John 7
International Children’s Bible
Jesus and His Brothers
7 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there wanted to kill him. 2 It was time for the Jewish Feast of Shelters. 3 So Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You should leave here and go to Judea. Then your followers there can see the miracles you do. 4 Anyone who wants to be well known does not hide what he does. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 (Even Jesus’ brothers did not believe in him.)
6 Jesus said to his brothers, “The right time for me has not yet come. But any time is right for you. 7 The world cannot hate you. But it hates me, because I tell about the evil things it does. 8 So you go to the feast. I will not go now. The right time for me has not yet come.” 9 After saying this, Jesus stayed in Galilee.
10 So Jesus’ brothers left to go to the feast. When they had gone, Jesus went, too. But he did not let people see him. 11 At the feast the Jews were looking for him. They said, “Where is that man?”
12 There was a large crowd of people there. Many of them were whispering to each other about Jesus. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others said, “No, he fools the people.” 13 But no one was brave enough to talk about Jesus openly. They were afraid of the Jews.
Jesus Teaches at the Feast
14 The feast was about half over. Then Jesus went to the Temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were amazed. They said, “This man has never studied in school. How did he learn so much?”
16 Jesus answered, “The things I teach are not my own. My teaching comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do what God wants, then he will know that my teaching comes from God. He will know that this teaching is not my own. 18 He who teaches his own ideas is trying to get honor for himself. But he who tries to bring honor to the one who sent him—that person speaks the truth. There is nothing false in him. 19 Moses gave you the law,[a] but none of you obey that law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
20 The people answered, “A demon has come into you. We are not trying to kill you.”
21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Moses gave you the law about circumcision. (But really Moses did not give you circumcision. Circumcision came from our ancestors.) And yet you circumcise a baby boy on a Sabbath day. 23 This shows that a baby boy can be circumcised on a Sabbath day to obey the law of Moses. So why are you angry at me for healing a person’s whole body on the Sabbath day? 24 Stop judging by the way things look! Be fair, and judge by what is really right.”
Is Jesus the Christ?
25 Then some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, “This is the man they are trying to kill. 26 But he is teaching where everyone can see and hear him. And no one is trying to stop him. Maybe the leaders have decided that he really is the Christ. 27 But we know where this man is from. Yet when the real Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
28 Jesus was still teaching in the Temple. He cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. But I have not come by my own authority. I was sent by the One who is true. You don’t know him. 29 But I know him. I am from him, and he sent me.”
30 When Jesus said this, they tried to seize him. But no one was able to touch him. It was not yet the right time. 31 But many of the people believed in Jesus. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man has done?”
Some Leaders Try to Arrest Jesus
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus. So the leading priests and the Pharisees sent some Temple guards to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer. Then I will go back to the One who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me. And you cannot come where I am.”
35 The Jews said to each other, “Where will this man go so we cannot find him? Will he go to the Greek cities where our people live? Will he teach the Greek people there? 36 This man says, ‘You will look for me but you will not find me.’ He also says, ‘You cannot come where I am.’ What does this mean?”
Jesus Talks About the Spirit
37 The last day of the feast came. It was the most important day. On that day Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 If a person believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from his heart. This is what the Scripture says.” 39 Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been raised to glory. But later, those who believed in Jesus would receive the Spirit.
The People Argue About Jesus
40 The people heard these things that Jesus said. Some of them said, “This man really is the Prophet.”[b]
41 Others said, “He is the Christ.”
Still others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee. 42 The Scripture says that the Christ will come from David’s family. And the Scripture says that the Christ will come from Bethlehem, the town where David lived.” 43 So the people did not agree with each other about Jesus. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one was able to touch him.
The Leaders Won’t Believe
45 The Temple guards went back to the leading priests and the Pharisees. The priests and the Pharisees asked, “Why didn’t you bring Jesus?”
46 The Temple guards answered, “The things he says are greater than the words of any man!”
47 The Pharisees answered, “So Jesus has fooled you too! 48 Have any of the leaders or the Pharisees believed in him? No! 49 But those people, who know nothing about the law, are under God’s curse!”
50 But Nicodemus was there in that group. He was the one who had gone to see Jesus before.[c] Nicodemus said, 51 “Our law does not judge a man without hearing him. We cannot judge him until we know what he has done.”
52 They answered, “Are you from Galilee too? Study the Scriptures. You will learn that no prophet comes from Galilee.”
53 And everyone left and went home.[d]
Footnotes
- 7:19 law Moses gave God’s people the law that God gave him on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:29–32).
- 7:40 Prophet They probably meant the prophet that God told Moses he would send (Deuteronomy 18:15–19).
- 7:50 But Nicodemus . . . before. The story about Nicodemus going and talking to Jesus is in John 3:1–21.
- 7:53 Some of the earliest surviving Greek copies do not contain 7:53–8:11.
John 7
Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus Teaches at the Feast of Booths
7 And after these things Jesus (A)was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because (B)the Jews (C)were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, (D)the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His (E)brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your (F)disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret [a]when he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself publicly to the world.” 5 For not even His (G)brothers were believing in Him. 6 So Jesus *said to them, “(H)My time is not yet here, but your time is always here. 7 (I)The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I bear witness about it, that (J)its deeds are evil. 8 Go up to the feast yourselves; I am not [b]yet going up to this feast because (K)My time has not yet been fulfilled.” 9 Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.
10 But when His (L)brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as in secret. 11 (M)So the Jews (N)were seeking Him at the feast and saying, “Where is He?” 12 And there was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; (O)some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the crowd astray.” 13 Yet no one was speaking openly about Him for (P)fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to (Q)teach. 15 (R)The Jews then were marveling, saying, “How has this man (S)become learned, not having been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “(T)My teaching is not Mine, but from Him who sent Me. 17 (U)If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God or I speak from Myself. 18 He who speaks from himself (V)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.
