John 7
EasyEnglish Bible
Jesus and his brothers
7 After this, Jesus visited many places in Galilee. He did not want to visit Judea because the Jewish leaders there wanted to kill him. 2 It was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles.[a] 3 So Jesus' brothers said to him, ‘You should leave this place and you should go to Judea. Then your disciples will see the great things that you do. 4 Nobody does things secretly if he wants everyone to know him. You are doing these things, so you should show yourself to everybody.’ 5 Even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 So Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the right time for me yet. For you, any time is right. 7 People who belong to this world cannot hate you. But they hate me. The things that they do are very bad. And I tell them that those things are wrong. That is why they hate me. 8 You should go to the festival. I will not go to it now, because it is not the right time for me yet.’ 9 After Jesus said that, he stayed in Galilee.
Jesus goes to the Festival of Tabernacles
10 Some time after his brothers had gone, Jesus also went to the festival. But he did not let other people know that he was going. Instead, he went secretly. 11 The Jewish leaders were looking for him at the festival. They asked, ‘Where is that man?’ 12 People in the crowd were talking quietly to each other about Jesus. Some people said, ‘He is a good man.’ But other people said, ‘No, he is telling the people things that are not true.’ 13 But nobody spoke in public places about him, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.
14 In the middle of the time of the festival, Jesus went to the temple. He started to teach in the yard there. 15 The Jewish leaders were very surprised. They asked, ‘How does this man know so much? He has not learned in our schools.’ 16 Jesus answered, ‘What I teach does not come from me. No, it comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do what God wants will know about my teaching. They will know whether it comes from God, or whether it comes from my own thoughts. 18 A person who teaches his own ideas wants people to think that he himself is great. But I want to show that the one who sent me is great. A person like that is honest and there is nothing false in him. 19 Moses gave God's Law to you. But not one of you obeys that Law. Why are you trying to kill me?’
20 The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon in you! Nobody is trying to kill you!’
21 Jesus replied, ‘I did one miracle on the day of rest, and all of you were surprised. 22 Moses gave you a law that you must circumcise your sons. Your ancestors taught that, even before Moses was born. So you will agree to circumcise a boy, even on the day of rest.[b] 23 You will do that so that you obey Moses' law. So you should not be angry with me because I made a man completely well on the day of rest. 24 Do not quickly decide whether something is right or wrong just because of what you see. Instead, think about it carefully. Then you will judge in a right way.’
The people talk about whether Jesus is the Messiah
25 Some of the people in Jerusalem began to say, ‘This is the man that our leaders want to kill. 26 But look! He is speaking to the crowds, and the leaders are not saying anything against him! Perhaps they really think that he is the Messiah! 27 But we know where this man came from. When the Messiah comes, nobody will know that. Nobody will know where he has come from.’
28 Jesus was still teaching in the yard of the temple. He shouted, ‘Yes, you say that you know me. And you know where I came from. But I have not come because I myself decided to come. He who sent me is true. You do not know him. 29 But I know him because I have come from him. He is the one who sent me.’ 30 When they heard this, they tried to take hold of him. But nobody could put their hands on him, because it was not yet the right time. 31 But many people in the crowd believed in Jesus. They said, ‘This man has done so many miracles. Surely he is the Messiah! Nobody could do more miracles than he has done.’
32 The Pharisees heard what these people were saying quietly about Jesus. Then the leaders of the priests and the Pharisees sent some of their officers to take him away.
33 Jesus said, ‘I will be with you for only a short time. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me. You cannot go to the place where I will be.’ 35 The Jewish leaders asked each other, ‘What is he trying to tell us? Where can he go so that we cannot find him? Perhaps he will go to our people who have gone away to live among the Greek people.[c] Perhaps he will go to teach the Greek people. 36 He said, “You will look for me, but you will not find me.” And he also said, “You cannot go to the place where I will be.” What does he mean?’
