John 10 22

John 10:22 kjv

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

John 10:22 nkjv

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.

John 10:22 niv

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,

John 10:22 esv

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter,

John 10:22 nlt

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication.

John 10 verses

John 10 22 Meaning

John 10:22 sets the chronological and geographical stage for a significant confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. It specifies that these events occurred during "the Feast of Dedication" (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, with the temporal marker that "It was winter." This verse is more than a simple dateline; it provides crucial historical and symbolic context for Jesus' subsequent declaration of His divine identity and oneness with the Father, juxtaposing the celebration of a human-initiated rededication of a physical temple with the presence of the true divine Temple.

John 10 22 Context

This verse acts as a bridge, moving the narrative from Jesus' discourse about the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1-21) to a direct confrontation with the Jews concerning His divine identity. The Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, commemorates the purification and rededication of the Second Temple by Judas Maccabeus in 164 BC, after its defilement by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This festival was a poignant reminder for the Jewish people of divine deliverance and a restored physical sanctuary, symbolizing national resilience and the light of God's presence. By situating Jesus' next statements during this specific non-Mosaic feast, John highlights the irony: while the Jews celebrated the dedication of a physical structure, the Living Temple, the "Light of the World" (Jesus), stood among them, facing rejection. The mention of "winter" helps explain the subsequent setting (Jn 10:23), as the enclosed Solomon's Colonnade offered shelter from the cold.

John 10 22 Word analysis

• Then came: The Greek phrase Egeneto de (Ἐγένετο δὲ) acts as a temporal and narrative transition, indicating that a new scene or event unfolds.

• the Feast of Dedication: This is ta enkainia (τὰ ἐγκαίνια) in Greek, meaning "renewals" or "consecrations." While in general it can refer to any dedication, here it specifically denotes Hanukkah, a post-exilic festival not commanded by the Mosaic Law. It celebrated the rededication of the Temple in 164 BC by Judas Maccabeus, when the altar was purified and relit after its defilement. It was known as the Festival of Lights, involving the lighting of lamps for eight days. This feast stood for physical temple restoration and a victory won partly through human courage.

• at Jerusalem: En Hierosolymois (ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις) grounds the event in the sacred city, the heart of Jewish worship and expectation. Jerusalem was prophesied as the location for significant messianic events and Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice.

• It was winter: kai cheimōn ēn (καὶ χειμὼν ἦν) specifies the season. Cheimōn can also denote stormy or severe weather. This detail is not merely atmospheric; it often carries symbolic weight, hinting at harsh conditions, potential danger, or a contrast to spiritual warmth. It also pragmatically explains why Jesus might have been found walking in a covered colonnade (Jn 10:23).

• "Feast of Dedication... It was winter": This phrase-group creates a strong symbolic juxtaposition. The Feast of Dedication, a festival of light and national rejoicing commemorating the cleansing of a physical temple, occurs during the darkness and severity of winter. In this context, Jesus, the "Light of the World" (Jn 8:12) and the true Temple (Jn 2:19-21), presents Himself to a nation often in spiritual darkness and facing a spiritual "winter" of unbelief regarding their Messiah.

John 10 22 Bonus section

The Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) is unique in John’s Gospel because it is not one of the pilgrim festivals required by the Torah (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). John’s inclusion of this feast highlights its theological importance to his narrative. By Jesus engaging with the people during a nationalistic festival, themes of divine intervention, purity, light, and rededication are brought to the forefront. This unofficial feast often fostered a heightened sense of messianic expectation and national pride, making it a critical time for Jesus to reveal His true identity. The mention of "winter" might subtly emphasize the urgent need for Jesus' message, as the harshness of the season often prompted people to seek shelter, mirroring humanity's need for spiritual refuge and warmth found only in Him.

John 10 22 Commentary

John 10:22 deliberately places Jesus' potent theological discourse during the Feast of Dedication. This setting is pregnant with irony and meaning. While the Jews celebrated the human achievement of restoring a physical temple and relit literal lamps to remember a past deliverance, Jesus stood before them as the embodiment of the living Temple, the very dwelling place of God, offering true spiritual cleansing and eternal light. The mention of winter underscores the contrast: outward festivities against internal spiritual coldness and opposition to the light of the world. In the background of this historically derived feast (not Mosaic), Jesus will present Himself as divinely appointed, fulfilling what human efforts or physical structures could never truly achieve—the direct presence of God among His people and the offering of eternal life to those who believe. This context makes His declarations of divine sonship (Jn 10:25-30) all the more confrontational and profound, setting the stage for rejection by those who clung to past dedications while missing the ultimate rededication in His person.