John 10:23 kjv
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
John 10:23 nkjv
And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
John 10:23 niv
and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade.
John 10:23 esv
and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.
John 10:23 nlt
He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon's Colonnade.
John 10 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 10:22 | "It was the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem, and it was winter." | Immediate context, timing of the event. |
| Jn 10:24-25 | "So the Jews gathered around him and said... If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." | Immediate context, reason for the scene setting. |
| Acts 3:11 | "While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's." | Apostles also taught in Solomon's Porch. |
| Acts 5:12 | "Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles... they were all together in Solomon's Porch." | Early believers used it for gathering and ministry. |
| Lk 2:46-47 | "After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions..." | Jesus' early presence and teaching in the Temple. |
| Lk 19:47 | "And he was teaching daily in the temple." | Jesus' regular teaching ministry in the Temple. |
| Jn 7:14 | "About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching." | Jesus consistently taught in the Temple courts. |
| Jn 8:2 | "Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them." | Temple as Jesus' frequent teaching venue. |
| Jn 2:14-16 | "He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves... he drove them all out of the temple..." | Jesus' zeal for the sanctity of the Temple. |
| 1 Kgs 6:3 | "The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long..." | Describes features of the first Temple structure. |
| Isa 56:7 | "I will bring them to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings... shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." | Prophetic vision of the Temple's universal purpose. |
| Mal 3:1 | "The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple..." | Prophecy of the Messiah's appearance in the Temple. |
| Ps 122:1 | "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'" | Expresses the joy of Temple worship. |
| Ex 40:34 | "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." | God's glory dwelling in His sanctuary (foreshadows). |
| 2 Chr 7:1 | "When Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering... and the glory of the LORD filled the temple." | Divine presence consecrating the Temple. |
| Jn 8:12 | "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world.'" | Feast of Dedication's "light" theme echoes Jesus' claim. |
| Lk 24:15 | "While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself drew near and went with them." | Jesus "walking" with disciples, present in discourse. |
| Eph 5:2 | "And walk in love, as Christ loved us..." | Theological "walking," way of life guided by Christ. |
| Col 2:6 | "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him..." | Theological "walking," a life of faith and obedience. |
| Heb 1:3 | "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature..." | Jesus' divine nature, linking to God's presence in the Temple. |
| Col 2:9 | "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." | Jesus as the ultimate dwelling of God's presence. |
John 10 verses
John 10 23 Meaning
John 10:23 simply states that Jesus was physically present and walking within Solomon's Porch, a colonnaded area in the outer court of the Jerusalem Temple. This verse sets the scene for the subsequent critical discourse where Jewish leaders confront Jesus about his identity, particularly against the backdrop of the Feast of Dedication and winter weather.
John 10 23 Context
The setting of John 10:23 immediately follows Jesus' discourse as the Good Shepherd, emphasizing his intimate knowledge of and sacrificial care for his sheep (Jn 10:1-21). Verse 22 notes the specific time: "It was the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem, and it was winter." The Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, commemorated the cleansing and rededication of the Second Temple by Judas Maccabeus in 164 BC, after its desecration by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. It was a festival characterized by the lighting of lamps and a strong sense of national and religious renewal. Jesus' presence in the Temple during this specific festival and the ensuing interrogation (Jn 10:24ff) about his identity as the Christ takes on amplified significance, hinting at his own claims to be the true rededication and light for the people, in the very structure meant to house God's presence.
John 10 23 Word analysis
And (Καὶ - Kai): This conjunction serves to connect the location and action directly with the previous verse's setting (the Feast of Dedication and winter). It provides continuity.
Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The central figure of the Gospel. His physical presence underscores the Incarnation – God manifest in flesh. It points to his embodiment of the divine on earth.
walked (περιεπάτει - periepatē): The imperfect tense here suggests a continuous, habitual, or sustained action. Jesus wasn't merely passing through; he was regularly present, accessible, and often taught in such public spaces. It speaks to his public ministry and accessibility to the people, especially in an area known for discourse.
in the temple (ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ - en tō hierō): Refers to the broader Temple precincts or court complex, which was accessible to all Jews and even Gentiles, not the inner sanctuary (naos) reserved for priests. This indicates Jesus was among the people, not hidden. The Temple was the spiritual and cultural heart of Judaism, central to their identity and worship, a place frequently visited and taught in by Jesus.
in Solomon's porch (ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶνος - en tē stoā Solomōnos): This was a distinctive colonnade or covered walkway on the eastern side of the outer court of Herod's Temple, named in memory of Solomon's original Temple. It was a well-known public space, especially favored in winter for shelter and a common gathering place for rabbis and teachers. Its large size allowed for substantial crowds and discussions. Its traditional name evokes the glory of the first Temple, creating a poignant backdrop for Jesus' claims of being greater than the Temple. It would also later become a significant meeting place for the early church (Acts 3:11, 5:12).
Words-group analysis
- Jesus walked in the temple: This phrase encapsulates Jesus' engagement with the core of Jewish religious life. His frequent presence in the Temple symbolized his coming to His own, yet often highlighted the conflict between His divine authority and the institutional authority. He came to fulfill the purpose of the Temple and surpass it as the dwelling place of God (Col 2:9).
- in Solomon's porch: The specific mention of this place is significant. It implies a public, somewhat sheltered, and well-known teaching environment. During a festival celebrating dedication and the re-establishment of pure worship, Jesus chooses to present Himself in a traditional setting associated with God's dwelling, yet in an area open for direct encounter and often intense debate.
John 10 23 Bonus section
The "winter" season, noted in John 10:22, provides a practical reason for Jesus and others to be gathered in the sheltered Solomon's Porch. More than just a descriptive detail, the "winter" contrasts with the theme of "light" associated with the Feast of Dedication, implying that in a spiritual season of coldness or darkness, Jesus presents himself as the radiant hope. The very name "Solomon's Porch" also holds a layer of meaning. While structurally from Herod's period, its traditional name evoked the glory of the first Temple built by King Solomon. Jesus, by walking and teaching there, tacitly yet powerfully declared his continuity with, and ultimate fulfillment of, all that the Temple and the wisdom of Solomon represented, positioning himself as the true divine presence (Heb 1:3; Col 2:9).
John 10 23 Commentary
John 10:23 serves as a pivotal scene-setter, concisely placing Jesus within the bustling heart of Jewish religious life during a time of significant spiritual and national commemoration. His purposeful presence, walking in the well-known Solomon's Porch during the Feast of Dedication, signifies his readiness for public engagement. This seemingly simple action sets the immediate stage for the direct confrontation regarding his divine identity, highlighting that Jesus, the ultimate dedication and light (Jn 8:12), presented himself openly within the sacred space that his coming superseded and redefined. It underscores His challenge to existing religious authority, emanating from within the very traditions they held dear.