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.
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.
- KJV His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
- 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.
- 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 was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.
- John 7:5For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
- Luke 8:19His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd.
- John 7:10But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
- Matt 22:16–17They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.
- 1 Sam 17:28Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.”
- Mark 3:31His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.
- Gen 37:20Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”
- Jer 12:6For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you! Don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
- Gen 37:5–11Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.
- Acts 2:14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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.