John 7:3 kjv
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
John 7:3 nkjv
His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
John 7:3 niv
Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.
John 7:3 esv
So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.
John 7:3 nlt
and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles!
John 7 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Unbelief & Misunderstanding | ||
| Jn 7:5 | For not even His brothers believed in Him. | Directly states the brothers' lack of faith. |
| Mk 3:21 | When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses." | Family's earlier misunderstanding. |
| Mt 13:57 | "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." | Rejection and lack of belief from familiar circles. |
| Mt 16:22 | Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." | Even a chief disciple misunderstood His path. |
| Lk 24:21 | "But we were hoping that He was the One who was going to redeem Israel..." | Disciples' worldly expectations of Messiah. |
| Seeking Human Glory vs. God's Glory/Timing | ||
| Jn 5:44 | "How can you believe when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?" | Contrast between human and divine glory. |
| Jn 12:43 | For they loved human glory more than the glory of God. | Prioritizing human approval. |
| Jn 2:4 | And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." | Jesus' actions bound by divine timing. |
| Jn 7:6 | Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready." | Jesus operates on a precise divine schedule. |
| Jn 7:8 | "Go up to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet fully come." | Jesus' decision regarding the Feast timing. |
| Public Manifestation & Signs | ||
| Jn 7:4 | "For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world." | Brothers' desire for public display. |
| Mt 12:38 | "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." | Religious leaders demanding miraculous signs. |
| Mt 16:1 | The Pharisees and Sadducees... asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. | Seeking spectacular proof of authority. |
| 1 Cor 1:22 | For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom. | General Jewish expectation for signs. |
| Isa 42:2 | He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street. | Prophecy of Messiah's humble approach. |
| Mt 12:16 | And warned them not to tell anyone about Him. | Jesus often avoided sensational publicity. |
| Purpose of Jesus' Works | ||
| Jn 5:36 | "...the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me." | Works as evidence of divine sending. |
| Jn 10:25 | "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify about Me." | Works authenticate His identity, call for belief. |
| Later Belief & Importance of Faith | ||
| Acts 1:14 | All these with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with... His brothers. | Jesus' brothers later became believers. |
| 1 Cor 9:5 | Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as... the brothers of the Lord...? | Reference to James and other brothers as believers. |
| 2 Cor 5:7 | For we walk by faith, not by sight. | Principle of faith over physical evidence. |
| Jn 20:29 | "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." | Blessings for faith without requiring sight. |
John 7 verses
John 7 3 Meaning
In John 7:3, Jesus' biological brothers, who did not yet believe in His divine identity (Jn 7:5), urge Him to leave Galilee and go to Judea for the approaching Feast of Booths. Their counsel suggests that if Jesus is performing great "works," He should do so publicly in Jerusalem, the religious and political center, so that His followers can witness them and His reputation can be established. Their motivation stemmed from a worldly perspective, seeking public validation and outward recognition rather than understanding His divine timing and spiritual mission.
John 7 3 Context
John chapter 7 opens with Jesus in Galilee, consciously avoiding Judea because Jewish authorities in Jerusalem sought to kill Him (Jn 7:1). The Feast of Booths (Sukkot), a major annual pilgrimage festival requiring presence in Jerusalem, was drawing near (Jn 7:2). During this time of heightened religious activity and large crowds, Jesus' brothers approached Him with this advice. Their counsel in John 7:3 directly precedes their stated unbelief in Jesus (Jn 7:5) and Jesus' response concerning His own divine timing (Jn 7:6, 8). This exchange occurs against the backdrop of growing opposition to Jesus, particularly from religious leaders in Judea, and the contrasting expectations of a Messianic figure among the people.
John 7 3 Word analysis
- His brothers (ἀδελφοὶ - adelphoi): Refers to Jesus' actual physical siblings (James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, Mt 13:55). At this point in Jesus' ministry, they had not yet embraced Him as the Messiah and truly believed in His divine claims, as explicitly stated in John 7:5.
