The Meaning of John 7:28 Explained

John 7:28

KJV: Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

YLT: Jesus cried, therefore, in the temple, teaching and saying, 'Ye have both known me, and ye have known whence I am; and I have not come of myself, but He who sent me is true, whom ye have not known;

Darby: Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me and ye know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye do not know.

ASV: Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  cried  Jesus  in  the temple  as he taught,  saying,  Ye both  know me,  and  ye know  whence  I am:  and  I am  not  come  of  myself,  but  he that sent  me  is  true,  whom  ye  know  not. 

What does John 7:28 Mean?

Context Summary

John 7:25-31 - The Unavoidable Christ
The freedom with which Jesus preached arrested the attention of the people in Jerusalem, and many wondered whether the cessation of hostility indicated a tacit admission on the part of the authorities that Jesus was what He claimed to be. But they were deferred in arriving at this final conclusion by the consideration that the origin of the Messiah would be unknown, John 7:27. Jesus answered this objection in John 7:28-29. He says in effect: "What you say is true: the Messiah's origin is not known: but my origin is unknown, because it is from God, whom you, notwithstanding your profession, do not know. I know Him, but to you He is only a venerable Name." The knowledge of the birth at Bethlehem and the lowly family of Jesus, will not explain the mystery of His Person or the secret of His influence on men. All that can only be accounted for by His divine glory as the Only-Begotten of the Father. His hearers immediately recognized the greatness of these claims, which appeared to them blasphemous, though to us they are the literal truth. While the adversaries of Jesus were strengthened in their purpose, His friends were confirmed in their faith. John 7:31 is a decided advance upon John 7:12. See 2 Corinthians 2:16. [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 7:28

And I am not come of myself [και απ εμαυτου ουκ εληλυτα]
Και — Kai here = “and yet.” Jesus repeats the claim of John 7:17 and also in John 5:30; John 8:28; John 12:49; John 14:10. Whom ye know not Jesus passes by a controversy over the piece of popular theology to point out their ignorance of God the Father who sent him. He tersely agrees that they know something of him. Jesus says of these Jews that they know not God as in John 8:19, John 8:55. [source]
Then [οὗν]
Rev., rightly, therefore, giving the reason for the succeeding words in Jesus' emotion awakened by the misconceptions of the people. [source]
Cried [ἔκραξεν]
See on Mark 5:5; see on Mark 9:24. [source]
As He taught [διδάσκων]
Better, Rev., teaching. The expression cried teaching implies speaking in a peculiarly solemn manner and with an elevation of voice. [source]
Me - whence I am []
Conceding the truth of the people's statement in John 7:27, we know this man whence he is, so far as His outward person and His earthly origin were concerned. He goes on to show that they are ignorant of His divine relationship. [source]
TRUE [ἀληθινὸς]
True to the ideal of a sender: a genuine sender in the highest sense of the term. See on John 1:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:28

