Since John usually used the phrase "the Jews" to describe the Jewish authorities who were hostile to Jesus (cf. John 1:19; John 7:13; et al.), that is probably who was trying to find Him here. Their intentions seem pernicious. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
John 7:1-13 - Known By Our Attitude Toward Jesus
This feast was celebrated in October. Six entire months had elapsed between this and the preceding chapter. During the Feast of Tabernacles the people dwelt in tents made of boughs, on the roofs of the houses, and in the open places in or around Jerusalem. The rites of the feast recalled the miraculous interpositions of the Exodus. Water was poured forth each morning in the Temple to recall the smiting of the rock. Two candelabra, lighted each evening, represented the luminous cloud which lighted the Israelites by night. The brethren of Jesus are named in Matthew 13:55, of whom James afterward became chief pastor of the Jerusalem church. They could not deny His miracles; could not understand why he did not lead the popular movement that was ready to follow; and urged that he should at least give the authorities at the capital an opportunity of examining His claims. They felt that things had reached a point where there ought to be no standing still. Jesus could not explain the reasons that actuated Him. He knew that His open challenge to Jerusalem would mean His death; but there was yet further work to be done before His time should come. Let us use our time according to the divine plan. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 7
1Jesus reproves the ambition and boldness of his kinsmen; 10goes up from Galilee to the feast of tabernacles; 14teaches in the temple 40Various opinions of him among the people 45The Pharisees are angry that their officers took him not, 50and chide with Nicodemus for taking his side
Greek Commentary for John 7:11
The Jews [οι Ιουδαιοι] The hostile leaders in Jerusalem, not the Galilean crowds (John 7:12) nor the populace in Jerusalem (John 7:25). Sought Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō “were seeking,” picture of the attitude of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus who had not yet appeared in public at the feast. In fact he had avoided Jerusalem since the collision in chapter 5. The leaders clearly wished to attack him. Where is he? “Where is that one? (emphatic use of εκεινος ekeinos as in John 1:8; John 9:12). Jesus had been at two feasts during his ministry (passover in John 2:12.; possibly another passover in John 5:1), but he had avoided the preceding passover (John 6:4; John 7:1). The leaders in Jerusalem had kept in touch with Christ‘s work in Galilee. They anticipate a crisis in Jerusalem. [source]
Then [οὖν] Better, therefore; because He did not come up with the Galilaeans. [source]
Sought [ἐζήτουν] The imperfect: kept seeking; persistently sought for Him. [source]
He [ἐκεῖνος] Emphatic: that one of whom we have heard, and whom we once saw. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:11
John 11:56They sought therefore for Jesus [εζητουν ουν τον Ιησουν] Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō and common ουν oun of which John is so fond. They were seeking Jesus six months before at the feast of tabernacles (John 7:11), but now they really mean to kill him. As they stood in the temple Perfect active participle (intransitive) of ιστημι histēmi a graphic picture of the various groups of leaders in Jerusalem and from other lands, “the knots of people in the Temple precincts” (Bernard). They had done this at the tabernacles (John 7:11-13), but now there is new excitement due to the recent raising of Lazarus and to the public order for the arrest of Jesus. That he will not come to the feast? The form of the question (indirect discourse after δοκειτε dokeite) assumes strongly that Jesus will not (ου μη ou mē double negative with second aorist active ελτηι elthēi from ερχομαι erchomai) dare to come this time for the reason given in John 11:57. [source]
John 7:14But when it was now in the midst of the feast [ηδη δε της εορτης μεσουσης] Literally, “But feast being already midway.” Genitive absolute, present active participle, of μεσοω mesoō old verb from μεσος mesos in lxx, here only in N.T. The feast of tabernacles was originally seven days, but a last day (John 7:37; Leviticus 23:36) was added, making eight in all. And taught Imperfect active of διδασκω didaskō probably inchoative, “began to teach.” He went up The leaders had asked (John 7:11) where Jesus was. There he was now before their very eyes. [source]
John 7:20The multitude [ο οχλος] Outside of Jerusalem (the Galilean crowd as in John 7:11.) and so unfamiliar with the effort to kill Jesus recorded in John 5:18. It is important in this chapter to distinguish clearly the several groups like the Jewish leaders (John 7:13,John 7:15,John 7:25,John 7:26,John 7:30,John 7:32, etc.), the multitude from Galilee and elsewhere (John 7:10-13,John 7:20,John 7:31,John 7:40,John 7:49), the common people of Jerusalem (John 7:25), the Roman soldiers (John 7:45.). Thou hast a devil “Demon,” of course, as always in the Gospels. These pilgrims make the same charge against Jesus made long ago by the Pharisees in Jerusalem in explanation of the difference between John and Jesus (Matthew 11:18; Luke 7:33). It is an easy way to make a fling like that. “He is a monomaniac labouring under a hallucination that people wish to kill him” (Dods). [source]
