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.
Parallel translations
- WEB There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.”
- BSB Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”
- NKJV And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”
- NASB And there was a great deal of talk about Him in secret among the crowds: some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He is misleading the people.”
- NLT There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.”
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
The crowds were divided over Jesus, some calling Him a good man and others saying He deceives the people. The murmuring shows the polarizing effect of His person and claims.
Overview
This division anticipates the larger split John records throughout his Gospel: people must decide who Jesus is. The charge that He 'leads the multitude astray' echoes accusations later leveled at Him and recalls warnings against false prophets. Yet the very fact that Jesus forces such a decision points to His unique authority, for no one can remain neutral before the Son of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- John 7:40–43Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
- John 9:16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
- Acts 11:24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
- John 7:47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
- John 7:32The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
- John 7:52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
- Luke 23:47Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
- Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
- John 6:14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
- Rom 5:7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
- Luke 7:16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
- Matt 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
- Luke 23:50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
- Matt 21:46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
- John 10:19–21There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
- Phil 2:14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
- Matt 27:63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
- Luke 18:19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
- Matt 16:13–16When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
- John 7:25–27Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
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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 7:12 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
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