John 5:23 Which sent Him []
A phrase peculiar to John, and used only by the Lord, of the Father. See John 4:34; John 6:38, John 6:39; John 7:16, John 7:28, John 7:33, etc. [source]
John 4:22 Ye know not what [ὁ οὐκ οἴδατε]
Literally, what ye know not. Rev., rightly, that which ye know not. Compare Acts 17:23, where the correct reading is ὃ , what, instead of ὃν , whom: “what therefore ye worship in ignorance.” This worship of the unknown is common to vulgar ignorance and to philosophic culture; to the Samaritan woman, and to the Athenian philosophers. Compare John 7:28; John 8:19, John 8:27. The neuter expresses the unreal and impersonal character of the Samaritan worship. As the Samaritans received the Pentateuch only, they were ignorant of the later and larger revelation of God, as contained especially in the prophetic writings, and of the Messianic hope, as developed among the Jews. They had preserved only the abstract notion of God. [source]
John 12:45 I am come [ἐλήλυθα]
The perfect tense, pointing to the abiding result of His manifestation. Compare John 5:43; John 7:28; John 8:42; John 16:28; John 18:37. [source]
John 18:20 Openly [παρρησιαι]
As already shown (John 7:4; John 8:26; John 10:24, John 10:39; John 16:25, John 16:29. See John 7:4 for same contrast between εν παρρησιαι — en parrēsiāi and εν κρυπτωι — en kruptōi I ever taught Constative aorist active indicative. For the temple teaching see John 2:19; John 7:14, John 7:28; John 8:20, John 19:23; Mark 14:49 and John 6:59 for the synagogue teaching (often in the Synoptics). Examples of private teaching are Nicodemus (John 3) and the woman of Samaria (John 4). Jesus ignores the sneer at his disciples, but challenges the inquiry about his teaching as needless. [source]
John 7:16 Mine [εμη]
Possessive pronoun, “not mine in origin.” Jesus denies that he is self-taught, though not a schoolman. But his that sent me Genitive case of the articular participle (first aorist active of πεμπω — pempō). His teaching is not self-originated nor is it the product of the schools (see the Talmud in contrast with the New Testament). Jesus often in John uses this idiom of “the one who sent me” of the Father (John 4:34; John 5:23, John 5:24, John 5:30, John 5:37; John 6:38-40, John 6:44; John 7:16, John 7:18, John 7:28, etc.). The bold claim is here made by Jesus that his teaching is superior in character and source to that of the rabbis. [source]
John 7:46 Never man so spake [ουδεποτε ελαλησεν ουτως αντρωπος]
Police officers are not usually carried away by public speech. They had fallen under the power of Jesus “as the Galilean peasants had been impressed” (Bernard) in John 7:28. It was the words of Jesus that had so gripped these officers, not his works (John 15:24). It was most disconcerting to the Sanhedrin. [source]
John 4:22 That which ye know not [ο ουκ οιδατε]
Cf. Acts 17:23. “You know whom to worship, but you do not know him” (Westcott). The Samaritans rejected the prophets and the Psalms and so cut themselves off from the fuller knowledge of God. We We Jews. Jesus is a Jew as he fully recognizes (Matthew 15:24). That which we know Neuter singular relative as before. The Jews, as the chosen people, had fuller revelations of God (Psalm 147:19.; Romans 9:3-5). But even so the Jews as a whole failed to recognize God in Christ (John 1:11, John 1:26; John 7:28). For salvation is from the Jews “The salvation,” the Messianic salvation which had long been the hope and guiding star of the chosen people (Luke 1:69, Luke 1:71, Luke 1:77; Acts 13:26, Acts 13:47). It was for the whole world (John 3:17), but it comes “out of” (εκ — ek) the Jews. This tremendous fact should never be forgotten, however unworthy the Jews may have proved of their privilege. The Messiah, God‘s Son, was a Jew. [source]
John 5:19 The Son [ο υιος]
The absolute use of the Son in relation to the Father admitting the charge in John 5:18 and defending his equality with the Father. Can do nothing by himself True in a sense of every man, but in a much deeper sense of Christ because of the intimate relation between him and the Father. See this same point in John 5:30; John 7:28; John 8:28; John 14:10. Jesus had already made it in John 5:17. Now he repeats and defends it. But what he seeth the Father doing Rather, “unless he sees the Father doing something.” Negative condition It is a supreme example of a son copying the spirit and work of a father. In his work on earth the Son sees continually what the Father is doing. In healing this poor man he was doing what the Father wishes him to do. For what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner Indefinite relative clause with αν — an and the present active subjunctive Note εκεινος — ekeinos emphatic demonstrative, that one, referring to the Father. This sublime claim on the part of Jesus will exasperate his enemies still more. [source]
John 7:10 Were gone up [ανεβησαν]
Second aorist active indicative of αναβαινω — anabainō not past perfect though the action is antecedent in fact to the following τοτε ανεβη — tote anebē The Greek does not always draw the precise distinction between the merely punctiliar (aorist) antecedent action and the past perfect (John 2:9; John 4:45). He also As well as the brothers. Not publicly Against their advice in John 7:4, using πανερωσον — phanerōson (the very same word stem). But as it were in secret “Not with the usual caravan of pilgrims” (Bernard). Just the opposite of their advice in John 7:4 with the same phrase εν πανερωι — en phanerōi Plainly Jesus purposely went contrary to the insincere counsel of his brothers as to the manner of his Messianic manifestation. This secrecy concerned solely the journey to Jerusalem, not his public teaching there after his arrival (John 7:26, John 7:28; John 18:20). [source]
John 7:49 This multitude [ο οχλος ουτος]
The Pharisees had a scorn for the οχλος — amhaaretz or “people of the earth” (cf. our “clod-hoppers”) as is seen in rabbinic literature. It was some of the ο μη γινοσκων — ochlos (multitude at the feast especially from Galilee) who had shown sympathy with Jesus (John 7:12, John 7:28.). Which knoweth not the law Present active articular participle of μη — ginōskō with αγραμματοι και ιδιωται — mē usual negative of the participle in the Koiné. “No brutish man is sin-fearing, nor is one of the people of the earth pious” (Aboth, II. 6). See the amazement of the Sanhedrin at Peter and John in Acts 4:13 as “unlettered and private men” No wonder the common people The rabbis scouted and scorned them. Are accursed Construction according to sense (plural verb and adjective with collective singular Επαρατοι — ochlos). επαραομαι — Eparatoi is old verbal adjective from eparaomai to call down curses upon, here only in the N.T. [source]
