John 10 23

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 verses

John 10 23 Meaning

Jesus walks in Solomon's Colonnade during the Feast of Dedication. He is confronted by Jewish leaders who demand a direct answer about whether He is the Christ. Jesus explains that while He has told them, they do not believe His works testify on His behalf. He then reiterates His divine authority, stating He and the Father are one. This verse highlights Jesus' unwavering declaration of His unity with God and the unbelief of His detractors.

John 10 23 Context

This verse occurs during Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), commemorating the rededication of the Temple. Jesus is in the Portico of Solomon, a public area where He had previously taught. He is questioned by the Jewish authorities who are pressing Him for a clear affirmation of His identity as the Messiah. Their persistent questioning stems from His claims and actions, which they interpret as blasphemous. Jesus responds by referencing His works, which He asserts are performed in His Father's name and thus testify to His divine origin and authority. This exchange underscores the tension between Jesus and the religious leadership, highlighting their persistent unbelief despite His undeniable demonstrations of divine power and truth. The entire Gospel of John is built around the theme of belief and disbelief in Jesus as the Son of God.

John 10 23 Word Analysis

• "Again" (Palin): Suggests a continuation or repetition of a previous dialogue or assertion.
• "Therefore" (Dio): Indicates a consequence or logical conclusion based on what was said or done.
• "Walked" (Peripateō): Implies movement, lifestyle, and habitual action. Jesus was regularly present and active in the Temple precincts.
• "Jesus" (Iēsous): The Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning "Yahweh saves."
• "In" (En): Indicates presence within or amidst something.
• "The temple" (Hierō): Refers to the Herodian Temple complex, not just the central sanctuary building.
• "In" (En): Locative, specifying the place.
• "Solomon's" (Solōmōnos): Possessive form of Solomon, referring to Solomon's Colonnade or Royal Porch, a significant architectural feature of the Temple Mount.
• "Colonnade" (Stoa): A covered walkway or portico with columns.
• "Again" (Palin): Reinforces the recurring nature of the interaction or the continuity of the discourse.
• "Therefore" (Dio): Signals a transition or a reasoned connection.
• "The Jews" (Ioudaioi): Refers to the Jewish religious authorities and the hostile crowd opposing Jesus.
• "Encirled" (Kyklōsen): Surrounded or hemmed in, suggesting a confrontational setting.
• "Him" (Auton): Jesus.
• "And" (Kai): Connects clauses.
• "Said" (Legousin): Present tense, indicating their ongoing questioning and demand.
• "How" (Heōs pote): "Until when?" Expressing impatience and a demand for finality.
• "Long" (Poté): Implies duration and urgency.
• "Will you" (Areis): Future tense, asking about Jesus' intentions.
• "Keep" (Aíreins): To lift up, take away, or hold in suspense. They want Him to declare His claim openly.
• "Us" (Hēmin): The Jewish authorities.
• "In" (En): Preposition indicating state or condition.
• "Suspense" (Agōnias): To be in agony or suspense, a state of anxious uncertainty.
• "If" (Ean): Conditional conjunction.
• "You" (Sy): Jesus.
• "Are" (Eis): The second person singular of the verb "to be."
• "The" (Ho): Definite article.
• "Christ" (Christos): The Anointed One, the Messiah.

Word-group Analysis:

• "Jesus walked in Solomon's Colonnade": Sets the scene and depicts Jesus' continued presence and ministry within the Jewish religious center, despite opposition.
• "The Jews...encircled Him": Portrays the hostile and pressuring environment Jesus faced from the religious establishment.
• "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly": This is the core demand, a challenge for Jesus to openly declare His Messiahship in terms they could understand and accept, but also likely hoping to find a charge to use against Him. They want a simple affirmation to condemn Him.

John 10 23 Bonus Section

The setting in Solomon's Colonnade was significant as it was a place of teaching and gathering. Jesus' deliberate presence there, and the Jews' encircling action, highlight a pivotal confrontation. The "suspense" they refer to is their frustration with Jesus' nuanced responses that reveal His divine nature but defy their earthly expectations of the Messiah. Their demand for a "plain" answer exposes their theological limitations and their unwillingness to accept a Messiah who is not merely a political or military deliverer, but divine. The reference to "if you are the Christ" frames the central messianic claim that is debated throughout the Gospels, and specifically challenged here due to Jesus' claim of unity with God.

John 10 23 Commentary

Jesus’ public ministry in Jerusalem is met with increasing resistance from the religious leadership. At the Feast of Dedication, amidst the sacred atmosphere of the Temple, these leaders corner Jesus. Their question, "How long will you keep us in suspense?" reveals their impatience and their agenda. They aren't seeking genuine understanding, but an explicit confession of messiahship they can use for a blasphemy charge, as they already accused Him (John 10:33). Jesus, understanding their hearts and His mission, redirects their attention not to a simple label, but to the works God empowers Him to do. These works—His miracles, His teachings, His very identity—are His true testimony, the irrefutable evidence of His divine authority and His unity with the Father. By refusing to give them a simplistic answer that would inevitably be twisted, Jesus maintains His integrity and the truth of His mission, even though it intensifies their hostility. He is not "in suspense"; He is testifying by His deeds.