John 7:1 kjv
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
John 7:1 nkjv
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.
John 7:1 niv
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.
John 7:1 esv
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.
John 7:1 nlt
After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death.
John 7 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Timing / Strategic Retreat | ||
| Jn 2:4 | Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” | Jesus' hour, divine timing. |
| Jn 7:6 | Then Jesus told them, "My time has not yet come; for you any time will do." | Jesus awaits His specific time. |
| Jn 7:8 | Go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” | Reiterates strategic timing for feasts. |
| Jn 8:20 | These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. | His hour was not yet, preventing arrest. |
| Jn 11:9 | Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble...” | Illustrates walking according to appointed time. |
| Matt 2:13 | ...an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt..." | Fleeing danger for divine purpose. |
| Matt 10:23 | When they persecute you in one town, flee to another... | Instruction to disciples for self-preservation. |
| Luke 4:29-30 | They rose up and drove him out of the town... But he passed through their midst and went away. | Miraculous escape from mob, not His time. |
| Opposing "Jews" / Seeking to Kill Jesus | ||
| Jn 5:16 | And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. | Earlier opposition for Sabbath healing. |
| Jn 5:18 | This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but also calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. | Clear intent to kill for claiming deity. |
| Jn 8:59 | So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple. | Physical attempt on Jesus' life. |
| Jn 10:31 | The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. | Another attempt at stoning. |
| Jn 11:53 | So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. | Sanhedrin decision to kill Jesus. |
| Matt 12:14 | But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. | Pharisees conspiring to kill. |
| Mark 3:6 | The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. | Combined religious and political opposition. |
| Luke 19:47 | And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him. | Leadership continually sought to destroy him. |
| Ministry in Galilee | ||
| Matt 4:12-17 | Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee... to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali... Galilee of the Gentiles... The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light..." | Jesus begins active public ministry in Galilee, fulfilling prophecy. |
| Mark 1:14-15 | Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God... | Gospels often show Jesus beginning ministry in Galilee. |
| Luke 4:14-15 | And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. | Jesus' ministry flourished in Galilee. |
| Sovereignty of God's Plan | ||
| Gal 4:4 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law... | God's appointed time for sending Christ. |
| Heb 9:27-28 | ...just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time... | Divine appointment for Christ's death. |
John 7 verses
John 7 1 Meaning
John 7:1 details Jesus' strategic movement within Galilee after significant events, deliberately avoiding Judea due to a persistent and deadly threat from the Jewish authorities. It emphasizes Jesus' awareness of the dangers posed by His opponents in Jerusalem and His measured approach, aligning with a divine timetable for His life and death. This verse underscores the escalating conflict and Jesus' sovereignty in choosing the time and place of His ministry, not out of fear, but obedience to His Father's will.
John 7 1 Context
John 7:1 acts as a pivotal transition, bridging the intense and contentious narratives of Jesus's earlier ministry in Judea (John 5, where His claim to deity provoked attempts on His life) and the miraculous feeding and profound "Bread of Life" discourse in Galilee (John 6). It specifically follows a period where many disciples deserted Jesus, and Judas's betrayal was foretold, indicating growing internal and external pressures. Historically, Galilee was more Hellenized and diverse than Judea, which was the seat of Jewish religious authority and political power, making it a safer base for Jesus's ministry as the opposition in Jerusalem intensified. The "Feast of Tabernacles" (Sukkot) is upcoming in John 7, requiring travel to Jerusalem, adding a layer of suspense to Jesus's movements. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' eventual return to Jerusalem at a specific, divinely ordained moment, despite the known danger.
John 7 1 Word analysis
- After these things (Τὰ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα - Ta de meta tauta): This phrase acts as a temporal marker, indicating a chronological progression but also suggesting an unspecified lapse of time. It links to the preceding chapters (John 5: healing at Bethesda, Jesus claiming equality with God, intense Judean opposition; John 6: feeding of 5000, "Bread of Life" discourse in Capernaum), creating a narrative pause before the events of John 7.
- Jesus walked (περιεπάτει - periepatei): The imperfect tense here indicates a continuous or habitual action, suggesting Jesus was actively engaged in His ministry and movement within Galilee for a period, rather than a single event. It speaks of a sustained pattern of life and teaching.
- in Galilee (ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ - en tē Galilaia): This refers to the northern region of Israel. It was less populated by religious authorities intent on finding fault with Jesus compared to Judea, offering a more fertile ground for teaching and discipleship at this stage of His ministry. It allowed for continued outreach to a broader populace.
- for he would not walk (οὐ γὰρ ἤθελεν περιπατεῖν - ou gar ēthelen peripatein): "For he was unwilling to walk." "ἤθελεν" (ethelen) expresses Jesus's conscious choice or will. This isn't fear but a deliberate strategic decision guided by divine timing and purpose, as explained further by "My time has not yet come" (John 7:6,8).
- in Judea (ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ - en tē Ioudaia): The southern region of Israel, home to Jerusalem, the Temple, and the primary religious and political authorities. It was the epicenter of opposition.
- because the Jews sought (ὅτι ἐζήτουν αὐτὸν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἀποκτεῖναι - hoti ezētoun auton hoi Ioudaioi apokteinai): "Because they sought him, the Jews, to kill him."
- ἐζήτουν (ezētoun): Imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing or continuous action of seeking to kill Jesus, underscoring the constant threat.
- the Jews (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι - hoi Ioudaioi): In John's Gospel, this often specifically refers to the leading religious authorities in Jerusalem (e.g., Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests), not the entire Jewish people, who were largely either indifferent or supportive of Jesus. These authorities viewed Jesus as a threat to their power and religious order.
- to kill him (ἀποκτεῖναι - apokteinai): Explicitly states their murderous intent, establishing the life-threatening danger that Jesus was deliberately avoiding until God's appointed time.
John 7 1 Bonus section
- The interval "after these things" between John 6 and 7:1 is typically estimated to be around six months, spanning from Passover (John 6) to the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7). This implies a significant period of continuous, though less documented, ministry in Galilee.
- Jesus's decision reflects a principle of divine protection and timing seen throughout Scripture (e.g., the flight to Egypt for infant Jesus, Matt 2). He did not seek to provoke His enemies before His pre-determined moment.
- The tension established in John 7:1 sets up a key theme for the entire chapter: the question of Jesus' identity and the growing division among the people regarding Him, even within Jerusalem during the feast.
John 7 1 Commentary
John 7:1 succinctly portrays Jesus as master of His own destiny according to His Father's divine timeline. It isn't a portrayal of fear, but of strategic wisdom, avoiding unnecessary confrontations outside of God's preordained "hour." The "after these things" signifies a critical interlude in His public ministry following growing rejection and the profound theological debates of John 5 and 6. His continued presence in Galilee established His authority among the common people, while allowing the opposition in Judea to fully reveal their hardened hearts. The active, continuous nature of "walked in Galilee" suggests sustained teaching and healing, strengthening His base before His confrontational, yet necessary, arrival in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. This verse establishes the severe spiritual and physical danger awaiting Him in Judea, foreshadowing the Passion, yet affirms His resolute adherence to His mission and the Father's sovereign plan.