Streams of water that give life to people
37 The last day of the festival was the most important day. On that day, Jesus stood up and he spoke with a loud voice. He said, ‘If anyone is thirsty, he should come to me so that he may drink. 38 It says in the Bible, “God will cause streams of water to pour out from anyone who believes in me. Water that gives life will come out from inside that person.” ’ 39 Jesus was speaking about God's Spirit, who would come to people some time after that. Those people who believed in Jesus would receive God's Spirit at that later time. But God had not yet given his Spirit to people, because he had not yet raised Jesus back up to heaven.[d]
The people argue about who Jesus is
40 The people in the crowd heard Jesus say these words. Some of them said, ‘Surely this man must be the Prophet from God that we have been waiting for!’ 41 Other people said, ‘This man is the Messiah.’ But some other people said, ‘The Messiah will not come from Galilee! 42 The Bible says that the Messiah will come from King David's family.[e] He will come from Bethlehem, the town where David lived.’ 43 In this way the people had different thoughts about Jesus. 44 Some people wanted to take hold of him. But nobody could put their hands on him to take him away.
45 The officers returned to the leaders of the priests and the Pharisees. The leaders asked their officers, ‘Why did you not bring Jesus here?’ 46 The officers answered, ‘Nobody has ever spoken great things like this man speaks.’ 47 The Pharisees replied, ‘He seems to have made you believe his lies! 48 None of the Pharisees or our leaders believe in him. 49 But this crowd does not know what God's Law teaches. God will surely punish them.’
50 Nicodemus spoke to them. He himself was one of the Pharisees. He was the man who had gone to speak with Jesus before. He said, 51 ‘We must find out first what this man has done. Then we can decide if it is right to punish him. Our law says that we must listen to him first.’ 52 They answered Nicodemus, ‘Perhaps you come from Galilee, as well as him! Study what the Bible teaches. You will learn that no prophet of God ever comes from Galilee.’ 53 [Then everyone went to his own home.][f]
Footnotes
- 7:2 The Festival of Tabernacles continued for a week. See Leviticus 23:34, where it is called the Feast of Huts. The people built huts from branches and they lived in these small huts during the festival. This helped them to remember what God had done. A long time before this, their ancestors had left Egypt and they had lived in huts like this. God had brought them out of Egypt so that they did not have to be slaves there any longer. The festival happened each year, after Israel's people had brought in all the harvest from the fields. It was a time for the people to thank God because he was so good to them.
- 7:22 God had told Israel's people that they must circumcise every boy. To circumcise means to cut off the skin that covers the end of a boy's or a man's sex part. It was a mark to show that Israel's people had agreed to obey God. It showed that they belonged to God's people, Israel. They circumcised a boy eight days after he was born. Even if the eighth day was their day of rest, they circumcised the baby on that day.
- 7:35 Greek people come from the country called Greece. When Jesus lived on the earth, Greek people also lived in many other countries.
- 7:39 Many verses in the Old Testament speak about ‘water’ that gives us life. See Isaiah 44:3; 58:11 and Zechariah 13:1; 14:8. The Jews would read these verses aloud at the Festival of Tabernacles.
- 7:42 The Bible that the Jews read was the Old Testament.
- 7:53 Many old translations do not have this verse.
John 7
The Voice
7 After these events, it was time for Jesus to move on. He began a long walk through the Galilean countryside. He was purposefully avoiding Judea because of the violent threats made against Him by the Jews there who wanted to kill Him. 2 It was fall, the time of year when the Jews celebrated the Festival of Booths.
On this holiday, everyone camps in temporary quarters, called booths, to remember that God was with their ancestors when they wandered for 40 years without a home.
Brothers of Jesus (to Jesus): 3 Let’s get out of here and go south to Judea so You can show Your disciples there what You are capable of doing. 4 No one who seeks the public eye is content to work in secret. If You want to perform these signs, then step forward on the world’s stage; don’t hide up here in the hills, Jesus.
5 Jesus’ own brothers were speaking contemptuously; they did not yet believe in Him, just as the people in His hometown did not see Him as anything more than Joseph’s son.
Jesus: 6 My time has not yet arrived; but for you My brothers, by all means, it is always the right time. 7 You have nothing to worry about because the world doesn’t hate you, but it despises Me because I am always exposing the dark evil in its works. 8 Go on to the feast without Me; I am not going right now because My time is not yet at hand.
9 This conversation came to an abrupt end, and Jesus stayed in Galilee 10 until His brothers were gone. Then He, too, went up to Jerusalem. But He traveled in secret to avoid drawing any public attention. 11 Some Jewish leaders were searching for Him at the feast and asking the crowds where they could find Him. 12 The crowds would talk in groups: some favored Jesus and thought He was a good man; others disliked Him and thought He was leading people astray. 13 All of these conversations took place in whispers. No one was willing to speak openly about Jesus for fear of the religious leaders.