19 “(W)Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet none of you does the Law. Why do you (X)seek to kill Me?” 20 The crowd answered, “(Y)You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did (Z)one work, and you all marvel. 22 For this reason (AA)Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from (AB)the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 (AC)If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not (AD)judge according to appearance, but [c]judge with righteous judgment.”
25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 26 And look, He is speaking openly, and they are saying nothing to Him. (AE)Do the rulers truly know that this is the [d]Christ? 27 However, (AF)we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, (AG)teaching and saying, “(AH)You both know Me and know where I am from; and (AI)I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 (AJ)I know Him, because (AK)I am from Him, and (AL)He sent Me.” 30 So they (AM)were seeking to seize Him; [e]yet no man laid his hand on Him, because His (AN)hour had not yet come. 31 But (AO)many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “(AP)When the [f]Christ comes, will He do more [g](AQ)signs than this man did?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd [h]whispering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent (AR)officers to (AS)seize Him. 33 Therefore Jesus said, “(AT)For a little while longer I am with you, then (AU)I go to Him who sent Me. 34 (AV)You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 (AW)The Jews then said to one another, “(AX)Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? Is He intending to go to (AY)the Dispersion among (AZ)the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this statement that He said, ‘(BA)You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 Now on (BB)the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “[i](BC)If anyone is thirsty, [j]let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, (BD)as the Scripture said, ‘From [k]his innermost being will flow rivers of (BE)living water.’” 39 But this He spoke (BF)of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were going to receive; for (BG)the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet (BH)glorified.
Division of People over Jesus
40 Some of the crowd therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This truly is (BI)the Prophet.” 41 Others were saying, “This is the [l]Christ.” Still others were saying, “(BJ)No, for is the [m]Christ going to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from (BK)the seed of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So (BL)a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. 44 (BM)Some of them were wanting to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
45 The (BN)officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” 46 The (BO)officers answered, “(BP)Never has a man spoken like this!” 47 The Pharisees then answered them, “(BQ)Have you also been led astray? 48 (BR)Have any of (BS)the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” 50 (BT)Nicodemus (he who came to Him before), being one of them, *said to them, 51 “(BU)Does our Law judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing?” 52 They answered him, “(BV)Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” 53 [n][Everyone went to his home.
Footnotes
- John 7:4 Lit and
- John 7:8 Some early mss omit yet
- John 7:24 Lit judge the righteous judgment
- John 7:26 Messiah
- John 7:30 Lit and
- John 7:31 Messiah
- John 7:31 Or attesting miracles
- John 7:32 Or grumbling
- John 7:37 Vv 37-38 may also be read: If anyone is thirsty,...let him come..., he who believes in me as...
- John 7:37 Or let him keep coming to Me and let him keep drinking
- John 7:38 Lit out of his belly
- John 7:41 Messiah
- John 7:41 Messiah
- John 7:53 Later mss add the story of the adulterous woman, numbering it as John 7:53-8:11
John 7
New King James Version
Jesus’ Brothers Disbelieve
7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, (A)because the [a]Jews sought to kill Him. 2 (B)Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 (C)His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For (D)even His (E)brothers did not believe in Him.
6 Then Jesus said to them, (F)“My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 (G)The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me (H)because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not [b]yet going up to this feast, (I)for My time has not yet fully come.” 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
The Heavenly Scholar
10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then (J)the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12 And (K)there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. (L)Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him (M)for fear of the Jews.
14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and (N)taught. 15 (O)And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”
16 [c]Jesus answered them and said, (P)“My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 (Q)If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 (R)He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who (S)seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and (T)no unrighteousness is in Him. 19 (U)Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? (V)Why do you seek to kill Me?”
20 The people answered and said, (W)“You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”
21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 (X)Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, (Y)but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because (Z)I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 (AA)Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Could This Be the Christ?
25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to (AB)kill? 26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. (AC)Do the rulers know indeed that this is [d]truly the Christ? 27 (AD)However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”
28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, (AE)“You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and (AF)I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me (AG)is true, (AH)whom you do not know. 29 [e]But (AI)I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
30 Therefore (AJ)they sought to take Him; but (AK)no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 31 And (AL)many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”
Jesus and the Religious Leaders
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 33 Then Jesus said [f]to them, (AM)“I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I (AN)go to Him who sent Me. 34 You (AO)will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you (AP)cannot come.”
35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to (AQ)the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
37 (AR)On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, (AS)“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 (AT)He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, (AU)out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 (AV)But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those [g]believing in Him would receive; for the [h]Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet (AW)glorified.
Who Is He?
40 Therefore [i]many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is (AX)the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is (AY)the Christ.”
But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 (AZ)Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, (BA)where David was?” 43 So (BB)there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now (BC)some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
Rejected by the Authorities
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”
46 The officers answered, (BD)“No man ever spoke like this Man!”
47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
50 Nicodemus (BE)(he who came to [j]Jesus [k]by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 (BF)“Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for (BG)no prophet [l]has arisen out of Galilee.”
An Adulteress Faces the Light of the World
53 [m]And everyone went to his own house.
Footnotes
- John 7:1 The ruling authorities
- John 7:8 NU omits yet
- John 7:16 NU, M So Jesus
- John 7:26 NU omits truly
- John 7:29 NU, M omit But
- John 7:33 NU, M omit to them
- John 7:39 NU who believed
- John 7:39 NU omits Holy
- John 7:40 NU some
- John 7:50 Lit. Him
- John 7:50 NU before
- John 7:52 NU is to rise
- John 7:53 NU brackets 7:53 through 8:11 as not in the original text. They are present in over 900 mss. of John.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.