But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?
- BSB Yet here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying anything to Him. Have the rulers truly recognized that this is the Christ?
- NKJV But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?
- NASB And yet look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they?
- NLT But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah?
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
They wonder why Jesus speaks openly without being stopped, asking if the rulers truly know He is the Christ. The authorities' silence raises questions about His identity.
Overview
The Jerusalemites are puzzled that Jesus teaches publicly while the leaders, who sought to kill Him, do nothing. They speculate, perhaps half in earnest, that the rulers may secretly acknowledge Him as the Messiah. This unintended testimony reflects the genuine question pressing on the crowd: is this man the promised Christ?
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Tim 1:7–8For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- Eph 6:19–20And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
- John 7:48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
- Phil 1:14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
- Luke 7:30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
- Prov 28:1The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
- 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.
- Ps 40:9–10I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
- Matt 22:16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
- Isa 50:7–8For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
- Acts 4:13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
- Isa 42:4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
- John 11:47–53Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
- Ps 71:15–16My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
- John 12:42Nevertheless 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:
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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 7:26 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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