John 7

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 7

1¶ After 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.›

7‹The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.›

8‹Go 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.

14¶ Now 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.›

17‹If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.›

18‹He 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.›

19‹Did 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.›

22‹Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.›

23‹If 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?›

24‹Judge 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.›

29‹But 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.›

34‹Ye 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?

37¶ In 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.›

38‹He 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.

45¶ Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus attends the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, initially in secret, where he teaches in the temple. His claims about his divine origin and the source of his doctrine cause great division among the people. Despite attempts by the Jewish authorities to arrest him, no one lays hands on him, as his appointed time has not yet come.

Medium Summary

Jesus, avoiding Judea due to threats, eventually goes secretly to the Feast of Tabernacles after his unbelieving brethren urge him to display his works openly. In the temple, Jesus teaches, asserting his doctrine comes from God and challenging the Jews' desire to kill him while accusing them of not keeping the Law. He defends his Sabbath healing by contrasting it with circumcision. The people are divided, some believing him to be the Christ or a prophet, others questioning his Galilean origin. Despite the Pharisees sending officers to arrest him, they fail, impressed by his words, and Nicodemus defends due process.

Long Summary

Fearing the Jews who sought his life, Jesus remained in Galilee, declining his unbelieving brethren's urging to openly attend the Feast of Tabernacles in Judea. He eventually went up secretly, and during the feast, he taught publicly in the temple, astonishing the Jews with his wisdom. Jesus declared his doctrine was from God, not himself, and challenged their intent to kill him despite their adherence to Moses' Law. He defended his Sabbath healing, urging them to judge righteously rather than by appearance. This sparked intense debate among the people; some believed him to be the Christ or the Prophet, while others rejected him, citing his perceived Galilean origin contrary to prophecies about Bethlehem and David. The Jewish authorities, including the Pharisees and chief priests, sought to arrest him, sending officers. However, no one could seize him, as his divinely appointed time had not yet arrived. On the last day of the feast, Jesus proclaimed an invitation for all who thirst to come to him and receive "living water," which the text clarifies refers to the Holy Spirit that believers would receive. The officers returned empty-handed, stating, "Never man spake like this man," which angered the Pharisees. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, interjected, reminding them that their law required hearing a man before judging him, but he was met with scorn regarding Galilee.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Timing and ProtectionJesus deliberately controls his movements and public appearances, stating his 'time is not yet come,' which prevents his enemies from seizing him despite their intentions.
  • Unbelief and DivisionJesus's own brethren do not believe in him, and his teachings at the feast cause significant division among the people, with some recognizing him as a prophet or the Christ, while others reject him based on perceived origins.
  • Source of DoctrineJesus asserts that his teaching is not his own, but from God who sent him, and that seeking God's glory validates the truth of his words.
  • Righteous Judgment vs. AppearanceJesus challenges the Jews' judgment, contrasting their anger over his Sabbath healing with their practice of circumcision on the Sabbath, urging them to judge righteously.
  • Living WaterOn the last day of the feast, Jesus offers 'living water' to all who thirst and believe in him, which the text clarifies refers to the Holy Spirit that believers would receive.
  • Authority and Origin of ChristA central debate revolves around Jesus's identity as the Christ, with some questioning how he could be from Galilee when the Christ is prophesied to come from Bethlehem and the lineage of David.
  • Nicodemus's InterventionNicodemus, a Pharisee, defends Jesus by reminding his colleagues of the legal principle that a man should not be condemned without a hearing, highlighting the procedural injustice of their intent.