These short descriptions of the impressions made on His hearers by the discourses of Jesus indicate the double development which was resulting from His ministry. Those in favor spoke of the Prophet and the Christ. Compare John 1:21; John 6:14. Others raised objections, John 7:41-42. Others again desired to take action, John 7:44.
Though it was a holy day, the Sanhedrin was in session to receive the report of their officers. These, by their candid statement, unconsciously passed a strange criticism on the religious speakers to whom they were wont to listen. Compare John 7:48 with John 7:50 and John 3:1-36.
How greatly Nicodemus had grown since his night-visit to Jesus! And he was to advance still further, John 19:39. The appeal to history was apparently true. Jonah is the only prophet who might have been quoted as an apparent exception, but he may only have been a resident in Galilee when the summons came to him. The reasoning of John 7:52, however, was not conclusive. Even if none had arisen, it was the more likely that the Divine Spirit should choose the most humble origin; and the one most in keeping with the peasant-birth of the manger-bed. [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 7:44
Would have taken him [ητελον πιασαι αυτον] Imperfect active of τελω thelō and first aorist active infinitive of πιαζω piazō “were wishing to seize him.” See John 7:30 for a like impulse and restraint, there επεβαλεν επ αυτον epebalen ep' auton here εβαλεν επ αυτον ebalen ep' auton (simple verb, not compound). [source]
Would have taken [ἤθελον πιάσαι] See on John 7:17. Rather, were disposed: or wished to take him. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:44
Luke 6:38Pressed down [πεπιεσμενον] Perfect passive participle from πιεζω piezō old verb, but here alone in the N.T., though the Doric form πιαζω piazō to seize, occurs several times (John 7:30,John 7:32,John 7:44). [source]
John 8:20And no man laid hands on Him [καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐπίασεν αὐτὸν] Notice the connection with the previous sentence by the simple and, where another writer would have said and yet: the sense being that though Jesus was teaching where He might easily have been apprehended, yet no one attempted to arrest Him. See on John 1:10. Laid hands on is better rendered, as elsewhere, took (compare John 7:30). The inconsistency of the A.V. in the renderings of the same word, of which this is only one of many instances, is noteworthy here from the fact that in the only two passages in which John uses the phrase laid hands on (John 7:30; John 7:44), he employs the common formula, ἐπιβάλλειν τὰς χεῖρας , or τὴν χεῖρα , and in both these passages the word πιάσαι is rendered take. The use of this latter word is confined almost exclusively to John, as it is found only three times elsewhere (Acts 3:7; Acts 12:4; 2 Corinthians 11:32). [source]
John 10:39They sought again to seize him [εζητουν αυτον παλιν πιαζαι] Imperfect active, “They kept on seeking to seize” (ingressive aorist active infinitive of πιαζω piazō for which see John 7:30) as they had tried repeatedly (John 7:1,John 7:30,John 7:44; John 8:20), but in vain. They gave up the effort to stone him. Out of their hand Overawed, but still angry, the stones fell to the ground, and Jesus walked out. [source]
John 11:57The chief priests and the Pharisees [οι αρχιερεις και οι Παρισαιοι] The Sanhedrin. Had given commandment Past perfect active of διδωμι didōmi That he should shew it Sub-final ινα hina with first aorist active subjunctive of μηνυω mēnuō old verb to disclose, to report formally (Acts 23:30). If any man knew Third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist active subjunctive of γινωσκω ginōskō Where he was Indirect question with interrogative adverb and present indicative εστιν estin retained like γνωι gnōi and μηνυσηι mēnusēi after the secondary tense δεδωκεισαν dedōkeisan That they might take him Purpose clause with οπως hopōs instead of ινα hina and first aorist active subjunctive of πιαζω piazō so often used before (John 7:44, etc.). [source]
