The Meaning of John 7:13 Explained

John 7:13

KJV: Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

YLT: no one, however, was speaking freely about him, through fear of the Jews.

Darby: However, no one spoke openly concerning him on account of their fear of the Jews.

ASV: Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Howbeit  no man  spake  openly  of  him  for  fear  of the Jews. 

What does John 7:13 Mean?

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

1  Jesus reproves the ambition and boldness of his kinsmen;
10  goes up from Galilee to the feast of tabernacles;
14  teaches in the temple
40  Various opinions of him among the people
45  The Pharisees are angry that their officers took him not,
50  and chide with Nicodemus for taking his side

Greek Commentary for John 7:13

Howbeit [μεντοι]
See John 4:27 for this compound particle Imperfect active of ουδεις παρρησιαι — laleō “was speaking,” picturing the whispering or secret talk (no man openly, εν — oudeis parrēsiāi). Best MSS. do not have παρρησιαι — en here with εν — parrēsiāi (locative or instrumental case of manner) as in John 7:26; John 10:24; John 11:54, but παρρησιαι — en genuine in John 7:4; Colossians 2:15. This adverbial use of δια τον ποβον των Ιουδαιων — parrēsiāi is common enough (Mark 8:37). For fear of the Jews (dia ton phobon tōn Ioudaiōn). Objective genitive. The crowds really feared the Jewish leaders and evidently did not wish to involve Jesus or themselves. See the same phrase and attitude on the part of the disciples in John 19:38; John 20:19. [source]
Openly [παῤῥησίᾳ]
The word may mean either without reserve (John 10:24; John 11:14), or without fear (John 11:54). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:13

