John 7:25-26

Questions About Jesus’ Identity

7:25 Then some of the residents of Jerusalem ¹  began to say, “Isn’t this the man ²  they are trying ³  to kill? 7:26 Yet here he is, speaking publicly, ⁴  and they are saying nothing to him. ⁵  Do the rulers really know that this man ⁶  is the Christ? ⁷ 

John 7:30

7:30 So then they tried to seize Jesus, ⁸  but no one laid a hand on him, because his time ⁹  had not yet come.

John 7:45

Lack of Belief

7:45 Then the officers ¹⁰  returned ¹¹  to the chief priests and Pharisees, ¹²  who said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him back with you?” ¹³ 

[7:25]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[7:25]  ² tn Grk “Is it not this one.”

[7:25]  ³ tn Grk “seeking.”

[7:26]  ⁴ tn Or “speaking openly.”

[7:26]  ⁵ sn They are saying nothing to him. Some people who had heard Jesus were so impressed with his teaching that they began to infer from the inactivity of the opposing Jewish leaders a tacit acknowledgment of Jesus’ claims.

[7:26]  ⁶ tn Grk “this one.”

[7:26]  ⁷ tn Or “the Messiah” (Both Greek “Christ” and Hebrew and Aramaic “Messiah” mean “one who has been anointed”).

[7:30]  ⁸ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:30]  ⁹ tn Grk “his hour.”

[7:45]  ¹⁰ tn Or “servants.” The “chief priests and Pharisees” is a comprehensive term for the groups represented in the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) as in John 7:45; 18:3; Acts 5:22, 26. As “servants” or “officers” of the Sanhedrin, their representatives should be distinguished from the Levites serving as temple police (perhaps John 7:30 and 44; also John 8:20; 10:39; 19:6; Acts 4:3). Even when performing ‘police’ duties such as here, their “officers” are doing so only as part of their general tasks (See K. H. Rengstorf, TDNT 8:540).

[7:45]  ¹¹ tn Grk “came.”

[7:45]  ¹² sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.

[7:45]  ¹³ tn Grk “Why did you not bring him?” The words “back with you” are implied.