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His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
John 7:3 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
  • BSB So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
  • NKJV His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
  • NASB So His brothers said to Him, “Move on from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.
  • NLT and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles!

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

Jesus's brothers urge Him to go to Judea so His disciples can see His works. Their advice reflects misunderstanding rather than true faith.

Overview

His brothers press Him to seek public recognition in Jerusalem at the feast. Their counsel assumes a worldly strategy for fame, not the Father's redemptive plan. John uses their words to contrast human notions of success with Jesus's obedience to the Father's will and timing.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • Matt 12:46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
  • John 7:5For neither did his brethren believe in him.
  • Luke 8:19Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
  • John 7:10But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
  • Matt 22:16–17And 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.
  • 1 Sam 17:28And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
  • Mark 3:31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
  • Gen 37:20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
  • Jer 12:6For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
  • Gen 37:5–11And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
  • Acts 2:14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 7:3YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 7:3 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.