John 16:25 Plainly [παῤῥησίᾳ]
See on John 7:13. [source]
John 10:24 Plainly [παῤῥησίᾳ]
See on John 7:13. [source]
John 12:42 Nevertheless even [ομως μεντοι και]
For the old ομως — homōs see 1 Corinthians 14:7; Galatians 3:15 (only other examples in N.T.), here only with μεντοι — mentoi “but yet,” and και — kai “even.” In spite of what has just been said “many These actually “believed on him” Like the whispered talk in John 7:13 “because of the fear of the Jews.” Once the Pharisees sneeringly asked the officers (John 7:48): “Hath any one of the rulers believed on him?” And now “many of the rulers have believed on him.” They did not confess Negative imperfect in contrast to the punctiliar aorist επιστευσαν — episteusan “They kept on not confessing.” How like the cowardly excuses made today by those under conviction who refuse to step out for Christ. Lest they should be put out of the synagogue Cf. John 9:22 where this very word occurs in a purpose clause like this. Only once more in the N.T. (John 16:2), a Jewish word not in profane authors. This ostracism from the synagogue was dreaded by the Jews and made cowards of these “believing elders.” More than They preferred the glory and praise of men more than the glory and praise of God. How apropos these words are to some suave cowards today. [source]
John 16:25 In proverbs [εν παροιμιαις]
See note on John 10:6 for this word. Shall tell Future active of απαγγελλω — apaggellō to report, correct text and not αναγγελω — anaggelō (John 16:13, John 16:14, John 16:15), as in 1 John 1:2. Plainly See note on John 7:13 for this word. [source]
John 20:19 When therefore it was evening on that day [ουσης ουν οπσιας τηι ημεραι εκεινει]
Genitive absolute with οπσια — opsia John often uses this note of time (John 1:39; John 5:9; John 11:53; John 14:20; John 16:23, John 16:26). The addition of τηι μιαι σαββατων — tēi miāi sabbatōn (see John 20:1 for this use of μιαι — miāi like πρωτηι — prōtēi) proves that John is using Roman time, not Jewish, for here evening follows day instead of preceding it. When the doors were shut Genitive absolute again with perfect passive participle of κλειω — kleiō shut to keep the Jews out. News of the empty tomb had already spread (Matthew 28:11). See John 7:13 for the phrase “for fear of the Jews”; cf. John 12:42. Stood in the midst Second aorist (ingressive) active (intransitive) of ιστημι — histēmi “stepped into the midst.” Peace be unto you The usual oriental salutation as in John 20:21, John 20:26; Luke 24:36, here with probable reference to John 14:27 (Christ‘s legacy of peace). [source]
John 7:4 In secret [εν κρυπτωι]
See Matthew 6:4, Matthew 6:6 for this phrase. Openly “In public” See Matthew 8:32. Common in John (John 7:13, John 7:26; John 10:24; John 16:25, John 16:29; John 18:20; here again contrasted with en kruptōi). It is wise advice in the abstract that a public teacher must allow inspection of his deeds, but the motive is evil. They might get Jesus into trouble. εν κρυπτωι — If thou doest these things This condition of the first class assumes the reality of the deeds of Jesus, but the use of the condition at all throws doubt on it all as in Matthew 4:3, Matthew 4:6. Manifest thyself First aorist active imperative of πανερωσον σεαυτον — phaneroō To the world Not just to “thy disciples,” but to the public at large as at the feast of tabernacles. See John 8:26; John 14:22 for this use of τωι κοσμωι — kosmos f0). [source]
John 7:15 Marvelled [εταυμαζον]
Picturesque imperfect active of ταυμαζω — thaumazō “were wondering.” After all the bluster of the rulers (John 7:13) here was Jesus teaching without interruption. Knoweth letters Second perfect active indicative used as present. Γραμματα — Grammata old word from γραπω — graphō to write, is originally the letters formed (Galatians 6:11), then a letter or epistle (Acts 28:21), then the sacred Scriptures (John 5:47; 2 Timothy 3:15), then learning like Latin litterae and English letters (Acts 26:24; John 7:15). “The marvel was that Jesus showed Himself familiar with the literary methods of the time, which were supposed to be confined to the scholars of the popular teachers” (Westcott). Having never learned Perfect active participle of μαντανω — manthanō with μη — mē the usual negative (subjective) with the participle. It is not the wisdom of Jesus that disconcerted the Jewish leaders, but his learning (Marcus Dods). And yet Jesus had not attended either of the rabbinical theological schools in Jerusalem (Hillel, Shammai). He was not a rabbi in the technical sense, only a carpenter, and yet he surpassed the professional rabbis in the use of their own methods of debate. It is sometimes true today that unschooled men in various walks of life forge ahead of men of lesser gifts with school training. See the like puzzle of the Sanhedrin concerning Peter and John (Acts 4:13). This is not an argument against education, but it takes more than education to make a real man. Probably this sneer at Jesus came from some of the teachers in the Jerusalem seminaries. “Christ was in the eyes of the Jews a merely self-taught enthusiast” (Westcott). [source]
John 7:20 The 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 9:22 Because they feared the Jews [οτι εποβουντο τους Ιουδαιους]
Imperfect middle, a continuing fear and not without reason. See note on the whispers about Jesus because of fear of the Jews (John 7:13). Had agreed already Past perfect middle of συντιτημι — suntithēmi to put together, to form a compact (John 7:32, John 7:47-49). If any man should confess him to be Christ Condition of third class with εαν — ean and first aorist active subjunctive of ομολογεω — homologeō and predicate accusative Χριστον — Christon Jesus had made confession of himself before men the test of discipleship and denial the disproof (Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8). We know that many of the rulers nominally believed on Jesus (John 12:42) and yet “did not confess him because of the Pharisees” Small wonder then that here the parents cowered a bit. That he should be put out of the synagogue Sub-final use of ινα — hina with second aorist middle subjunctive of γινομαι — ginomai Αποσυναγωγος — Aposunagōgos (απο — apo and συναγωγη — sunagōgē) is found in N.T. only here and John 12:42; John 16:2. A purely Jewish word naturally. There were three kinds of excommunication (for thirty days, for thirty more, indefinitely). [source]
2 Corinthians 3:12 Plainness [παῤῥησίᾳ]
Rev., boldness. See on openly, John 7:13; see on confidence, 1 John 2:28; see on freely, Acts 2:29. The contrast is with the dissembling with which his adversaries charged him. [source]
Philemon 1:8 I might be much bold [πολλὴν παῤῥησίαν ἔχων]
Better, as Rev., I have all boldness. Παῤῥησία boldnessis opposed to fear, John 7:13; to ambiguity or reserve, John 11:14. The idea of publicity may attach to it as subsidiary, John 7:4. [source]
1 John 5:14 Confidence [παῤῥησία]
Rev., boldness. See on 1 John 2:28; see on John 7:13. On have boldness, see on John 16:22. [source]
1 John 2:28 We may have confidence [σχῶμεν παῤῥησίαν]
Rev., boldness. For the phrase have boldness, see 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:14; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 10:19; Philemon 1:8. For the word παῤῥησία boldnesssee on John 7:13; see on Acts 2:29. It is opposed, as here, to αἰσχύνομαι tobe ashamed, in Proverbs 13:5, where the Septuagint reads “a wicked man is ashamed ( αἰσχύνεται ) and shall not have boldness ( παῤῥησίαν ). Also in Philemon 1:20. Compare 2 Corinthians 3:12. The idea of free, open speech lies at the bottom of the word: coming before God's bar with nothing to conceal. The thought is embodied in the general confession of the Book of Common Prayer: “That we should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of Almighty God our Heavenly Father, but confess them.” So John Wesley's Hymn:“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousnessMy beauty are, my glorious dress: 'Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,-DIVIDER-
With joy shall I lift up my head.Bold shall I stand in Thy great day,For who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully absolved through these I am, - From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.” [source]

What do the individual words in John 7:13 mean?

No one however publicly was speaking about Him because of the fear of the Jews
Οὐδεὶς μέντοι παρρησίᾳ ἐλάλει περὶ αὐτοῦ διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων

Οὐδεὶς  No  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
μέντοι  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέντοι  
Sense: but yet, nevertheless, howbeit.
παρρησίᾳ  publicly 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: παρρησία  
Sense: freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech.
ἐλάλει  was  speaking 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
περὶ  about 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
φόβον  fear 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: φόβος  
Sense: fear, dread, terror.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰουδαίων  Jews 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰουδαῖος  
Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race.