Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
Parallel translations
- WEB They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
- BSB Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses.
- NKJV Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.
- NASB They spoke abusively to him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
- NLT Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!
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 leaders insult him, claiming they are disciples of Moses while he follows Jesus. They set Moses against Jesus.
Overview
Stung by his boldness, the Pharisees revile the man and align themselves with Moses against Jesus. Ironically, Moses wrote of Christ (John 5:46), so true loyalty to Moses would lead to faith in Jesus. The verse exposes how clinging to tradition apart from Christ misreads the very Scriptures it claims to honor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Cor 4:12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
- 1 Cor 6:10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
- Rom 2:17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
- John 7:47–52Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
- Matt 27:39And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
- Acts 6:11–14Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
- Isa 51:7Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
- 1 Pet 2:23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
- John 7:19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
- John 9:34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
- John 5:45–47Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
- Matt 5:11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
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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.
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Original language
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