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.”
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.”
- 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.”
- 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.”
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 multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
- John 9:16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.
- Acts 11:24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
- John 7:47The Pharisees therefore answered them, “You aren’t also led astray, are you?
- John 7:32The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
- John 7:52They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
- Luke 23:47When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
- Luke 6:45The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- John 6:14When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”
- Rom 5:7For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.
- Luke 7:16Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
- Matt 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
- Luke 23:50Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
- Matt 21:46When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
- John 10:19–21Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words.
- Phil 2:14Do all things without murmurings and disputes,
- Matt 27:63saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
- Luke 18:19Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one — God.
- Matt 16:13–16Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
- John 7:25–27Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, “Isn’t 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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