JHN 7:1-24

Jesus Teaches at the Feast

1And after these things Jesus was walking about in Galilee, for he was not willing to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill him. [7:2] Now the feast of the Jews — the Feast of Booths — was near. [7:3] His brothers therefore said to him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you do. [7:4] For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world." [7:5] For not even his brothers believed in him. [7:6] Jesus therefore said to them, "My appointed time has not yet come — but your time is always ready. [7:7] The world cannot hate you, but it hates me — because I testify concerning it that its works are evil. [7:8] Go up yourselves to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, because my appointed time has not yet been completed." [7:9] Having said these things to them, he remained in Galilee. [7:10] But when his brothers went up to the feast, then he also went up — not openly but as if in secret. [7:11] The Jews therefore were seeking him at the feast and saying, "Where is that man?" [7:12] And there was much murmuring about him among the crowds. Some said, "He is a good man" — others said, "No — he is deceiving the crowd." [7:13] Yet no one was speaking openly about him for fear of the Jews. [7:14] But when it was already the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. [7:15] The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, "How does this man know the writings, having never been educated?" [7:16] Jesus therefore answered them and said, "My teaching is not mine, but of the one who sent me. [7:17] If anyone wills to do his will, he will know concerning the teaching — whether it is from God or I speak from myself. [7:18] The one who speaks from himself seeks his own reputation and honor; but the one who seeks the honor of the one who sent him — this one is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him. [7:19] Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet none of you keeps the Law. Why are you seeking to kill me?" [7:20] The crowd answered, "You have a demon — who is seeking to kill you?" [7:21] Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all are astonished. [7:22] Because of this Moses gave you circumcision — not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers — and on a Sabbath you circumcise a man. [7:23] If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry at me because I made a whole man well on the Sabbath? [7:24] Do not judge according to outward appearance, but judge the righteous judgment."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Judea, the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) was a major pilgrimage festival, drawing Jews from across the Roman Empire to Jerusalem. It celebrated both the harvest and God’s provision during Israel’s wilderness wanderings. For Jesus’ brothers to urge Him to go to Judea and 'show Himself to the world' reflects the honor-shame culture, where public recognition and reputation were paramount. Their suggestion that He act (boldly, openly) aligns with expectations of a public figure seeking honor. However, Jesus’ response—that His 'time' was not yet come—points to a divine timing, contrasting with human expectations. The (grumbling) among the crowds about His teachings reflects the tension between Jesus’ authority and the established religious leaders, who viewed Him as a threat to their own and the purity codes they enforced. Jesus’ challenge to judge 'righteous judgment' critiques their superficial adherence to the Law, highlighting the deeper ethical demands of Torah.

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How other translations render this

JHN 7:1

KJV: After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
BSB: After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.
Koinōnos: And after these things Jesus was walking about in Galilee, for he was not willing to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

JHN 7:2

KJV: Now the Jew’s feast of tabernacles was at hand.
BSB: However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.
Koinōnos: Now the feast of the Jews — the Feast of Booths — was near.

JHN 7:3

KJV: His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
BSB: So Jesusʼ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
Koinōnos: His brothers therefore said to him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you do.

JHN 7:4

KJV: For 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.
BSB: For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.”
Koinōnos: For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.

JHN 7:5

KJV: For neither did his brethren believe in him.
BSB: For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.
Koinōnos: For not even his brothers believed in him.

JHN 7:6

KJV: Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
BSB: Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come.
Koinōnos: Jesus therefore said to them, "My appointed time has not yet come — but your time is always ready.

JHN 7:7

KJV: The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
BSB: The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
Koinōnos: The world cannot hate you, but it hates me — because I testify concerning it that its works are evil.

JHN 7:8

KJV: Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.
BSB: Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.”
Koinōnos: Go up yourselves to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, because my appointed time has not yet been completed.

JHN 7:9

KJV: When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
BSB: Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee.
Koinōnos: Having said these things to them, he remained in Galilee.

JHN 7:10

KJV: But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
BSB: But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went—not publicly, but in secret.
Koinōnos: But when his brothers went up to the feast, then he also went up — not openly but as if in secret.

JHN 7:11

KJV: Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
BSB: So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?”
Koinōnos: The Jews therefore were seeking him at the feast and saying, "Where is that man?

JHN 7:12

KJV: And 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.
BSB: Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”
Koinōnos: And there was much murmuring about him among the crowds. Some said, "He is a good man" — others said, "No — he is deceiving the crowd.

JHN 7:13

KJV: Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
BSB: Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.
Koinōnos: Yet no one was speaking openly about him for fear of the Jews.

JHN 7:14

KJV: Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
BSB: About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.
Koinōnos: But when it was already the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.

JHN 7:15

KJV: And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
BSB: The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”
Koinōnos: The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, "How does this man know the writings, having never been educated?

JHN 7:16

KJV: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
BSB: “My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me.
Koinōnos: Jesus therefore answered them and said, "My teaching is not mine, but of the one who sent me.

JHN 7:17

KJV: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
BSB: If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
Koinōnos: If anyone wills to do his will, he will know concerning the teaching — whether it is from God or I speak from myself.

JHN 7:18

KJV: 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.
BSB: He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.
Koinōnos: The one who speaks from himself seeks his own reputation and honor; but the one who seeks the honor of the one who sent him — this one is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

JHN 7:19

KJV: Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
BSB: Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”
Koinōnos: Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet none of you keeps the Law. Why are you seeking to kill me?

JHN 7:20

KJV: The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
BSB: “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”
Koinōnos: The crowd answered, "You have a demon — who is seeking to kill you?

JHN 7:21

KJV: Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
BSB: Jesus answered them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.
Koinōnos: Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all are astonished.

JHN 7:22

KJV: 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.
BSB: But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.)
Koinōnos: Because of this Moses gave you circumcision — not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers — and on a Sabbath you circumcise a man.

JHN 7:23

KJV: 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?
BSB: If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?
Koinōnos: If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry at me because I made a whole man well on the Sabbath?

JHN 7:24

KJV: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
BSB: Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
Koinōnos: Do not judge according to outward appearance, but judge the righteous judgment.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 7:4

public:The word translated 'public' here means speaking openly and boldly, without concealment or fear. It implies a freedom of speech and a lack of hesitation in expressing one's thoughts.

JHN 7:6

time:The word translated 'time' refers to a specific, opportune, or appointed moment, rather than just a general span of time. It suggests a critical or fitting season for action.

JHN 7:12

murmuring:The word translated 'murmuring' describes a low, indistinct sound of discontent or grumbling, often expressed in secret or under one's breath. It implies a hidden or suppressed complaint.

JHN 7:18

glory:The word translated 'glory' carries the sense of reputation, honor, and renown, often implying a visible manifestation of power or majesty. It refers to the recognition and praise one receives.