John 7 10

John 7:10 kjv

But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

John 7:10 nkjv

But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

John 7:10 niv

However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.

John 7:10 esv

But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.

John 7:10 nlt

But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.

John 7 verses

John 7 10 Meaning

John 7:10 describes Jesus' deliberate and unostentatious journey to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. While His half-brothers desired a public display of His power to gain renown, Jesus chose to go discreetly, without fanfare, indicating His obedience to a divine timeline. This reflects His sovereignty over His mission and His understanding that His "time" for full public revelation and ultimate sacrifice had not yet come, preventing premature confrontation with the authorities who sought His life.

John 7 10 Context

John chapter 7 opens with Jesus primarily ministering in Galilee because He knew "the Jews" (referring to the religious leaders in Jerusalem) were seeking to kill Him (John 7:1). His half-brothers, lacking true faith in Him as the Messiah, urge Him to go to Judea for the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) to perform public miracles, hoping to boost His fame and perhaps their own association with Him (John 7:3-4). Jesus refuses, stating His time had not yet come (John 7:6). John 7:10 describes His subsequent action: He does go to the Feast, but not with the expected public procession that a prophet or teacher of His stature might undertake. The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three great annual pilgrimage festivals, during which Jews from all over would ascend to Jerusalem. It was a time of joyous celebration, marked by dwelling in booths (sukkots) and ceremonies involving water libation and light, themes Jesus would powerfully appropriate later in this chapter and chapter 8.

John 7 10 Word analysis

• But (δὲ - de): A connective particle indicating a transition or often a slight contrast. Here, it contrasts Jesus' action with His brothers' departure and their earlier urgings for Him to go openly. It signifies a shift in action while connecting it to the previous discussion.

• when his brethren (ὅτε δὲ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ - hote de anebēsan hoi adelphoi autou): Refers to Jesus' half-brothers, children of Joseph and Mary. John 7:5 explicitly states they did not believe in Him at this point. Their going up signifies their conventional observance of the pilgrimage festival.

• were gone up (ἀνέβησαν - anebēsan): Literally "went up," customary language for going to Jerusalem due to its elevation.

• then went he also up (τότε καὶ αὐτὸς ἀνέβη - tote kai autos anebē): The inclusion of "also" (καὶ) highlights that Jesus did attend the Feast, demonstrating His faithfulness to the Law and prophetic requirements, but His method was different.

• unto the feast (εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν - eis tēn heortēn): Specifically, the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a major annual festival commanding pilgrimage to Jerusalem (Lev 23:34, Deut 16:13). Its symbolism (water, light, temporary dwellings) provides crucial context for Jesus' later teachings (John 7:37-38, John 8:12).

• not openly (οὐ φανερῶς - ou phanerōs): From φανερός (phaneros), meaning visible, manifest, public. Jesus chose not to travel or arrive in a way that would draw attention or signify a public claim to the Messiahship in a political or triumphal sense, which might have led to immediate, premature conflict.

• but as it were in secret (ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἐν κρυπτῷ - all' hōs en kryptō): From κρυπτός (kryptos), meaning hidden, concealed. The "as it were" (ὡς - hōs) implies not absolute, total secrecy or stealth like a criminal, but a deliberate low-profile, unassuming manner to avoid spectacle or official interception, thereby fulfilling the Father's perfect timing for His mission.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up": This phrase directly contrasts Jesus' actions with those of His unbelieving brothers. While they went publicly and perhaps for personal show, Jesus' delayed and different manner of travel signifies His distinct purpose and submission to God's timing, not human agendas.
  • "not openly, but as it were in secret": This opposition clarifies Jesus' intentional strategic choice. It's not about being afraid or ashamed, but about preventing a premature clash with the authorities that would derail the divine schedule for His Passion. He sought to enter the city unnoticed by those who sought to arrest or kill Him prematurely, reserving His public manifestation for the Father's chosen moment.

John 7 10 Bonus section

The "secret" journey should not be misunderstood as complete hiddenness, as Jesus soon after teaches publicly in the temple (John 7:14ff). His quiet arrival avoids the grand procession His brothers sought, but His later teachings indicate He was very much present and proclaiming truth, once inside. This demonstrates Jesus' adaptable strategy: private approach for public impact, dictated by divine timing. The Feast of Tabernacles, known for its joyous celebrations, water libations, and ceremonial lights, forms the perfect backdrop for Jesus' profound declarations about being the source of living water (John 7:37-38) and the Light of the World (John 8:12), transforming traditional Jewish symbols into revelations about Himself as the fulfillment of Israel's hopes.

John 7 10 Commentary

John 7:10 illuminates a crucial aspect of Jesus' ministry: His perfect adherence to God's divine timing, contrasted with human impatience and ambition. His brothers, urging Him to publicize Himself, operate on a worldly understanding of fame and power. Jesus, however, knew that His public revelation and confrontation leading to His crucifixion could only occur when the Father's appointed "hour" arrived. Therefore, His "secret" ascent to the Feast of Tabernacles was not an act of fear or evasion, but one of sovereign strategic planning and humility. He chose not to instigate conflict prematurely but to operate under the divine protection of God's timetable. This intentional approach allowed Him to enter Jerusalem without inciting immediate arrest, enabling Him to teach freely during the Feast, and further reveal God's truth before the ultimate showdown in God's appointed time. It underscores His full submission to the Father's will and highlights that His ministry was governed by divine decree, not human urgency.