John 7 31

John 7:31 kjv

And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

John 7:31 nkjv

And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?"

John 7:31 niv

Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, "When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?"

John 7:31 esv

Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, "When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?"

John 7:31 nlt

Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. "After all," they said, "would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?"

John 7 verses

John 7 31 Meaning

John 7:31 records a significant moment where a considerable number of people, observing Jesus's mighty works, arrived at the conviction that He was indeed the Christ, the Messiah. Their reasoning was straightforward: if the Messiah were to come, He could not perform more, or greater, signs than what Jesus had already demonstrably done. This implies that Jesus's miracles were recognized as uniquely profound and unparalleled, meeting or exceeding their expectations for Messianic proof.

John 7 31 Context

John 7 is set during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, a significant pilgrimage festival that brought many Jewish people from various regions together. Jesus initially travels in secret to avoid public attention and conflict, but eventually appears and teaches openly in the Temple courts. His teaching sparks considerable debate and division among the crowds regarding His identity. Some dismiss Him as a deceiver, others are hesitant to speak due to fear of the Jewish authorities, while some genuinely wonder if He might be the Christ. The religious leaders, the chief priests and Pharisees, are openly hostile, sending officers to arrest Him. It is against this backdrop of tension, scrutiny, and attempts to apprehend Jesus that verse 31 provides a stark contrast: while the authorities seek to seize Him, a growing number of ordinary people are swayed by the undeniable evidence of His miraculous works. Their belief arises from a direct observation of His power, rather than political agendas or institutional authority.

John 7 31 Word analysis

• But (Greek: De - δέ): Marks a strong contrast or opposition. Here, it contrasts the people's belief with the preceding discussions where many were divided (Jn 7:12, 7:25) or hostile (Jn 7:20, 7:26-27), and specifically with the chief priests and Pharisees' efforts to arrest Jesus (Jn 7:32).
• many (Greek: Polloi - πολλοί): Signifies a large, significant number of individuals. It's not a fringe group, indicating a considerable movement of popular belief.
• of the people (Greek: ek tou ochlou - ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου): Refers to the common folk, the general crowd or populace present at the Feast. This distinguishes them from the religious or political elite who were mostly antagonistic towards Jesus. Their response represents genuine, popular sentiment.
• believed (Greek: episteusan - ἐπίστευσαν, aorist indicative active of pisteuo): Denotes a decisive, active act of faith and conviction. It indicates they "came to believe" or "placed their trust" in Him. It's not just intellectual assent but a commitment of conviction.
• in him (Greek: eis auton - εἰς αὐτόν): The preposition eis (into) combined with auton (him) suggests belief directed into or towards Jesus Himself, implying personal trust and identification of Him as the object of their faith, not just in His words or works in isolation.
• and said: Shows their vocalization and declaration of their conviction, not merely internal thoughts. Their belief led to an open statement.
• When the Christ comes: (Greek: Hotan ho Christos elthei - ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς ἔλθῃ). Hotan (when/whenever) with a subjunctive (elthei) points to an expectation of the future arrival of the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah. "The Christ" is the specific title for the expected Jewish deliverer, universally recognized by them.
• will he do more signs: (Greek: mē pleiona sēmeia poiēsei - μὴ πλείονα σημεῖα ποιήσει). This is a rhetorical question beginning with mē, expecting a "no" answer. They are asserting that the coming Christ will not do more signs.
• than these which this Man has done?: Poiēsei hou kai houtos epoiēsen (ποιήσει οὗ καὶ οὗτος ἐποίησεν). The comparative highlights the extraordinary quality and quantity of Jesus's miracles. "This Man" (Greek: houtos - οὗτος) is a slightly detached reference, acknowledging Jesus's human presence while simultaneously marveling at His supernatural power. It underscores the undeniable evidence.
• Word Group Analysis:
  • "But many of the people believed in him": This phrase directly highlights the contrasting reaction of the common people compared to the increasing hostility and unbelief of the religious leaders. It shows that despite attempts to suppress information or seize Jesus, a segment of the populace was genuinely persuaded by His divine attestation. This popular belief underscores Jesus's wide-ranging appeal and the persuasive power of His miracles among those with open hearts.
  • "When the Christ comes, will he do more signs than these which this Man has done?": This rhetorical question reveals the logic and foundation of their belief. For these people, the signs performed by Jesus were the undeniable hallmarks of the Messiah. They weighed their long-held Messianic expectations against Jesus's demonstrated power and concluded that no one could surpass Him in miraculous attestations, thus confirming His identity as the Christ. Their belief was rooted in tangible, observable evidence that fulfilled their prophetic understanding of the Messiah's coming. This indicates that Jesus's semeia (signs) in John's Gospel served their intended purpose of pointing to His true identity.

John 7 31 Bonus section

The nature of the belief in John 7:31, based primarily on signs, is foundational but can be contrasted with a deeper, more mature faith that recognizes Jesus beyond just His miraculous capabilities. While a starting point (as intended by the semeia in John's Gospel), it's less about the person of Jesus or His teachings, and more about His proven power. This group represents those who are convinced by what they see Jesus do. This initial belief sets them apart from the hardened unbelief of the religious authorities and positions them closer to discipleship, though deeper understanding and commitment would still be required. The passage underscores the divine origin of Jesus's power, suggesting that the volume and nature of His miracles could only be attributed to God working through Him, compelling the rational observer to acknowledge His Messianic claims.

John 7 31 Commentary

John 7:31 marks a significant pivot in the narrative of popular perception concerning Jesus. Up to this point, much of the crowd remained divided or fearful, yet here, a notable portion transitions into active belief. Their conviction is not based on profound theological insight or allegiance to a specific Jewish sect, but on direct, compelling evidence: the abundance and astonishing nature of Jesus's miracles. They operate on a simple, pragmatic logic derived from their understanding of prophecy: the Messiah, when He comes, will surely perform great works. When they observe Jesus's unprecedented deeds – healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, feeding thousands – they conclude that no one, not even the promised Christ, could possibly surpass such power. This makes their belief not arbitrary, but a logical deduction based on divine attestation. This verse powerfully illustrates how Jesus's semeia (signs), as presented in John's Gospel, serve their evangelistic purpose: to lead people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, they may have life in His name.