John 7:32The Pharisees [οι Παρισαιοι] This group of the Jewish rulers (John 7:11,John 7:15,John 7:25.) was particularly hostile to Christ, though already the Sadducees had become critical (Matthew 16:6) and they join here First aorist active indicative of ακουω akouō with the genitive case and the descriptive participle of the vivid onomatopoetic verb γογγυζω gogguzō (John 7:12) now grown louder like the hum of bees. It was the defense of Jesus by a portion of the crowd (John 7:31) that irritated the Pharisees. Here the Pharisees take the initiative and enlist the Sadducees in the Sanhedrin (for this combination see John 7:45; John 11:47,John 11:57; Matthew 21:45; Matthew 27:62, the organized court) to send “officers” For υπηρετας hupēretas (temple police here) see John 7:45; John 18:3,John 18:12,John 18:22; John 19:6; Acts 5:22,Acts 5:26. For the word see Matthew 5:25; Luke 1:2, “an under rower” (υπο ερετης hupo class="translit"> eretēs), any assistant. [source]
Greek Commentary for John 7:11
The hostile leaders in Jerusalem, not the Galilean crowds (John 7:12) nor the populace in Jerusalem (John 7:25). Sought Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō “were seeking,” picture of the attitude of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus who had not yet appeared in public at the feast. In fact he had avoided Jerusalem since the collision in chapter 5. The leaders clearly wished to attack him. Where is he? “Where is that one? (emphatic use of εκεινος ekeinos as in John 1:8; John 9:12). Jesus had been at two feasts during his ministry (passover in John 2:12.; possibly another passover in John 5:1), but he had avoided the preceding passover (John 6:4; John 7:1). The leaders in Jerusalem had kept in touch with Christ‘s work in Galilee. They anticipate a crisis in Jerusalem. [source]
Better, therefore; because He did not come up with the Galilaeans. [source]
The imperfect: kept seeking; persistently sought for Him. [source]
Emphatic: that one of whom we have heard, and whom we once saw. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:11
Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō and common ουν oun of which John is so fond. They were seeking Jesus six months before at the feast of tabernacles (John 7:11), but now they really mean to kill him. As they stood in the temple Perfect active participle (intransitive) of ιστημι histēmi a graphic picture of the various groups of leaders in Jerusalem and from other lands, “the knots of people in the Temple precincts” (Bernard). They had done this at the tabernacles (John 7:11-13), but now there is new excitement due to the recent raising of Lazarus and to the public order for the arrest of Jesus. That he will not come to the feast? The form of the question (indirect discourse after δοκειτε dokeite) assumes strongly that Jesus will not (ου μη ou mē double negative with second aorist active ελτηι elthēi from ερχομαι erchomai) dare to come this time for the reason given in John 11:57. [source]
Literally, “But feast being already midway.” Genitive absolute, present active participle, of μεσοω mesoō old verb from μεσος mesos in lxx, here only in N.T. The feast of tabernacles was originally seven days, but a last day (John 7:37; Leviticus 23:36) was added, making eight in all. And taught Imperfect active of διδασκω didaskō probably inchoative, “began to teach.” He went up The leaders had asked (John 7:11) where Jesus was. There he was now before their very eyes. [source]
Outside of Jerusalem (the Galilean crowd as in John 7:11.) and so unfamiliar with the effort to kill Jesus recorded in John 5:18. It is important in this chapter to distinguish clearly the several groups like the Jewish leaders (John 7:13, John 7:15, John 7:25, John 7:26, John 7:30, John 7:32, etc.), the multitude from Galilee and elsewhere (John 7:10-13, John 7:20, John 7:31, John 7:40, John 7:49), the common people of Jerusalem (John 7:25), the Roman soldiers (John 7:45.). Thou hast a devil “Demon,” of course, as always in the Gospels. These pilgrims make the same charge against Jesus made long ago by the Pharisees in Jerusalem in explanation of the difference between John and Jesus (Matthew 11:18; Luke 7:33). It is an easy way to make a fling like that. “He is a monomaniac labouring under a hallucination that people wish to kill him” (Dods). [source]
This group of the Jewish rulers (John 7:11, John 7:15, John 7:25.) was particularly hostile to Christ, though already the Sadducees had become critical (Matthew 16:6) and they join here First aorist active indicative of ακουω akouō with the genitive case and the descriptive participle of the vivid onomatopoetic verb γογγυζω gogguzō (John 7:12) now grown louder like the hum of bees. It was the defense of Jesus by a portion of the crowd (John 7:31) that irritated the Pharisees. Here the Pharisees take the initiative and enlist the Sadducees in the Sanhedrin (for this combination see John 7:45; John 11:47, John 11:57; Matthew 21:45; Matthew 27:62, the organized court) to send “officers” For υπηρετας hupēretas (temple police here) see John 7:45; John 18:3, John 18:12, John 18:22; John 19:6; Acts 5:22, Acts 5:26. For the word see Matthew 5:25; Luke 1:2, “an under rower” (υπο ερετης hupo class="translit"> eretēs), any assistant. [source]
The very question of John 7:11. [source]
Constative aorist active indicative summing up the life of Christ on earth with the emphatic use of the demonstrative εκεινος ekeinos in reference to Christ as in 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:17; John 7:11; John 9:12, John 9:28; John 19:21. [source]