John 7 22

John 7:22 kjv

Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

John 7:22 nkjv

Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

John 7:22 niv

Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath.

John 7:22 esv

Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.

John 7:22 nlt

But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses' law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.)

John 7 verses

John 7 22 Meaning

John 7:22 presents Jesus' argument addressing the Jewish leaders' inconsistency concerning the Law. He points out that Moses commanded circumcision, but clarifies its origin lies with the patriarchs (Abraham). Jesus then highlights the accepted practice among them: performing circumcision on the Sabbath day when the eighth day (required for circumcision) falls on it. This establishes a precedent for overriding the literal Sabbath rest in observance of another commandment of the Law, setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent argument regarding His own healing work.

John 7 22 Context

John 7:22 occurs during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, where Jesus is teaching. Many people, including the religious authorities, are questioning His identity and authority. The immediate backdrop to this verse is found in John 7:19-21, where Jesus challenges the crowd: "Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" He then reminds them of a previous incident where He healed a man on the Sabbath (John 5). The verse serves as a direct retort to their legalistic persecution regarding His Sabbath healing. Culturally, the Jewish understanding, articulated in rabbinic tradition (Mishnah), held that the command for circumcision on the eighth day (Lev 12:3) took precedence over the general Sabbath prohibition against work, if the eighth day fell on a Sabbath. This exception was accepted because it completed a covenant requirement instituted by God Himself through Abraham.

John 7 22 Word analysis

• Moses (Μωϋσῆς, Mōysēs): The pivotal figure for the giving of the Law, representing divine authority to the Jewish people. Jesus uses Moses' authority, highly respected by His listeners, to set the foundation for His argument.
• therefore: Connects this statement to the preceding argument in John 7:19-21. It indicates a logical consequence or a supporting point for Jesus' critique of their inconsistent judgment.
• gave unto you: Highlights the established tradition and received practice among the Jewish people. It underscores that they were indeed practicing what Jesus was about to critique them on.
• circumcision (περιτομή, peritomē): The physical sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 17). It was fundamental to Jewish identity and observance of the Law, required for entrance into the covenant community.
• (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;): This parenthetical clause is crucial. Jesus distinguishes the ultimate origin of circumcision (from Abraham and the patriarchs, Gen 17:9-14) from its later incorporation and emphasis within the Mosaic Law (Lev 12:3). This detail demonstrates Jesus' profound understanding of the Law's lineage and hierarchy, emphasizing its foundational status pre-dating even Moses. This earlier, more fundamental command implicitly carried greater weight.
• and ye: Addresses the Jewish leaders and those in the crowd who were criticizing Him for Sabbath healing. It is an accusatory 'you', pointing out their own behavior.
• on the sabbath day: Explicitly refers to the sacred day of rest and cessation from work as commanded in the Decalogue (Exod 20:8-11; Deut 5:12-15). This is the very day on which they criticized Jesus for His 'work' of healing.
• circumcise a man: The specific act that involves a physical incision, traditionally considered 'work' that would break the Sabbath. Jesus uses their own accepted practice as an illustration.

• "Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;)": This phrase establishes the divine origin and long-standing importance of circumcision. By noting its pre-Mosaic origin, Jesus implies its deep, unassailable authority rooted in the earliest covenant promises. This ancient origin, linked to the "fathers" (Abraham), positions it as a commandment of paramount importance within their religious system, providing a robust justification for an exception to Sabbath keeping.
• "and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.": This clause serves as the damning evidence of their inconsistency. They themselves willingly "break" the Sabbath commandment, from their rigid literal interpretation, to fulfill another commandment that they deem more important—the ritual of circumcision. Jesus directly exposes their selective application of the Law.

John 7 22 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces a theological point: the supremacy of a covenant sign from the "fathers" over a general commandment like Sabbath rest. While not explicit here, this hierarchy would find its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who fulfills both the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Law. Jesus, by upholding a greater principle, is indirectly asserting His authority as the one who truly understands and fulfills the spirit of God's commands. The "work" of circumcision restores a person to covenant participation, while Jesus' "work" of healing restores a person to wholeness. Both are for the benefit of humankind, and Jesus challenges their failure to recognize His work as a divinely sanctioned "doing good" on the Sabbath, just as they recognize circumcision. This passage illustrates Jesus' characteristic way of answering accusations by using the very Law that was weaponized against Him, revealing His perfect knowledge and superior wisdom.

John 7 22 Commentary

In John 7:22, Jesus confronts the Jewish leaders' hypocrisy concerning their legalistic adherence to the Sabbath. His argument is brilliant, turning their own accepted practice against them. They accused Him of violating the Sabbath by healing a man, yet they themselves would perform circumcisions on the Sabbath if the eighth day fell on it, because circumcision was an Abrahamic command reaffirmed by Moses. Jesus highlights that they prioritize a ritual related to physical wholeness and the covenant (circumcision) over a literal interpretation of Sabbath rest, thereby tacitly admitting that some commandments carry greater weight or allow for exceptions. If preserving the external sign of the covenant (circumcision) justifies 'work' on the Sabbath, Jesus implies, how much more should preserving the wholeness of a person's life (healing) justify similar 'work'? He calls them to a consistent and righteous judgment (John 7:24), moving beyond mere outward appearances and prioritizing the spirit of the Law – which emphasizes life and spiritual wholeness – over a rigid, letter-of-the-law application that lacks mercy.