John 8:19 Where is thy Father? [που εστιν ο πατηρ σου]
“The testimony of an unseen and unheard witness would not satisfy them” (Vincent). Bernard understands the Pharisees to see that Jesus claims God the Father as his second witness and so ask “where,” not “who” he is. Augustine has it: Patrem Christi carnaliter acceperunt, Christ‘s human father, as if the Pharisees were “misled perhaps by the Lord‘s use of αντρωπον — anthrōpon (John 8:17)” (Dods). Cyril even took it to be a coarse allusion to the birth of Jesus as a bastard according to the Talmud. Perhaps the Pharisees used the question with double entendre, even with all three ideas dancing in their hostile minds. Ye would know my Father also Conclusion of second-class condition determined as unfulfilled with αν — an and second perfect active of οιδα — oida used as imperfect in both condition and conclusion. See this same point made to Philip in John 14:9. In John 14:7 Jesus will use γινωσκω — ginōskō in the condition and οιδα — oida in the conclusion. The ignorance of the Pharisees about Jesus proves it and is due to their ignorance of the Father. See this point more fully stated in John 5:36-38 when Jesus had his previous controversy in Jerusalem. In John 7:28 Jesus said that they knew his home in Nazareth, but he denied then that they knew the Father who sent him. Jesus will again on this occasion (John 8:55) deny their knowledge of the Father. Later he will deny their knowledge of the Father and of the Son (John 16:3). The Pharisees are silenced for the moment. [source]
John 8:24 For except ye believe [εαν γαρ μη πιστευσητε]
Negative condition of third class with εαν μη — ean mē and ingressive aorist active subjunctive of πιστευω — pisteuō “For unless ye come to believe.” That I am he Indirect discourse, but with no word in the predicate after the copula ειμι — eimi Jesus can mean either “that I am from above” (John 8:23), “that I am the one sent from the Father or the Messiah” (John 7:18, John 7:28), “that I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12), “that I am the Deliverer from the bondage of sin” (John 8:28, John 8:31., and John 8:36), “that I am” without supplying a predicate in the absolute sense as the Jews (Deuteronomy 32:39) used the language of Jehovah (cf. Isaiah 43:10 where the very words occur ινα πιστευσητεοτι εγω ειμι — hina pisteusēte -εγω ειμι — hoti egō eimi). The phrase egō eimi occurs three times here (John 8:24, John 8:28, John 8:58) and also in John 13:19. Jesus seems to claim absolute divine being as in John 8:58. [source]
Romans 9:27 Crieth [κράζει]
An impassioned utterance. See on Luke 18:39; compare John 7:28, John 7:37; Acts 19:28; Acts 23:6. Mostly of an inarticulate cry. “The prophet in awful earnestness, and as with a scream of anguish, cries over Israel” (Morison). [source]
Galatians 4:6 Crying [κρᾶζον]
A strong word, expressing deep emotion. The verb originally represents the sound of a croak or harsh scream; thence, generally, an inarticulate cry; an exclamation of fear or pain. The cry of an animal. So Aristoph. Knights, 1017, of the barking of a dog: 285,287, of two men in a quarrel, trying to bawl each other down: Frogs, 258, of the croaking of frogs. This original sense appears in N.T. usage, as Matthew 14:26; Matthew 15:23; Matthew 27:50; Mark 5:5, etc., and is recognized even where the word is used in connection with articulate speech, by adding to it the participles λέγων, λέγοντες sayingor διδάσκων teachingSee Matthew 8:29; Matthew 15:22; Mark 3:11; John 7:28, etc. In Mark 10:47the inarticulate cry and the articulate utterance are distinguished. At the same time, the word is often used of articulate speech without such additions, as Mark 10:48; Mark 11:9; Mark 15:13, Mark 15:14; Luke 18:39; Acts 7:60; Acts 19:34; Romans 8:15. It falls into more dignified association in lxx, where it is often used of prayer or appeal to God, as 4:3; 6:7; Psalm 21:2,5; 27:1,54:16; and in N.T., where it is applied to solemn, prophetic utterance, as Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+9:27&sr=1">Romans 9:27; John 1:15, and is used of Jesus himself, as John 7:28, John 7:37; John 12:44, and of the Holy Spirit, as here. The Spirit gives the inspiration of which the believer is the organ. In Romans 8:15the statement is inverted. The believer cries under the power of the Spirit. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:9 Living and true [ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ]
The only instance in N.T. of this collocation. It does not occur in O.T. For ἀληθινὸς genuinesee on John 1:9; see on John 4:37; see on John 7:28. Mostly in the Johannine writings. [source]
2 Thessalonians 1:8 On them that know not God - obey not the gospel [τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσι θεὸν - τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσιν τῷ εὐγγελίῳ]
To know God is to know him as the one, true God as distinguished from false gods; to know his will, his holiness, his hatred of sin, and his saving intent toward mankind. Two words are used of such knowledge, εἰδέναι and γινώσκειν . Both are applied to the heathen and to Christians, and both are used of the Jews' knowledge of God. Ἑιδέναι , of heathen, Galatians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:8. Γινώσκειν of heathen, Romans 1:21; 1 Corinthians 1:21. Ἑιδέναι , of Christ and Christians, John 7:29, John 8:19, John 8:55; John 14:7. Γινώσκειν of Christ and Christians, Galatians 4:9; 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14; 1 John 4:6, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:8; John 10:15; John 17:3. In John, γινώσκειν of Jews who do not know the Father, John 16:3; John 8:55: εἰδέναι , John 7:28; John 8:19; John 15:21. The two are combined, John 1:26; John 7:27; John 8:55; 2 Corinthians 5:16. A distinction is asserted between γινώσκειν as knowledge grounded in personal experience, apprehension of external impressions - and εἰδέμαι purely mental perception in contrast with conjecture or knowledge derived from others. There are doubtless passages which bear out this distinction (see on John 2:24), but it is impossible to carry it rigidly through the N.T. In the two classes, - those who know not God and those who obey not the gospel, - it is not probable that Paul has in mind a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were not ignorant of God, yet they are described by John as not knowing him. The Gentiles are described by Paul as knowing God, but as refusing to glorify him as God (Romans 1:21). Paul rather describes here the subjects of God's judgment as one class, but under different aspects. [source]

