The Meaning of John 7:24 Explained

John 7:24

KJV: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

YLT: judge not according to appearance, but the righteous judgment judge.'

Darby: Judge not according to sight, but judge righteous judgment.

ASV: Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Judge  not  according to  the appearance,  but  judge  righteous  judgment. 

What does John 7:24 Mean?

Study Notes

righteous
.
righteousness
"Righteousness" here, and in the passages having marginal references to this, means the righteous life which is the result of salvation through Christ. The righteous man under law became righteous by doing righteously; under grace he does righteously because he has been made righteous Romans 3:22 .
(See Scofield " Romans 10:3 ")

Verse Meaning

Jesus concluded by warning His hearers against judging superficially (cf. Deuteronomy 16:18-19; Isaiah 11:3-4; Zechariah 7:9). Their superficial judgment about what was legitimate activity for the Sabbath had resulted in superficial judgment about Jesus" work and person. He told them to stop doing that. They needed to judge on the basis of righteous criteria, what was truly right.

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 7:24

According to appearance [κατ οπσιν]
And so, superficially. See John 11:44. Also not “righteous” (δικαιαν — dikaian) judgment. [source]
Appearance [ὄψιν]
Primarily, seeing or sight. In John 11:44; Revelation 1:16, face, and hence external appearance. The word occurs only in the three passages cited. [source]
Righteous judgment [τὴν δικαίαν κρίσιν]
Properly, the righteous judgment; that which is appropriate to the case in hand. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:24

Romans 2:2 According to [κατα]
As the rule of measure. Cf. John 7:24. [source]
Revelation 1:16 Countenance [ὄψις]
Used by John only, and only three times: here, John 7:24; John 11:44. Not general appearance. [source]
Revelation 1:16 In his right hand [εν τηι δεχιαι χειρι]
For safe keeping as in John 10:28.Seven stars (αστερας επτα — asteras hepta). Symbols of the seven churches (Revelation 1:20), seven planets rather than Pleiades or any other constellation like the bear.Proceeded Present middle participle of εκπορευομαι — ekporeuomai old compound (Matthew 3:5) used loosely again like εχων — echōn sharp two-edged sword “A sword two-mouthed sharp.” ομπαια — Romphaia (as distinct from μαχαιρα — machaira) is a long sword, properly a Thracian javelin, in N.T. only Luke 2:35; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12; Hebrews 4:12. See στομα — stoma used with μαχαιρης — machairēs in Luke 21:24 (by the mouth of the sword).Countenance (οπσις — opsis). Old word (from οπτω — optō), in N.T. only here, John 7:24; John 11:44.As the sun shineth Brachylogy, “as the sun when it shines.” For παινει — phainei see John 1:5. [source]
Revelation 1:16 Proceeded [εκπορευομενη]
Present middle participle of εκπορευομαι — ekporeuomai old compound (Matthew 3:5) used loosely again like εχων — echōn sharp two-edged sword “A sword two-mouthed sharp.” ομπαια — Romphaia (as distinct from μαχαιρα — machaira) is a long sword, properly a Thracian javelin, in N.T. only Luke 2:35; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12; Hebrews 4:12. See στομα — stoma used with μαχαιρης — machairēs in Luke 21:24 (by the mouth of the sword).Countenance (οπσις — opsis). Old word (from οπτω — optō), in N.T. only here, John 7:24; John 11:44.As the sun shineth Brachylogy, “as the sun when it shines.” For παινει — phainei see John 1:5. [source]
Revelation 1:16 Countenance [οπσις]
Old word (from οπτω — optō), in N.T. only here, John 7:24; John 11:44. [source]

What do the individual words in John 7:24 mean?

Not judge according to appearance but the righteous judgment judge
μὴ κρίνετε κατ’ ὄψιν ἀλλὰ τὴν δικαίαν κρίσιν κρίνετε

κρίνετε  judge 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
κατ’  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ὄψιν  appearance 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὄψις  
Sense: seeing, sight.
δικαίαν  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: δίκαιος  
Sense: righteous, observing divine laws.
κρίσιν  judgment 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κρίσις  
Sense: a separating, sundering, separation.
κρίνετε  judge 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.