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But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as though in secret.
John 7:10 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
  • 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.
  • NKJV But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
  • NLT But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Once His brothers had left, Jesus also went up to the feast, but quietly rather than openly. He goes in His own time and manner, not in the public spectacle His brothers wanted.

Overview

Jesus' going up 'in secret' is not deceptive but deliberate, avoiding the premature confrontation that public fanfare would have caused before His hour. This restraint reflects His submission to the Father's plan and His wisdom in the face of growing hostility. The contrast with His brothers' demand for self-promotion highlights Jesus' refusal to seek glory on the world's terms.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • Amos 5:13Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
  • Matt 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
  • Isa 42:2–3He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.
  • John 11:54Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.
  • John 7:5For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
  • Matt 3:15But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
  • John 7:3His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
  • Ps 40:8I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”
  • Ps 26:8Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells.
  • Gal 4:4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 7:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.

How John 7:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.