John 7 20

John 7:20 kjv

The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

John 7:20 nkjv

The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?"

John 7:20 niv

"You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill you?"

John 7:20 esv

The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?"

John 7:20 nlt

The crowd replied, "You're demon possessed! Who's trying to kill you?"

John 7 verses

John 7 20 Meaning

John 7:20 captures the crowd's sharp retort to Jesus' assertion that they were trying to kill Him. They vehemently deny His claim, accusing Him of being demon-possessed as the source of such a bizarre and seemingly unfounded statement. This accusation reflects their spiritual blindness and their inability to perceive the deeper truth or the malicious intent of their leaders, which Jesus Himself discerned. It signifies a profound misunderstanding and rejection of Jesus' words and, by extension, His divine nature.

John 7 20 Context

John chapter 7 opens with Jesus in Galilee, avoiding Judea because Jewish authorities sought to kill Him (Jn 7:1). Despite this, He later goes to Jerusalem secretly for the Feast of Booths (Jn 7:10). His public teaching in the Temple draws mixed reactions, with many amazed by His understanding despite lacking formal education (Jn 7:14-15). Jesus challenges their judgment, asserting His teaching is from God (Jn 7:16-18) and directly confronts them about their hypocrisy concerning the Law. He accuses them in John 7:19, "Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law; why do you seek to kill Me?" This shocking accusation forms the immediate backdrop for the crowd's response in John 7:20, where they accuse Him of having a demon. They seem genuinely unaware of the clandestine plots of the religious leaders against Jesus' life, mistaking His insightful pronouncement for the delusion of a demon-possessed man.

John 7 20 Word analysis

• The people: (ho ochlos, ὁ ὄχλος). Refers to the common multitude or crowd gathered for the Feast of Booths, distinct from the Jewish leaders. It indicates that the general populace, not just the religious elite, voiced this opposition, although some within the crowd (like those from Jerusalem, Jn 7:25) were aware of the plots.

• answered Him: A direct, confrontational retort. Their response is immediate and shows a lack of reflection or attempt to understand Jesus' claim.

• "You have": (Echeis, ἔχεις). Present active indicative, implying an ongoing state of possession. It's not a temporary affliction but a supposed characteristic of Jesus.

• "a demon!": (daimonion, δαιμόνιον). This was a severe accusation in Jewish society, implying insanity, being under an evil influence, or blasphemy (e.g., in association with Beelzebul). It served as a common dismissal tactic against prophets or those who challenged established norms, invalidating their claims by suggesting mental derangement or ungodly influence. It implies Jesus' words are not of a sound mind but originate from an evil spirit.

• "Who is seeking": (Tis zētei, Τίς ζητεῖ). An emphatic rhetorical question designed to dismiss Jesus' statement as ludicrous. "Who" implies nobody they know, nobody among them, is seeking to kill Him. "Seeking" (ζητεῖ) is present tense, suggesting a current, active plot. The crowd's unawareness or feigned ignorance of the actual murderous plots of the Sanhedrin (Jn 5:18; 7:1; 11:53) underscores their spiritual blindness and worldly perspective.

• "to kill You?": (apokteinai Se, ἀποκτεῖναί σε). To put to death, to slay. This direct challenge underscores the perceived absurdity of Jesus' accusation from their limited vantage point. They couldn't reconcile the popular teacher speaking openly in the Temple with a secret plot against His life, which Jesus, through divine insight, knew existed among the religious authorities.

• "The people answered Him, 'You have a demon!'": This phrase immediately dismisses Jesus' words by attacking His character and spiritual state. It is a hostile rejection, a classic example of ad hominem fallacy. This recurring accusation in the Gospels serves to explain away Jesus' extraordinary claims and actions by attributing them to an unholy, rather than a divine, source.

• "'Who is seeking to kill You?'": This rhetorical question highlights the crowd's perceived ignorance or outright disbelief in Jesus' claim. It suggests their inability to comprehend the spiritual conflict Jesus was embroiled in, focusing instead on superficial appearances and assuming no one among "the people" would openly attempt such an act. It also serves as an unwitting denial of the plot by their own religious leadership, who were indeed seeking His life.

John 7 20 Bonus section

• The Feast of Booths was a joyous festival celebrating God's provision and the Messianic hope. This festive background ironically contrasts with the intense hostility Jesus faced, underscoring the deep spiritual conflict at play.
• The crowd's response also highlights a lack of trust in Jesus as a prophetic figure. A true prophet's words, even if startling, would prompt contemplation, not immediate dismissal through personal attacks.
• The accusation of having a demon recurs throughout Jesus' ministry (Jn 8:48, 10:20), indicating a standard form of opposition used by His adversaries to undermine His authority and explain away His divine works and challenging teachings. It was a potent slur that often successfully swayed public opinion against Him.

John 7 20 Commentary

John 7:20 reveals the deep chasm between Jesus' spiritual discernment and the crowd's natural understanding. When Jesus, in His omniscience, directly addresses the underlying murderous intent of the Jewish leaders (some of whom were likely in the crowd or represented by them), the people, lacking such insight, can only react with disbelief and scorn. They accuse Him of being possessed by a demon, which, to them, explains why He would utter such a seemingly irrational and paranoid statement. This is a profound misunderstanding of Jesus' identity and mission; His truthful claims about their leaders' malice are met with charges of madness and evil influence. The scene demonstrates that human rejection of divine truth often manifests as an attack on the messenger, rather than a self-examination. The irony lies in their fervent denial and accusation; while they themselves were not orchestrating a plot, their religious leaders were, and this denial reveals the collective spiritual blindness that would eventually lead to Jesus' crucifixion.