14 In the middle of the festival, Jesus marched directly into the temple and started to teach. 15 Some of the Jews who heard Him were amazed at Jesus’ ability, and people questioned repeatedly:
Jews: How can this man be so wise about the Hebrew Scriptures? He has never had a formal education.
Jesus: 16 I do not claim ownership of My words; they are a gift from the One who sent Me. 17 If anyone is willing to act according to His purposes and is open to hearing truth, he will know the source of My teaching. Does it come from God or from Me? 18 If a man speaks his own words, constantly quoting himself, he is after adulation. But I chase only after glory for the One who sent Me. My intention is authentic and true. You’ll find no wrong motives in Me.
19 Moses gave you the law, didn’t he? Then how can you blatantly ignore the law and look for an opportunity to murder Me?
Notice how Jesus changes in tone and subject. This shift seems abrupt because the Pharisees’ plotting is yet to be exposed.
Crowd: 20 You must be possessed with a demon! Who is trying to kill You?
Jesus: 21 Listen, all it took was for Me to do one thing, heal a crippled man, and you all were astonished. 22 Don’t you remember how Moses passed down circumcision as a tradition of our ancestors? When you pick up a knife to circumcise on the Sabbath, isn’t that work? 23 If a male is circumcised on the Sabbath to keep the law of Moses intact, how can making one man whole on the Sabbath be a cause for your violent rage? 24 You should not judge by outward appearance. When you judge, search for what is right and just.
Some People of Jerusalem: 25 There is the man they are seeking to kill; surely He must be the one. 26 But here He is, speaking out in the open to the crowd, while they have not spoken a word to stop or challenge Him. Do these leaders now believe He is the Anointed One? 27 But He can’t be; we know where this man comes from, but the true origin of the Anointed will be a mystery to all of us.
Jesus (speaking aloud as He teaches on the temple’s porch): 28 You think you know Me and where I have come from, but I have not come here on My own. I have been sent by the One who embodies truth. You do not know Him. 29 I know Him because I came from Him. He has sent Me.
30 Some were trying to seize Him because of His words, but no one laid as much as a finger on Him—His time had not yet arrived. 31 In the crowd, there were many in whom faith was taking hold.
Believers in the Crowd: When the Anointed arrives, will He perform any more signs than this man has done?
32 Some Pharisees were hanging back in the crowd, overhearing the gossip about Him. The temple authorities and the Pharisees took action and sent officers to arrest Jesus.
Jesus: 33 I am going to be with you for a little while longer; then I will return to the One who sent Me. 34 You will look for Me, but you will not be able to find Me. Where I am, you are unable to come.
Some Jews in the Crowd (to each other): 35 Where could He possibly go that we could not find Him? You don’t think He’s about to go into the Dispersion[a] and teach our people scattered among the Greeks, do you? 36 What do you think He means, “You will look for Me, but you will not be able to find Me,” and, “Where I am, you are unable to come”?
37 On the last day, the biggest day of the festival, Jesus stood again and spoke aloud.
Jesus: If any of you is thirsty, come to Me and drink. 38 If you believe in Me, the Hebrew Scriptures say that rivers of living water will flow from within you.[b]
39 Jesus was referring to the realities of life in the Spirit made available to everyone who believes in Him. But the Spirit had not yet arrived because Jesus had not been glorified.
The Holy Spirit connects believers to the Father and His Son. So any fear about being disconnected from God may be abandoned; the Creator of the Universe dwells within His people, sustains them, and will accomplish the impossible through them.
Some of the Crowd: 40 This man is definitely the Prophet.
Others: 41 This is God’s Anointed, the Liberating King!
Still Others: Is it possible for the Anointed to come from Galilee? 42 Don’t the Hebrew Scriptures say that He will come from Bethlehem,[c] King David’s village, and be a descendant of King David?
43 Rumors and opinions about the true identity of Jesus divided the crowd. 44 Some wanted to arrest Him, but no one dared to touch Him.
45 The officers who had been sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to take Jesus into custody returned empty-handed, and they faced some hard questions.
Chief Priest and Pharisees: Where is Jesus? Why didn’t you capture Him?
Officers: 46 We listened to Him. Never has a man spoken like this man.
