John 7:32

7:32 The Pharisees ¹  heard the crowd ²  murmuring these things about Jesus, ³  so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers ⁴  to arrest him. ⁵ 

John 7:45

Lack of Belief

7:45 Then the officers ⁶  returned ⁷  to the chief priests and Pharisees, ⁸  who said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him back with you?” ⁹ 

[7:32]  ¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.

[7:32]  ² tn Or “The common people” (as opposed to the religious authorities like the Pharisees).

[7:32]  ³ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:32]  ⁴ 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).

[7:32]  ⁵ tn Grk “to seize him.” In the context of a deliberate attempt by the servants of the chief priests and Pharisees to detain Jesus, the English verb “arrest” conveys the point more effectively.

[7:45]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Grk “came.”

[7:45]  ⁸ sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.

[7:45]  ⁹ tn Grk “Why did you not bring him?” The words “back with you” are implied.