John 7
Worldwide English (New Testament)
7 After this, Jesus travelled around in Galilee. He would not travel around in Judea because the leaders of the Jews wanted to kill him.
2 Every year the Jews had a feast to remember the time when their fathers lived in tents in the desert. The time was near for that feast.
3 Jesus' brothers said to him, `Go away from here to Judea. Let your disciples also see the work you are doing.
4 When a person wants people to know about him, he does not hide what he is doing. If you are doing these big things, let the world see you.'
5 Even his brothers did not believe in Jesus.
6 Jesus said to them, `It is not yet the time for me to go. But you may go any time you want to.
7 The people of the world cannot hate you. But they hate me because I say what they do is wrong.
8 Go to the feast yourselves. I am not going to the feast until it is the right time for me to go.'
9 He said this to them and stayed in Galilee.
10 After his brothers went to the feast, Jesus went also. He did not go with the other people, but he went by himself.
11 The leaders of the Jews at the feast tried to find him. They said, `Where is he?'
12 People were talking among themselves about Jesus. Some said, `He is a good man.' Others said, `No. He is leading people to do wrong things.'
13 But they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, so no one talked about him out in the open.
14 When the feast was half finished, Jesus went to the temple and taught the people.
15 The Jews were very much surprised. `How can this man know books? He never went to school.'
16 Jesus answered the people, `I am not teaching you my teaching. It is the teaching of the one who sent me.
17 If any man wants to do what God wants him to do, he will know the teaching. He will know if it is God's teaching or if I am speaking from my own mind.
18 The person who speaks from his own mind only wants to be great himself. But the person whom God has sent wants to show that God is great. That person is true. He is not a bad man.
19 Did not Moses give you the law? Not one of you is keeping the law. Why are you trying to kill me?'
20 The people answered Jesus, `A bad spirit is in you! Who is trying to kill you?'
21 Jesus answered them, `I have done one thing. You are all surprised about it.
22 Moses gave you the law of circumcision. You obey the law, not because it came from Moses, but because it came from the fathers long ago. You circumcise a baby boy on the Sabbath day.
23 You do it on the Sabbath day so that you will not break the law of Moses. If you do that, then why are you angry with me because I healed a man on the Sabbath day?
24 Do not judge by what you see, but judge in the right way.'
25 Some people from Jerusalem said, `Is not this the person they are trying to kill?
26 See, he does not fear to speak and yet they say nothing to him! Do the rulers really know that this man is the Christ?
27 But we know where this man comes from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.'
28 Jesus was teaching in the temple. He spoke loudly saying, `You know me and you know where I come from. I have not come in my own power. The one who sent me is true. He is the one you do not know.
29 I know him because I came from him. He sent me.'
30 Then the people wanted to catch him. But no one put a hand on him. It was not yet the time for that.
31 Many of the people believed in Jesus. They said, `When Christ comes, will he do greater works than this man has done?'
32 The Pharisees heard what the people said about him. The chief priests and the Pharisees sent soldiers to catch him.
33 Jesus said, `I will stay with you a short time longer. Then I will go back to him who sent me.
34 You will look for me, but you will not find me. You will not be able to go to the place where I will be.'
35 The Jews said to one another, `Where will he go that we cannot find him? Will he go to our people who are living in other countries? Will he teach them?
36 What does he mean by this: "You will look for me and will not find me. You will not be able to go to the place where I will be"?'
37 The last day of the feast was a big day. On that day Jesus stood up and shouted, `If anyone is thirsty, he may come to me and drink.
38 If anyone believes in me, the holy writings say, "Rivers of water that give life will flow out of his heart." '
39 This is what Jesus meant: those who believe in him would receive the Spirit. At that time no one had received the Holy Spirit because Jesus had not yet been lifted up to heaven
40 When some of the people heard this they said, `Truly, this is the Prophet.'
41 Other people said, `This is the Christ.' But some said, `The Christ will not come from Galilee. Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Do not the holy writings say that Christ will be of David's family? Will he not come from Bethlehem where David lived?'