Pharisees: 47 So you have also been led astray? 48 Can you find one leader or educated Pharisee who believes this man? Of course not. 49 This crowd is plagued by ignorance about the teachings of the law; that is why they will listen to Him. That is also why they are under God’s curse.
50 Nicodemus, the Pharisee who approached Jesus under the cloak of darkness, was present when the officers returned empty-handed. He addressed the leaders.
Nicodemus: 51 Does our law condemn someone without first giving him a fair hearing and learning something about him?
Pharisees (ignoring Nicodemus’s legal point): 52 Are you from Galilee too? Look it up for yourself; no real prophet is supposed to come from Galilee.
[53 The time came for everyone to go home.
Footnotes
- 7:35 Literally, the Diaspora (Greek for “scattering”). The Diaspora refers to those Jews who were exiled or settled outside the traditional lands of Israel.
- 7:38 Isaiah 44:3; 55:1; 58:11
- 7:42 Micah 5:1–2
Juan 7
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
La fiesta de los Tabernáculos
7 Después de esto, Jesús andaba por Galilea(A), pues no deseaba andar por Judea porque los judíos(B) lo querían matar(C). 2 La fiesta de los judíos, la de los Tabernáculos(D), estaba cerca. 3 Por eso los hermanos de Jesús(E) le dijeron: «Sal de aquí, y vete a Judea para que también Tus discípulos(F) vean las obras que Tú haces. 4 Porque nadie hace nada en secreto cuando[a] procura ser conocido en público. Si haces estas cosas, muéstrate al mundo». 5 Porque ni aun Sus hermanos(G) creían en Él.
6 Entonces Jesús les dijo*: «Mi tiempo aún no ha llegado(H), pero el tiempo de ustedes es siempre oportuno. 7 El mundo no puede odiarlos a ustedes, pero me odia a Mí(I), porque Yo doy testimonio de él, que sus acciones son malas(J). 8 Suban ustedes a la fiesta; Yo no subo a esta fiesta porque Mi tiempo aún no se ha cumplido(K)».
9 Y habiéndoles dicho esto, se quedó en Galilea.
Jesús sube a la fiesta en secreto
10 Pero cuando Sus hermanos(L) subieron a la fiesta, entonces Jesús también subió; no abiertamente, sino en[b] secreto. 11 Por eso los judíos(M) lo buscaban en la fiesta(N) y decían: «¿Dónde está Ese?».
12 Y había mucha murmuración entre la gente acerca de Él. Unos decían: «Él es bueno». Otros decían: «No, al contrario, extravía a la gente(O)». 13 Sin embargo, nadie hablaba abiertamente de Él por miedo a los judíos(P).
Jesús enseña durante la fiesta
14 A la mitad de la fiesta, Jesús subió al templo y se puso a enseñar(Q). 15 Entonces los judíos(R) se maravillaban, diciendo: «¿Cómo puede Este saber de letras(S) sin haber estudiado?».
16 Jesús entonces les respondió: «Mi enseñanza(T)no es Mía, sino del que me envió. 17 Si alguno está dispuesto a hacer la voluntad de Dios, sabrá si Mi enseñanza es de Dios o si hablo de Mí mismo(U). 18 El que habla de sí mismo busca su propia gloria; pero Aquel que busca la gloria del que lo envió(V), Él es verdadero y no hay injusticia en Él. 19 ¿No les dio Moisés la ley(W), y sin embargo ninguno de ustedes la cumple[c]? ¿Por qué me quieren matar(X)?».
20 La multitud contestó: «¡Tienes un demonio(Y)! ¿Quién te quiere matar?». 21 Jesús les respondió: «Una sola obra hice(Z)y todos se admiran. 22 Por eso Moisés les ha dado la circuncisión(AA)(no porque sea de Moisés, sino de los padres(AB)), y en el día de reposo ustedes circuncidan al hombre. 23 Y si para no violar la ley de Moisés un hombre recibe la circuncisión aún en el día de reposo(AC), ¿por qué están enojados conmigo porque sané por completo a un hombre en el día de reposo? 24 No juzguen por la apariencia, sino juzguen con[d]juicio justo(AD)».
25 Entonces algunos de Jerusalén decían: «¿No es Este al que procuran matar? 26 Y vean, habla en público y no le dicen nada. ¿No será que en verdad los gobernantes(AE) reconocen que Este es el Cristo[e]? 27 Sin embargo, nosotros sabemos de dónde es Este; pero cuando venga el Cristo, nadie sabrá de dónde es(AF)».
