The Meaning of John 7:21 Explained

John 7:21

KJV: Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

YLT: Jesus answered and said to them, 'One work I did, and ye all wonder,

Darby: Jesus answered and said to them, I have done one work, and ye all wonder.

ASV: Jesus answered and said unto them, I did one work, and ye all marvel because thereof.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto them,  I have done  one  work,  and  ye  all  marvel. 

What does John 7:21 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The one deed (lit. work, Gr. ergon, i.e, a miraculous work) that He had done to which Jesus referred was evidently the healing of the paralytic at the Bethesda pool ( John 7:23; John 5:1-9). It had caused all who heard of it to marvel ( John 5:10-18). It had begun the controversy about Jesus in Jerusalem.

Context Summary

John 7:14-24 - How To Know The Truth Of Jesus' Word
Jesus now went up to the feast, not because he was prompted by the worldly policy suggested by His brethren, but because He was led by His Father's will. We must be on our guard against unspiritual advisers, and must wait till the hour and the minute-hands of the clock have reached the precise moment of the Father's appointment.
Here is an easy method of ascertaining whether our Lord's words about God, Himself, and the future are merely the words of a human teacher, or are really God's. Be willing to do as He says! Stand prepared to fulfill whatever is revealed to your mind and witnessed to by the inner voice! Live with your face toward the dawn, for though it tarry long it will certainly break. See John 3:21. Faith in the gospel does not come by logic, but as the result of obeying the highest truth that you know. Follow on and your path will lead you out to where Jesus stands, the revealed Son of God and the Savior of men. The old quarrel as to the miracle wrought at Bethesda on the Sabbath was still alive, John 7:22-23. His critics did not hold that the Mosaic law was violated if a child's submission to the Jewish initiatory rite was performed on the Sabbath. How foolish, then, to blame Jesus for an act of mercy and healing! [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 7:21

One work [εν εργον]
Direct allusion to the healing of the impotent man when in Jerusalem before (John 5:1.). He had wrought others before (John 2:23; John 4:45), but this one on the Sabbath caused the rulers to try to kill Jesus (John 5:18). Some wondered then, others had murder in their hearts. This crowd here is ignorant. [source]
One work [ἓν ἔργον]
The healing on the Sabbath (John 5:1-8). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:21

John 4:48 Signs and wonders [σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα]
See on Matthew 24:24. Σημεῖα , signs, and ἔργα , works, are John's characteristic words for miracles. See John 5:20; John 7:21; John 14:10; John 2:23; John 6:2, etc. [source]
John 5:20 Loveth [πιλει]
In John 3:35 we have αγαπαι — agapāi from αγαπαω — agapaō evidently one verb expressing as noble a love as the other. Sometimes a distinction (John 21:17) is made, but not here, unless πιλεω — phileō presents the notion of intimate friendship Τουτων — Toutōn is ablative case after the comparative μειζονα — meizona (from μεγας — megas great). John often uses εργα — erga for the miracles of Christ (John 5:36; John 7:3, John 7:21; John 10:25, John 10:32, John 10:38, etc.). It is the Father who does these works (John 14:10). There is more to follow. Even the disciples will surpass what Christ is doing in the extent of the work (John 14:12). Δειχει — Deixei is future active indicative of δεικνυμι — deiknumi to show. See also John 10:32. That ye may marvel Purpose clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of ταυμαζω — thaumazō Wonder belongs to childhood and to men of knowledge. Modern science has increased the occasion for wonder. Clement of Alexandria has a saying of Jesus: “He that wonders shall reign, and he that reigns shall rest.” [source]
Galatians 1:6 I marvel [θαυμάζω]
Often by Greek orators of surprise as something reprehensible. So in New Testament Mark 6:6; John 7:21; Luke 11:38; John 4:27. [source]

What do the individual words in John 7:21 mean?

Answered Jesus and said to them One work I did all you marvel
Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἓν ἔργον ἐποίησα πάντες θαυμάζετε

Ἀπεκρίθη  Answered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Ἓν  One 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
ἔργον  work 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
ἐποίησα  I  did 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
θαυμάζετε  you  marvel 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐκθαυμάζω 
Sense: to wonder, wonder at, marvel.

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