- therefore (οὖν - oun): This conjunction links the brothers' advice to the preceding context. Jesus was remaining in Galilee (Jn 7:1) while the Feast of Booths approached (Jn 7:2). The brothers' counsel stems from their observation of this situation, inferring that Jesus should be in Jerusalem for such an important event.
- said to Him: A direct communication, highlighting the intimate yet conflicted family relationship. Their words were a direct appeal or demand.
- Depart from here (Μετάβηθι ἔνθεν - Metabethi enthen): An imperative command, urging Jesus to "move from this place" (Galilee), which they considered an insufficient or obscure setting for His reported deeds.
- and go into Judea (καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν - kai hypage eis tēn Ioudaian): Another imperative, directing Him to the region that was the political and religious heartland, specifically Jerusalem for the festival. This implies seeking a larger, more prominent stage.
- that Your disciples also may see (ἵνα θεωρήσωσιν - hina theōrēsōsin): This phrase indicates the brothers' stated purpose for Jesus' move. "Disciples" likely refers to a broader group of followers and curious onlookers, not just the inner twelve. The verb theōreō suggests observing intently, perceiving, or gazing upon with comprehension, not just a casual glance.
- the works that You are doing (τὰ ἔργα σου ἃ ποιεῖς - ta erga sou ha poieis): This refers to Jesus' miracles, healings, and authoritative teachings. The brothers acknowledge His remarkable deeds but viewed them as means for public display and gaining human approval or wider recognition.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "His brothers therefore said to Him": This introduction sets the scene, revealing counsel originating from His unbelieving immediate family. Their "therefore" connects their advice logically, from a human perspective, to the unfolding religious calendar and Jesus' perceived status.
- "Depart from here and go into Judea": This imperative instruction is a strategic suggestion to move from the relatively private or provincial setting of Galilee to the public, bustling stage of Jerusalem. It reflects a desire for a grander, more visible manifestation.
- "that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing": This phrase uncovers the brothers' worldly motivation: to put Jesus' powerful deeds on public display. They presumed that such spectacle was necessary for "disciples" (or potential followers) to properly observe and thus confirm His actions, indicating a desire for tangible evidence and public validation.
John 7 3 Bonus section
The advice given by Jesus' brothers here stands in stark contrast to Jesus' typical practice of often downplaying or commanding silence about His miracles (e.g., Mk 1:44, Mt 9:30), especially when they could lead to an incorrect, politically charged understanding of His messianic role. Their counsel mirrors the general Jewish expectation for a Messiah who would act powerfully and openly in a temporal, rather than purely spiritual, capacity. While His brothers were unbelieving at this time, some of them, notably James and Jude, later became prominent figures and authors of New Testament epistles, demonstrating a profound transformation from skepticism to devout faith (Acts 1:14). This verse thus marks an important point in their personal journey and highlights that even those closest to Jesus needed to shed worldly understanding for spiritual revelation.
John 7 3 Commentary
John 7:3 offers a poignant glimpse into the challenges Jesus faced even within His own family. His brothers, though witnesses to His miraculous works and profound teachings, fundamentally misunderstood the nature of His Messianic mission. Their advice to "Depart from here and go into Judea" was not a call for greater spiritual impact, but for a public relations move, driven by a desire for earthly recognition and a grander stage. They believed that His "works" (miracles and deeds) were best served by visible, widely publicized display during a major religious festival. This reveals their seeking of human glory over God's glory and highlights a fundamental difference between worldly ambition and divine purpose. Jesus, always operating according to the Father's perfect timing and will, recognized that His public "showing" would not be on their terms, nor primarily for a spectacle, but would be integral to His ultimate submission to the Father. This exchange also subtly prefigures the enduring temptation to leverage divine gifts or spiritual authority for human approval and popularity, a temptation Jesus always resisted.