John 7 23

John 7:23 kjv

If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

John 7:23 nkjv

If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?

John 7:23 niv

Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man's whole body on the Sabbath?

John 7:23 esv

If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?

John 7:23 nlt

For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath?

John 7 verses

John 7 23 Meaning

This verse presents Jesus' potent logical argument against the Jewish leaders' accusation of Him violating the Sabbath. He highlights their hypocrisy: they meticulously perform circumcision on the eighth day, even when it falls on the Sabbath, to uphold the Law of Moses concerning the covenant. Yet, they condemn Him for completely restoring a suffering person's health on the very same holy day. Jesus demonstrates that if a ritual requiring a partial modification of the body is justified on the Sabbath for the sake of the Law, then a life-giving, total restoration of a human being by God's power should be considered not only permissible but exemplary. His query directly confronts their misdirected anger and skewed prioritization of legalistic rules over divine compassion and the well-being of people.

John 7 23 Context

John Chapter 7 is set during the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) in Jerusalem, approximately six months before Jesus' crucifixion. The chapter opens with Jesus deliberately avoiding Judea due to threats to His life from the Jewish authorities. He later travels to Jerusalem secretly. Throughout the feast, Jesus teaches openly in the Temple courts, generating intense debate among the crowds regarding His identity, authority, and origin. Many speculate whether He is the Messiah. Verse 23 specifically refers back to the event in John Chapter 5, where Jesus healed a paralytic man on the Sabbath at the Pool of Bethesda, and commanded him to carry his mat—an act that the Jewish leaders considered work, thereby violating their strict interpretation of Sabbath laws. The historical context includes the rigid application of Mosaic Law by the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had developed numerous oral traditions that often obscured the spirit of the Law in favor of intricate legalism. The practice of circumcising on the eighth day, even if it fell on the Sabbath, was an accepted exception rooted in biblical command (Lev 12:3), illustrating that certain divine commands held precedence.

John 7 23 Word analysis

• "If" (Εἰ – Ei): A conditional particle, introducing a premise for a logical argument, which in this case is a qal wahomer (light and heavy) or a fortiori argument.
• "a man" (ἄνθρωπος – anthrōpos): Generic reference to any individual, underscoring the universally accepted practice.
• "receives circumcision" (περιτομὴν λαμβάνει – peritomēn lambanei): Refers to the physical rite commanded by God to Abraham (Gen 17:10) and Moses (Lev 12:3). Peritomē (circumcision) is derived from peri (around) and temnō (to cut), denoting a physical modification of the flesh.
• "on the Sabbath" (ἐν σαββάτῳ – en sabbatō): The holy day of rest, specifically the subject of the controversy. This highlights the inherent conflict or exception within their own legal system.
• "so that" (ἵνα – hina): A purpose clause, clarifying the rationale behind the action: to prevent the violation of a commandment.
• "the law of Moses" (ὁ νόμος Μωυσέως – ho nomos Mōuseōs): The entirety of God's covenant instructions given through Moses, specifically referring to the commandment regarding the timing of circumcision (Lev 12:3).
• "may not be broken" (μὴ λυθῇ – mē lythē): From lyō (to loose, untie, destroy). Implies the strictness with which they aimed to uphold one command, even at the expense of bending another.

• "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses may not be broken": This phrase encapsulates the Jewish legal tradition of prioritizing the divine command of circumcision (on the eighth day) over the general prohibition of work on the Sabbath. It was an established and undisputed principle that fulfilling the Mitzvah (commandment) of circumcision took precedence. This act of partial modification of the body was deemed necessary to prevent a violation of the Law concerning the covenant.
• "are you angry with Me" (ἐμοὶ χολᾶτε – emoi cholāte): This is a direct, confrontational challenge. Cholate (from cholē – bile/gall) signifies strong, bitter, and often disproportionate anger or vexation. Jesus identifies the core issue as their emotional hostility towards Him rather than a purely intellectual or theological disagreement over the Sabbath. Their anger blinds them to the logical consistency of His argument.
• "because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath?" (ὅτι ὅλον ἄνθρωπον ὑγιῆ ἐποίησα ἐν σαββάτῳ – hoti holon anthrōpon hygiē epoiēsa en sabbatō): Jesus contrasts their accepted Sabbath-circumcision with His act of healing. The phrase "entirely well" (ὅλον ἄνθρωπον ὑγιῆ – holon anthrōpon hygiē) emphasizes the complete, holistic restoration of the man's health and life. It wasn't merely a partial, ritualistic cut, but a complete transformation, a work of recreation and divine power that brought wholeness to an entire person. This sets up the a fortiori argument: if a partial cut is lawful, how much more is a complete restoration of life.

John 7 23 Bonus section

This argument by Jesus not only reveals the inconsistencies in the Jewish leaders' understanding of the Law but also serves as a polemic against a legalistic mindset that elevates rigid interpretation and tradition over divine mercy and the well-being of humanity. Jesus uses their own established principles—the prioritization of one commandment over another when conflict arises—against them. The contrast between a "work" of ritual surgery for covenant identity and a "work" of life-giving healing for human suffering underscores a fundamental theological divide. Furthermore, Jesus' reference to healing a "whole man" hints at the comprehensive salvation and spiritual restoration He offers, far surpassing the mere physical rite of circumcision as a sign of covenant. His ability to perform such healings on the Sabbath also implicitly speaks to His authority over the Sabbath, setting the stage for His later declaration of being "Lord of the Sabbath."

John 7 23 Commentary

John 7:23 is a masterful piece of argumentation by Jesus, exposing the religious hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. He directly challenges their selective application and interpretation of the Mosaic Law regarding the Sabbath. Their tradition permitted the ritual cutting of the flesh through circumcision on the Sabbath to observe the eighth-day command, preventing a violation of the Law. Yet, they condemned Jesus for an act of profound mercy—restoring a whole person's health, vitality, and life. The core of Jesus' argument lies in the vast difference between these two actions: a ritualistic act upon a part of the body versus a miraculous healing that brings complete well-being to the entire person. He forces them to confront their irrational anger and inconsistent judgment, highlighting that acts of genuine compassion and life-giving power, which reflect the very heart of God, should certainly be deemed more lawful and commendable than mere ritualistic observance, especially on a day meant for the celebration of God's creative and redemptive work. Their legalism had overshadowed mercy and the true intent of the Sabbath—a day of rest, worship, and demonstrating God's goodness, which includes alleviating suffering.