John 7:30They sought therefore [εζητουν ουν] Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō inchoative or conative, they began to seek. Either makes sense. The subject is naturally some of the Jerusalemites (Westcott) rather than some of the leaders (Bernard). To take him First aorist active infinitive, Doric form from πιαζω piazō from the usual πιεζω piezō occasionally so in the papyri, but πιαζω piazō always in N.T. except Luke 6:38. And Here = “but.” Laid his hand Second aorist active indicative of επιβαλλω epiballō to cast upon. Old and common idiom for arresting one to make him a prisoner (Matthew 26:50). See repetition in John 7:44. His hour In John 13:1 we read that “the hour” had come, but that was “not yet” “John is at pains to point out at every point that the persecution and death of Jesus followed a predestined course” (Bernard), as in John 2:4; John 7:6,John 7:8; John 8:10; John 10:39; John 13:1, etc. Was not yet come Past perfect active of ερχομαι erchomai as John looks back on the story. [source]
Greek Commentary for John 7:44
Imperfect active of τελω thelō and first aorist active infinitive of πιαζω piazō “were wishing to seize him.” See John 7:30 for a like impulse and restraint, there επεβαλεν επ αυτον epebalen ep' auton here εβαλεν επ αυτον ebalen ep' auton (simple verb, not compound). [source]
See on John 7:17. Rather, were disposed: or wished to take him. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:44
Perfect passive participle from πιεζω piezō old verb, but here alone in the N.T., though the Doric form πιαζω piazō to seize, occurs several times (John 7:30, John 7:32, John 7:44). [source]
Notice the connection with the previous sentence by the simple and, where another writer would have said and yet: the sense being that though Jesus was teaching where He might easily have been apprehended, yet no one attempted to arrest Him. See on John 1:10. Laid hands on is better rendered, as elsewhere, took (compare John 7:30). The inconsistency of the A.V. in the renderings of the same word, of which this is only one of many instances, is noteworthy here from the fact that in the only two passages in which John uses the phrase laid hands on (John 7:30; John 7:44), he employs the common formula, ἐπιβάλλειν τὰς χεῖρας , or τὴν χεῖρα , and in both these passages the word πιάσαι is rendered take. The use of this latter word is confined almost exclusively to John, as it is found only three times elsewhere (Acts 3:7; Acts 12:4; 2 Corinthians 11:32). [source]
So John 21:10. The verb means to lay hold of, and is nowhere else used in the New Testament of taking fish. Elsewhere in this Gospel always of the seizure of Christ by the authorities (John 7:30, John 7:39, John 7:44; John 8:20; John 10:39; John 11:57). Of apprehending Peter and Paul (Acts 12:4; 2 Corinthians 11:32). Of the taking of the beast (Revelation 19:20). Of taking by the hand (Acts 3:7). [source]
Pointing back to John 7:30, John 7:32, John 7:44, where the word πιάσαι , to seize, is found. [source]
Imperfect active, “They kept on seeking to seize” (ingressive aorist active infinitive of πιαζω piazō for which see John 7:30) as they had tried repeatedly (John 7:1, John 7:30, John 7:44; John 8:20), but in vain. They gave up the effort to stone him. Out of their hand Overawed, but still angry, the stones fell to the ground, and Jesus walked out. [source]
The Sanhedrin. Had given commandment Past perfect active of διδωμι didōmi That he should shew it Sub-final ινα hina with first aorist active subjunctive of μηνυω mēnuō old verb to disclose, to report formally (Acts 23:30). If any man knew Third-class condition with εαν ean and second aorist active subjunctive of γινωσκω ginōskō Where he was Indirect question with interrogative adverb and present indicative εστιν estin retained like γνωι gnōi and μηνυσηι mēnusēi after the secondary tense δεδωκεισαν dedōkeisan That they might take him Purpose clause with οπως hopōs instead of ινα hina and first aorist active subjunctive of πιαζω piazō so often used before (John 7:44, etc.). [source]
Imperfect active of ζητεω zēteō inchoative or conative, they began to seek. Either makes sense. The subject is naturally some of the Jerusalemites (Westcott) rather than some of the leaders (Bernard). To take him First aorist active infinitive, Doric form from πιαζω piazō from the usual πιεζω piezō occasionally so in the papyri, but πιαζω piazō always in N.T. except Luke 6:38. And Here = “but.” Laid his hand Second aorist active indicative of επιβαλλω epiballō to cast upon. Old and common idiom for arresting one to make him a prisoner (Matthew 26:50). See repetition in John 7:44. His hour In John 13:1 we read that “the hour” had come, but that was “not yet” “John is at pains to point out at every point that the persecution and death of Jesus followed a predestined course” (Bernard), as in John 2:4; John 7:6, John 7:8; John 8:10; John 10:39; John 13:1, etc. Was not yet come Past perfect active of ερχομαι erchomai as John looks back on the story. [source]