John 7 21

John 7:21 kjv

Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

John 7:21 nkjv

Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel.

John 7:21 niv

Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.

John 7:21 esv

Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel at it.

John 7:21 nlt

Jesus replied, "I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed.

John 7 verses

John 7 21 Meaning

John 7:21 reveals Jesus' direct confrontation with His Jewish opponents during the Feast of Tabernacles. He responds to their underlying accusation of Sabbath-breaking, which stemmed from His healing of the paralytic man at Bethesda (John 5). Jesus points out the striking inconsistency of their "marveling" or astonishment at His singular act of healing mercy on the Sabbath, especially when their own Law permits and even mandates circumcision, a form of "work," on the Sabbath without similar condemnation. His statement highlights their selective judgment, spiritual blindness, and hypocrisy in failing to grasp the divine authority and redemptive purpose behind His actions.

John 7 21 Context

John chapter 7 opens during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in Jerusalem, a significant pilgrimage festival. Jesus' brothers urged Him to go publicly, while Jesus initially delays, then goes up in secret. By mid-festival, Jesus teaches openly in the Temple courts, eliciting varied reactions from the crowd: astonishment at His teaching, questioning of His origin, debate over whether He is the Christ, and opposition from the religious authorities. Verses 19-20 specifically reveal the animosity: Jesus challenges them, saying, "Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill Me?" To which the crowd replies, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill You?" Verse 21 is Jesus' direct reply to this veiled accusation and underlying animosity regarding His previous actions. He directly addresses their hypocritical legalism surrounding the Sabbath, particularly concerning the healing in John 5 which intensified their persecution. Historically and culturally, Jewish leaders strictly interpreted Sabbath laws, making healing a "work" often considered unlawful, unless a life was in immediate danger. This strictness allowed for paradoxes, such as performing circumcision, a minor surgery, on the Sabbath to fulfill the Mosaic Law. Jesus leverages this cultural nuance to expose their faulty logic and hardened hearts.

John 7 21 Word analysis

• Jesus: Signifies the divine authority and identity of the speaker, who possesses wisdom and power that transcends human expectations and laws.
• answered: Indicates that Jesus is responding to their internal thoughts, unspoken accusations, or prior criticisms, particularly concerning His Sabbath activity from John 5. It shows His perception of their hearts.
• and said to them: "Them" refers to the diverse crowd in the Temple, which included many common people and also religious leaders who were questioning or opposing Him. His statement is public.
• I did: Emphasizes Jesus' personal agency and intentionality in performing the "work." It underscores His divine prerogative to act, even on the Sabbath.
• one work (Greek: ἔργον ἕν - ergon hen):
  • ἔργον (ergon): This Greek term generally means a deed, act, or work. Here it refers specifically to the healing of the paralytic in John 5:1-9.
  • ἕν (hen): The numeral "one" is crucial. It highlights the singular, unambiguous nature of the act. Jesus is referring to a single, profound act of mercy, not a series of contentious behaviors. Its singularity makes their collective "marveling" disproportionate and reveals their true motive as finding fault.
• and you all marvel (Greek: καὶ πάντες θαυμάζετε - kai pantes thaumazete):
  • πάντες (pantes): "All" indicates the widespread astonishment or perplexity among the people, particularly among the Jewish leaders and those influenced by their legalism. It implies a collective, almost unified reaction.
  • θαυμάζετε (thaumazete): From thaumazō, meaning "to wonder," "to be astonished," or "to marvel." In this context, it carries a negative connotation, indicating not awe or positive wonder, but rather bewildered disapproval, shock, or indignation at what they perceived as an unlawful act. It implies a sense of scandal or offense.
• because of it: Clearly links their astonishment directly to His singular healing on the Sabbath, implying that this particular act became a significant point of contention and accusation against Him.

Words-group analysis:

• "I did one work": This phrase directly asserts Jesus' agency and the limited scope of the specific event under scrutiny. He emphasizes it was one work, concise and powerful, setting up the contrast with their outsized and misplaced reaction.
• "and you all marvel because of it": This highlights the disproportionality and negativity of their response. Their "marveling" is not worshipful amazement at a divine work, but a collective bewilderment and indignation at what they deemed a violation of their legalistic interpretation of the Law. It exposes their spiritual inability to discern God's active work from perceived legal transgression.

John 7 21 Bonus section

• The irony of their "marveling" is profound: they marvel at the good work of God, demonstrating their lack of spiritual discernment. Their wonder leads not to belief but to accusation, unlike those who truly marvel at God's works and come to faith (e.g., in Acts 3:10 following Peter's healing).
• Jesus' defense implies that acts of mercy and liberation (like healing) are aligned with God's original intent for the Sabbath, which was a day of rest and restoration, not a burden of stringent regulations that would prevent good.
• This exchange underscores a central theme in John's Gospel: the tension between divine truth embodied in Jesus and the misinterpretations and traditions of human religion that reject Him.
• The emphasis on "one work" suggests that this single act encapsulated His entire ministry's ethos regarding the Sabbath, serving as a representative example of His kingdom principles breaking through traditional rigidities.

John 7 21 Commentary

In John 7:21, Jesus directly confronts the spiritual blindness and hypocrisy of His accusers regarding His Sabbath healing. He challenges their inconsistent application of the Law by pointing out their fervent condemnation of His "one work" of mercy (the healing of the paralytic in John 5), while simultaneously observing traditions like circumcision on the Sabbath without issue (a point He immediately clarifies in John 7:22-23). The "marveling" here is not an expression of faith or awe at God's power, but rather a collective astonishment rooted in legalistic indignation. Jesus exposes that their focus is on outward observance of ritualistic law, missing the weightier matters of compassion and the divine authority that operates through Him, even on the Sabbath. He reveals their preoccupation with finding fault, demonstrating that their hearts were not aligned with God's will but with rigid, human-made interpretations. His concise statement lays bare their true motivation: not righteousness, but opposition to Him.