28 Jesús entonces, mientras enseñaba(AG) en el templo, exclamó en alta voz: «Ustedes me conocen y saben de dónde soy(AH). Yo no he venido por decisión propia(AI), pero Aquel que me envió es verdadero, a quien ustedes no conocen. 29 Yo lo conozco(AJ), porque procedo de Él(AK), y Él me envió(AL)».
30 Procuraban, pues, prender a Jesús(AM); pero nadie le echó mano porque todavía no había llegado Su hora(AN). 31 Pero muchos de la multitud creyeron en Él(AO), y decían: «Cuando el Cristo(AP) venga, ¿acaso hará más señales[f](AQ) que las que Este ha hecho?».
32 Los fariseos oyeron a la multitud murmurando estas cosas acerca de Él. Entonces los principales sacerdotes y los fariseos enviaron guardias(AR) para que lo prendieran(AS). 33 Pero Jesús dijo: «Por un poco más de tiempo estoy con ustedes(AT); después voy a Aquel que me envió(AU). 34 Me buscarán y no me hallarán; y donde Yo esté, ustedes no pueden ir(AV)».
35 Decían entonces los judíos(AW) entre sí: «¿Adónde piensa irse Este(AX) que no lo podamos encontrar? ¿Será acaso que quiere irse a la dispersión(AY) entre los griegos(AZ) y enseñar a los griegos? 36 ¿Qué quiere decir esto que ha dicho: “Me buscarán y no me hallarán; y donde Yo esté, ustedes no podrán ir(BA)”?».
La gran invitación
37 En el último día, el gran día de la fiesta(BB), Jesús puesto en pie, exclamó en alta voz: «Si alguien tiene sed, que venga a Mí y beba[g](BC). 38 El que cree en Mí, como ha dicho la Escritura: “De lo más profundo de su ser[h]brotarán ríos de agua(BD)viva(BE)”». 39 Pero Él decía esto del Espíritu(BF), que los que habían creído en Él habían de recibir; porque el Espíritu no había sido dado todavía[i](BG), pues Jesús aún no había sido glorificado(BH).
40 Entonces algunos de la multitud, cuando oyeron estas palabras, decían: «Verdaderamente Este es el Profeta(BI)». 41 Otros decían: «Este es el Cristo[j]». Pero otros decían: «¿Acaso el Cristo ha de venir de Galilea(BJ)? 42 ¿No ha dicho la Escritura que el Cristo viene de la descendencia de David, y de Belén(BK), la aldea de donde era David?». 43 Así que surgió una división(BL) entre la multitud por causa de Él. 44 Y algunos de ellos querían prender a Jesús, pero nadie le echó mano(BM).
Los guardias confundidos
45 Entonces los guardias(BN) vinieron a los principales sacerdotes y fariseos, y estos les dijeron: «¿Por qué no lo trajeron?». 46 Los guardias(BO) respondieron: «¡Jamás hombre alguno ha hablado como este hombre habla(BP)!».
47 Entonces los fariseos les contestaron: «¿Es que también ustedes se han dejado engañar(BQ)? 48 ¿Acaso ha creído en Él alguien de los gobernantes(BR) o de los fariseos? 49 Pero esta multitud que no conoce de la ley, maldita es».
50 Nicodemo(BS), el que había venido a Jesús antes, y que era uno de ellos, les dijo*: 51 «¿Acaso juzga nuestra ley a un hombre a menos que le oiga primero(BT) y sepa lo que hace?». 52 Ellos le respondieron: «¿Es que tú también eres de Galilea(BU)? Investiga, y verás que ningún profeta sale de Galilea». 53 [k]Y cada uno se fue a su casa.
Footnotes
- 7:4 Lit. y.
- 7:10 Lit. como en.
- 7:19 Lit. cumple la Ley.
- 7:24 Lit. el.
- 7:26 I.e. el Mesías.
- 7:31 O milagros.
- 7:37 I.e. que siga viniendo a mí y que siga bebiendo.
- 7:38 Lit. de su vientre.
- 7:39 Otros mss. dicen: porque todavía no se había dado el Espíritu Santo.
- 7:41 I.e. el Mesías.
- 7:53 Los vers. de 7:53 a 8:11, no aparecen en los mss. más antiguos.
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The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