What do the individual words in John 7:28 mean?

Cried out therefore in the temple teaching - Jesus and saying Me you know from where I am of Myself not I have come but is TRUE the [One] having sent Me whom you know
Ἔκραξεν οὖν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ διδάσκων Ἰησοῦς καὶ λέγων Κἀμὲ οἴδατε πόθεν εἰμί ἀπ’ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐκ ἐλήλυθα ἀλλ’ ἔστιν ἀληθινὸς πέμψας με ὃν ὑμεῖς οἴδατε

Ἔκραξεν  Cried  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κράζω  
Sense: to croak.
ἱερῷ  temple 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ἱερόν  
Sense: a sacred place, temple.
διδάσκων  teaching 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διδάσκω  
Sense: to teach.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Κἀμὲ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: κἀγώ  
Sense: and I.
οἴδατε  you  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
πόθεν  from  where 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πόθεν  
Sense: of place: from where, from what condition.
εἰμί  I  am 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἐμαυτοῦ  Myself 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐμαυτοῦ  
Sense: I, me, myself etc.
ἐλήλυθα  I  have  come 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἀληθινὸς  TRUE 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀληθινός  
Sense: that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine.
  the  [One] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πέμψας  having  sent 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πέμπω  
Sense: to send.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
οἴδατε  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.