43 The people did not all say the same thing about him.
44 Some of them wanted to catch Jesus, but no one put hands on him.
45 The soldiers came back to the chief priests and the Pharisees. They asked the soldiers, `Why did you not bring him?'
46 The soldiers replied, `No person has ever talked like he does!'
47 The Pharisees said, `Has he fooled you also?
48 None of the rulers and none of the Pharisees have believed on him, have they?
49 These poor people do not know the law. They will die!'
50 Nicodemus, the man who came to Jesus by night, was one of them.
51 He said, `Is it right to judge any man by our law before we hear him and learn what he has done?'
52 They answered him, `Are you from Galilee also? Study what is written. You will see that no prophet is to come from Galilee.'
53 Then every one of them went home.
John 7
Evangelical Heritage Version
Up to Jerusalem
7 After this, Jesus moved around in Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to find a way to kill him.
2 Now the Jewish Festival of Shelters[a] was near. 3 So his brothers said to him, “You should leave here and go to Judea so your disciples there can also see the works you are doing. 4 Indeed, no one acts in secret who wants to be known in public. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 So Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not arrived yet, but any time is the right time for you. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the festival. I am not going up to this festival yet,[b] because the right time for me has not yet arrived.”
9 After he said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had gone up to the festival, then he also went up, not openly but in a private way.
At the Festival of Shelters[c]
11 At the festival, the Jews kept looking for him. They asked, “Where is he?” 12 And there was widespread whispering about him in the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good man.” Others were saying, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 Yet no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jews.
14 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, “How does this man know what is written without being instructed?”
16 Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but it comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether my teaching is from God or if I speak on my own. 18 The one who speaks on his own is seeking his own glory. But he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him—that is the one who is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you does what the law tells you. Why are you trying to kill me?”
20 “You have a demon!” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you are all amazed. 22 Consider this: Because Moses has given you circumcision (not that it comes from Moses, but from the fathers), you circumcise a man even on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry at me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by outward appearance. Instead make a right judgment.”
25 Some of the people from Jerusalem were saying, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? 26 Yet, look! He’s speaking openly, and they don’t say a thing to him. Certainly the rulers have not concluded that he is the Christ, have they? 27 But we know where this man is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”
28 Then Jesus called out as he was teaching in the temple courts, “Yes, 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 real. You do not know him. 29 I know him because I am from him, and he sent me.”
30 So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
31 But many in the crowd believed in him and asked, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more miraculous signs than this man, will he?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about him, so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent guards to arrest him.
33 Then Jesus said, “I am going to be with you only a little while longer. Then I am going away to the one who sent me. 34 You will be looking for me and will not find me, and where I am going to be, you cannot come.”
35 Then the Jews 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 Jews scattered among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does he? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will be looking for me and will not find me, and where I am going to be, you cannot come’?”
37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and called out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 As the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive. For the Holy[d] Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
40 After hearing his words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Surely the Christ does not come from Galilee, does he? 42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ comes from David’s descendants and from the little town of Bethlehem where David lived?” 43 So the people were divided because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 Then the guards came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 The guards answered, “No one ever spoke the way this man does!”
47 So the Pharisees answered them, “You have not been deceived too, have you? 48 Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, is cursed!”
50 One of them, Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus earlier, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man before we hear from him and find out what he’s doing?”
52 “You are not from Galilee too, are you?” they replied. “Search and you will see that a prophet does not come from Galilee.”
53 Then each of them went home.[e]
Footnotes
- John 7:2 Traditionally Tabernacles
- John 7:8 Some witnesses to the text omit yet.
- John 7:11 Traditionally Tabernacles
- John 7:39 Some witnesses to the text omit Holy.
- John 7:53 Some witnesses to the text omit 7:53–8:11 or include these verses in other places within John’s Gospel. The witnesses that include these verses are early and widespread throughout most of the early church.
John 7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Unbelief of Jesus’ Brothers
7 After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee,(A) since He did not want to travel in Judea(B) because the Jews(C) were trying to kill Him.(D) 2 The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles[a][b](E) was near, 3 so His brothers(F) said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works(G) that You are doing. 4 For 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.)
6 Jesus told them, “My time(H) has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. 7 The world cannot hate(I) you, but it does hate Me because I testify about it—that its deeds are evil. 8 Go up to the festival yourselves. I’m not going up to the festival yet,[c] because My time has not yet fully come.” 9 After He had said these things, He stayed in Galilee.
Jesus at the Festival of Tabernacles
10 After His brothers had gone up to the festival, then He also went up, not openly but secretly. 11 The Jews were looking for Him at the festival and saying, “Where is He?” 12 And there was a lot of discussion about Him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good(J) man.” Others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He’s deceiving(K) the people.” 13 Still, nobody was talking publicly about Him because they feared the Jews.
