The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”
Parallel translations
- WEB The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”
- KJV And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
- NKJV And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”
- NASB The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this Man become learned, not having been educated?”
- NLT The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.
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 Jews marveled at Jesus' learning, since He had no formal rabbinic training. His depth of understanding could not be explained by ordinary education.
Overview
The authorities recognized Jesus' command of the Scriptures but were puzzled because He had not studied under a recognized rabbi. Their astonishment unwittingly points to the divine source of His teaching, which He explains in the next verses. Rather than crediting human schooling, Jesus' wisdom flows from His unique relationship with the Father who sent Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Luke 4:22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
- Matt 7:28–29When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
- Matt 13:54Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.
- Acts 26:24At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”
- Luke 2:47And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
- Matt 22:22And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
- John 7:46“Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.
- Amos 7:14–15“I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees.
- Mark 6:2–3When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
- Acts 2:7–13Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
- Acts 4:11–12This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
- Matt 22:33When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
- John 1:19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
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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 7:15 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.