Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
- BSB Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.
- NKJV However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
- NASB However, no one was speaking openly about Him, for fear of the Jews.
- NLT But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
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
No one spoke openly about Jesus because they feared the Jewish authorities. Fear of the leaders silenced honest discussion about Him.
Overview
The intimidating power of the religious establishment kept people from openly confessing any favorable view of Jesus. This fear of man recurs in John (9:22; 12:42) and stands in contrast to the bold confession Jesus calls for. It exposes how the threat of social and religious exclusion can suppress the truth, a pressure believers in every age may face.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- John 9:22These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
- John 19:38And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
- John 20:19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
- John 12:42–43Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
- Rev 2:13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
- Prov 29:25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
- 2 Tim 2:9–13Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
- John 3:2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
- Gal 2:12–13For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
- John 9:34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
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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 7:13 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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