Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”
- BSB “Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
- NKJV “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
- NASB “Our Law does not judge the person unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”
- NLT “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he 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
Nicodemus asks whether their law condemns a man without first hearing him and learning what he has done. He appeals for due process and fairness toward Jesus.
Overview
Nicodemus reminds his colleagues that the law itself requires a fair hearing before judgment, exposing their rush to condemn Jesus. His appeal to justice quietly challenges the prejudice of the council. This courageous, if measured, defense shows the law rightly applied would protect Jesus, whom they were determined to reject.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Prov 18:13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- Deut 1:17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
- Acts 23:3Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
- Deut 19:15–19One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
- Deut 17:6At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
- Deut 17:8–11If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;
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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.
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Original language
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