doing. 4For no one does anything in secret while he's seeking public recognition. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." 5(For not even his brothers believed in him.)
6Jesus told them, "My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. 7The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me because I testify about it--that its works are evil. 8Go up to the festival yourselves. I'm not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come." 9After he had said these things, he stayed in Galilee.
10After his brothers had gone up to the festival, then he also went up, not openly but secretly. 11The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, "Where is he? " 12And there was a lot of murmuring about him among the crowds. Some were saying, "He's a good man." Others were saying, "No, on the contrary, he's deceiving the people." 13Still, nobody was talking publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
14When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15Then the Jews were amazed and said, "How is this man so learned, since he hasn't been trained? "
16Jesus answered them, "My teaching isn't mine but is from the one who sent me. 17If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18The one who speaks on his own seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 19Didn't Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me? "
20"You have a demon! " the crowd responded. "Who is trying to kill you? "
21"I performed one work, and you are all amazed," Jesus answered. 22"This is why Moses has given you circumcision--not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers--and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won't be broken, are you angry at me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath? 24Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment."
25Some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? 26Yet, look, he's speaking publicly and they're saying nothing to him. Can it be true that the authorities know he is the Messiah? 27But we know where this man is from. When the Messiah comes, nobody will know where he is from."
28As he was teaching in the temple, Jesus cried out, "You know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own, but the one who sent me is true. You don't know him; 29I know him because I am from him, and he sent me."
30Then they tried to seize him. Yet no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. 31However, many from the crowd believed in him and said, "When the Messiah comes, he won't perform more signs than this man has done, will he? " 32The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about him, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent servants to arrest him.
33Then Jesus said, "I am only with you for a short time. Then I'm going to the one who sent me. 34You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come."
35Then the Jews said to one another, "Where does he intend to go that we won't find him? He doesn't intend to go to the Jewish people dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does he? 36What is this remark he made: 'You will look for me, and you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come'? "
37On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him." 39He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, "This truly is the Prophet." 41Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some said, "Surely the Messiah doesn't come from Galilee, does he? 42Doesn't the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David's offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David lived? " 43So the crowd was divided because of him. 44Some of them wanted to seize him, but no one laid hands on him.
45Then the servants came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him? "
46The servants answered, "No man ever spoke like this! "
47Then the Pharisees responded to them, "Are you fooled too? 48Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd, which doesn't know the law, is accursed."
50Nicodemus--the one who came to him previously and who was one of them--said to them, 51"Our law doesn't judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he's doing, does it? "
52"You aren't from Galilee too, are you? " they replied. "Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee."
53Then each one went to his house.
New Living Translation

1After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3and Jesus’ brothers said to him, 'Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!' 5For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6Jesus replied, 'Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.' 9After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.
10But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, 'He’s a good man,' but others said, 'He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.' 13But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
14Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 15The people were surprised when they heard him. 'How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?' they asked.
16So Jesus told them, 'My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 19Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.'
20The crowd replied, 'You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?'
21Jesus replied, 'I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 23For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 24Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.'
25Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, 'Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? 27But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.'
28While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, 'Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 29But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.' 30Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
31Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. 'After all,' they said, 'would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?'
32When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33But Jesus told them, 'I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.'
35The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. 'Where is he planning to go?' they asked. 'Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 36What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?'
37On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, 'Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’' 39(When he said 'living water,' he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
40When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, 'Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.' 41Others said, 'He is the Messiah.' Still others said, 'But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.' 43So the crowd was divided about him. 44Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.
45When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, 'Why didn’t you bring him in?'
46We have never heard anyone speak like this!' the guards responded.
47Have you been led astray, too?' the Pharisees mocked. 48Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 49This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!'
50Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?' he asked.
52They replied, 'Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself — no prophet ever comes from Galilee!'
53Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home.
King James Version

1After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. 4For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. 5For neither did his brethren believe in him. 6Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. 9When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. 10But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
14Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. 15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 20The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? 21Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 22Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 25Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? 26But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? 27Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. 28Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 30Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. 31And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? 32The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. 33Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. 35Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? 36What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?
37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 43So there was a division among the people because of him. 44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. 50Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? 52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 53And every man went unto his own house.

What does John chapter 7 mean?

Chapters 7 and 8 represent the beginning of the end of Jesus' public ministry. In these passages, He will openly challenge the spiritual errors of the Jewish leaders, and declare His own role in the salvation of mankind. In response, the religious officials' approach to Jesus will turn further towards a plot for murder. John chapter 7 begins after another leap in the gospel's timeline. The events of chapter 6 occurred around one year prior to Jesus' crucifixion. The events of chapter 7, centered on the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles, happen about six months later. This feast was among the most important in Jewish tradition, and was a hub of religious and cultural activity.

This passage begins with Jesus' family mocking Him for the events of chapter 6. They assume that a man seeking publicity and fame ought to do His magic tricks at the most public festival of the year. The "brothers" mentioned here are, by all reasonable interpretations, the literal half-brothers of Jesus. That is, these are the biological sons of Mary. Jesus, however, is still sensitive to God's timetable, and chooses not to go to the feast with them. Instead, He will go later, and alone, in order to be more discreet.

This discretion only lasts a few days. Jesus will begin teaching and preaching in Jerusalem midway through the week-long feast. In this discourse, Jesus will criticize the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders. This criticism, along with His established reputation for miracles, will create a "crisis of confidence" in the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes. From the perspective of the people, there are only three possibilities: Either the leaders are too weak to stop a blasphemer, too confused to do anything, or they somehow accept His claims. This only adds fuel to the religious leaders' desire to silence Jesus permanently.

Over the course of this chapter, Jesus provokes rumor, discussion, and eventually argument among the people. The division caused by Jesus' words will even extend to the religious leaders themselves. Nicodemus, the same man who spoke with Jesus in chapter 3, will make an appeal for due process. In response, his peers ridicule him and reject his suggestion. This makes chapter 7 a crucial passage for understanding the Pharisees, in particular. Their example is a warning about how arrogance, ignorance, and tradition can cause spiritual blindness.

The last verse associated with chapter 7 begins the story of Jesus and the adulterous woman (John 7:53—8:11). Most scholars believe that this passage is an authentic, inspired account of a real event. However, they also believe that it was not originally found in this particular place in Scripture. Verse 12 of chapter 8 seems to flow very naturally from Jesus' teaching here as He continues declaring His role as Messiah using various metaphors.

While reading this chapter, it is important to recognize the meaning of John's terminology. At this time, Jerusalem would have been filled with local residents, foreign visitors, Jewish pilgrims, and many others. As such, there are three main groups involved in this narrative. "The Jews," as used most often in the gospel of John, is a reference to the religious leaders of Jerusalem, or those who support them. "The people" are the mixed crowd of those attending the festival. The third group are those Jewish people living in and around Jerusalem, most of whom would have sided with the opinion of the local religious leaders.
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