John 2 14

John 2:14 kjv

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

John 2:14 nkjv

And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.

John 2:14 niv

In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.

John 2:14 esv

In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

John 2:14 nlt

In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.

John 2 verses

John 2 14 Meaning

John 2:14 describes Jesus' arrival at the Jerusalem Temple complex, where He observed significant commercial activity. He found people engaged in selling animals such as oxen, sheep, and doves, which were used for sacrifices, and also discovered money changers who facilitated currency exchange for temple purposes. This verse sets the scene for Jesus' zealous cleansing of the Temple, revealing His divine authority and indignation over the desecration of God's holy house by exploitative practices.

John 2 14 Context

John 2:14 immediately follows Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where He turned water into wine, signifying the abundance and newness He brings. This event takes place during the Passover festival, when Jerusalem would have been thronged with pilgrims from across the Roman Empire. These pilgrims needed to purchase unblemished sacrificial animals for temple rituals and convert foreign currency into the acceptable Tyrian shekels to pay the temple tax and make purchases. While the selling of animals and changing of money served a necessary function for worshipers, the activity in the outer Court of the Gentiles had become a booming, corrupt enterprise. Exorbitant prices were charged for animals deemed pure enough for sacrifice, and exploitative exchange rates were levied by money changers. This commercialization not only profaned a sacred space meant for prayer and communion with God, particularly for Gentiles who had no other area for worship, but also demonstrated the spiritual barrenness and avarice of the religious establishment. Jesus' action is a direct confrontation with this desecration, asserting His divine authority and commitment to the holiness of His Father's house, foreshadowing the replacement of the physical temple with His own body.

John 2 14 Word analysis

• And He found:
  • And: Greek kai. Simple conjunction, links to the preceding events of Jesus' ministry.
  • He: Refers to Jesus. Emphasizes His active presence and initiative. Not a passive observation but a direct encounter with the situation.
  • found: Greek eurisken (εὕρισκεν). Imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing or habitual state. It wasn't a sudden, one-time occurrence, but an established practice Jesus "discovered" upon His arrival, confirming it was the norm. It also implies Jesus recognized the problematic nature of what He found.
• in the temple:
  • in the: Preposition en (ἐν). Locative, indicating presence within.
  • temple: Greek hierō (ἱερῷ), dative case of hierōn. This refers to the entire sacred complex, including all the courts and structures, distinct from naos (ναός) which designates the inner sanctuary or holy of holies. Specifically, this commerce occurred in the outer Court of the Gentiles, the only place where non-Jews were permitted to enter. The location is crucial because the activity actively impeded the worship and prayer of Gentiles who traveled great distances.
• those who sold:
  • those who sold: Greek tous pīpraskontas (τοὺς πωπρασκῶντας). Present participle, again stressing the continuous nature of the selling activity. The sellers were established traders. The act of selling in itself was not sinful, but its location and associated exploitative practices made it profane.
• oxen and sheep and doves:
  • oxen: Greek boas (βόας).
  • sheep: Greek probata (πρόβατα).
  • doves: Greek peristeras (περιστεράς).
  • These were specific animals prescribed for various sacrifices and offerings according to Mosaic Law (Leviticus chapters 1-5). Pilgrims required "unblemished" animals, which temple authorities conveniently provided through vendors, often at inflated prices, leveraging their monopoly. Poor individuals could offer doves.
• and the money changers sitting:
  • and: Greek kai.
  • the money changers: Greek kermatias (κερματιστάς). From kerma (κέρμα), meaning small coins. These individuals exchanged foreign currency, which pilgrims brought, into the required Tyrian shekels, the only currency accepted for temple taxes and the purchase of sacrificial animals. They often imposed exorbitant exchange fees, exploiting the pilgrims' need.
  • sitting: Greek kathēmenous (καθημένους). Present participle, indicating a settled, fixed position. It suggests a permanent and established commercial operation rather than a temporary market. They were not merely passing through but had set up business, occupying space meant for prayer and reflection.

John 2 14 Bonus section

The placement of this temple cleansing incident by John at the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry, unlike the Synoptic Gospels which place it at the end, highlights its theological significance for John. For John, this is not just a reforming act but a prophetic one, signaling the beginning of the end for the old covenant system and pointing to Jesus Himself as the new, ultimate temple where God dwells and true worship is offered. The phrase "My Father's house" in the following verse (John 2:16) implicitly declares Jesus' divine sonship and rightful authority over the temple, setting the stage for future theological claims and confrontations throughout John's Gospel. The specific location, the Court of the Gentiles, emphasizes Jesus' concern for "all nations," echoing the prophetic vision of Isaiah that God's house would be "a house of prayer for all peoples," a purpose grievously neglected and even obstructed by the Jewish leadership of the day.

John 2 14 Commentary

John 2:14 serves as an introductory snapshot to one of the most significant early actions of Jesus' ministry, the cleansing of the Temple. It immediately presents the scene of profound corruption: God's designated place for prayer and reconciliation being transformed into a bustling marketplace rife with exploitation. The seemingly necessary activities of selling animals for sacrifice and changing currency had devolved into a system of profit-driven manipulation, disrespecting the sanctity of the temple and especially hindering Gentile worship in their designated court. Jesus' "finding" this state reveals not just an incidental observation but a deliberate discernment of a deeply entrenched spiritual problem. This act demonstrates His unique authority and zealous passion for God's holiness, establishing Him as one greater than the Temple and directly challenging the spiritual custodians of Israel. It sets the stage for His ensuing pronouncement about the destruction and raising of "this temple" (referring to His own body), signifying the end of the old covenant order centered on the physical Temple and the inauguration of a new worship in Him.