14 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple complex(L) and began to teach. 15 Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How does He know the Scriptures,(M) since He hasn’t been trained?”
16 Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t Mine but is from the One who sent Me.(N) 17 If anyone wants to do His will,(O) he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own. 18 The one who speaks for himself seeks his own glory.(P) But He who seeks the glory(Q) of the One who sent Him is true,(R) and there is no unrighteousness in Him.(S) 19 Didn’t Moses(T) give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law!(U) Why do you want to kill Me?”
20 “You have a demon!” the crowd responded. “Who wants to kill You?”
21 “I did one work,(V) and you are all amazed,” Jesus answered. 22 “Consider this: Moses has given you circumcision(W)—not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers(X)—and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.(Y) 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath(Z) so that the law of Moses(AA) won’t be broken, are you angry at Me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging(AB) according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”
The Identity of the Messiah
25 Some of the people of Jerusalem(AC) were saying, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? 26 Yet, look! He’s speaking publicly and they’re saying nothing to Him. Can it be true that the authorities(AD) know He is the Messiah?(AE) 27 But we know where this man is from.(AF) When the Messiah comes, nobody will know where He is from.”
28 As He was teaching in the temple complex,(AG) 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(AH) is true. You don’t know Him;(AI) 29 I know Him because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”(AJ)
30 Then they tried to seize Him. Yet no one laid a hand on Him because His hour[d] had not yet come. 31 However, many from the crowd believed in Him and said, “When the Messiah comes, He won’t perform more signs than this man has done,(AK) will He?”
32 The Pharisees(AL) heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, so the chief priests(AM) and the Pharisees sent temple police to arrest Him.
33 Then Jesus said, “I am only with you for a short time.(AN) Then I’m going to the One who sent Me.(AO) 34 You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)
35 Then the Jews(AQ) said to one another, “Where does He intend to go so we won’t find Him? He doesn’t intend to go to the Dispersion[e](AR) among the Greeks(AS) and teach the Greeks, does He? 36 What is this remark He made: ‘You will look for Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’(AT)?”
The Promise of the Spirit
37 On the last and most important day of the festival,(AU) Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me[f](AV) and drink!(AW) 38 The one who believes in Me,(AX) as the Scripture(AY) has said,[g] will have streams of living water(AZ) flow(BA) from deep within him.” 39 He said this about the Spirit.(BB) Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit,(BC) for the Spirit[h] had not yet been received[i][j] because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
The People Are Divided over Jesus
40 When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This really is the Prophet!”[k](BD) 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah!” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does He? 42 Doesn’t the Scripture(BE) say that the Messiah comes from David’s(BF) offspring[l] and from the town of Bethlehem,(BG) where David once lived?” 43 So a division(BH) occurred among the crowd because of Him. 44 Some of them wanted to seize Him,(BI) but no one laid hands on Him.
Debate over Jesus’ Claims
45 Then the temple police(BJ) came to the chief priests(BK) and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why haven’t you brought Him?”
46 The police answered, “No man ever spoke like this!”[m](BL)
47 Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled(BM) too? 48 Have any of the rulers(BN) or Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed!”
50 Nicodemus(BO)—the one who came to Him previously, being 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?”(BP)
52 “You aren’t from Galilee(BQ) too, are you?” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”[n](BR)
[53 So each one went to his house.
Footnotes
- John 7:2 Or Booths
- John 7:2 One of 3 great Jewish religious festivals, along with Passover and Pentecost; Ex 23:14; Dt 16:16
- John 7:8 Other mss omit yet
- John 7:30 The time of His sacrificial death and exaltation; Jn 2:4; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1
- John 7:35 Jewish people scattered throughout Gentile lands who spoke Gk and were influenced by Gk culture
- John 7:37 Other mss omit to Me
- John 7:38 Jesus may have had several OT passages in mind; Is 58:11; Ezk 47:1-12; Zch 14:8
- John 7:39 Other mss read Holy Spirit
- John 7:39 Other mss read had not yet been given
- John 7:39 Lit the Spirit was not yet; the word received is implied from the previous clause.
- John 7:40 Probably the Prophet in Dt 18:15
- John 7:42 Lit seed
- John 7:46 Other mss read like this man
- John 7:52 Jonah and probably other prophets did come from Galilee; 2Kg 14:25
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