John 7:4 kjv
For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
John 7:4 nkjv
For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."
John 7:4 niv
No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."
John 7:4 esv
For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world."
John 7:4 nlt
You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!"
John 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 7:4 | For no one did anything in secret when he himself wanted to be known. | John 7:4 (Main) |
| John 7:10 | But after his brothers had gone up, then he also went up to the feast, not openly, but as if in secret. | John 7:10 (Contrast) |
| John 8:59 | So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. | John 8:59 (Jesus hiding) |
| Luke 4:30 | But he passed through their midst and went on his way. | Luke 4:30 (Jesus passing through) |
| Isaiah 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’ | Isaiah 46:10 (God’s counsel) |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. | Proverbs 3:5-6 (God’s direction) |
| Ecclesiastes 3:1 | To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: | Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Time and season) |
| Galatians 4:4 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, | Galatians 4:4 (Fullness of time) |
| Mark 1:15 | And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.” | Mark 1:15 (Fulfilled time) |
| John 12:27 | “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. | John 12:27 (Purpose of the hour) |
| John 13:1 | Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. | John 13:1 (His hour had come) |
| Matthew 12:19-20 | “He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory. | Matthew 12:19-20 (His gentle way) |
| Psalm 118:23 | This was the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. | Psalm 118:23 (Lord's doing) |
| John 11:56 | Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” | John 11:56 (Question about coming) |
| Acts 1:7 | And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. | Acts 1:7 (Times and seasons) |
| Romans 5:6 | For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. | Romans 5:6 (In due time) |
| Ephesians 1:10 | that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him— | Ephesians 1:10 (Dispensation of times) |
| Hebrews 1:2 | has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; | Hebrews 1:2 (Last days) |
| 1 Peter 4:2 | that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. | 1 Peter 4:2 (Will of God) |
| John 18:20 | Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. | John 18:20 (Spoke openly) |
John 7 verses
John 7 4 Meaning
John 7:4 states, "For no one did anything notable unless he had himself made manifest; the [same] did not do these things during that time." This verse articulates the reasoning behind why Jesus did not openly reveal Himself in Judea during a specific period, even though it was a time of feast. The primary reason given is that He was waiting for the opportune moment, for the "right time" to demonstrate His divine works and identity publicly. The Greek word for "notable" or "secretly" (lathra) implies hiddenness, while "manifest" (phaneron) signifies being revealed or made known.
John 7 4 Context
This verse is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 7, during Jesus' ministry in Galilee and Judea. The chapter details Jesus' reluctance to show Himself openly in Judea during the Feast of Tabernacles due to the hostile reception and plots against His life. His brothers initially challenge Him, suggesting He go to Judea and demonstrate His miracles publicly to gain a following. John 7:4 provides Jesus' internal reasoning for this cautious approach. He was not acting impulsively but strategically, waiting for God's appointed time to reveal Himself and His works fully. This period precedes His ultimate sacrifice and glorification, which would be His definitive public manifestation. The historical context involves significant religious and political tension under Roman rule, with the Jewish leadership often opposing Jesus' claims and teachings.
John 7 4 Word Analysis
- "For" (γάρ - gar): This is a coordinating conjunction indicating a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- "no one" (οὐδεὶς - oudeis): Literally "not one," emphasizing the absence of any individual performing such an action.
- "did anything" (ποιεῖ τι - poiei ti): "poiei" (to do, make, perform) and "ti" (something). It refers to performing any act.
- "secretly" / "in secret" (κρυπτῷ - kruptō): In a hidden manner, without being openly seen or known. This speaks of actions done privately.
- "when he himself" (ὅστις καὶ - hostis kai): "hostis" is a relative pronoun meaning "whoever," "any one." "kai" is a conjunction, often translated as "and" or "also," here implying "even" or emphasizing "himself."
- "wanted" / "desired" (θέλει - thelei): "thelo" means to wish, desire, intend, or will. It indicates a deliberate intent.
- "to be made manifest" / "to be known" (φανερὸν γενέσθαι - phaneron genesthai): "phaneron" means visible, evident, manifest, public. "genesthai" is the aorist infinitive of "ginomai," meaning "to become" or "to be." Together, they express the desire to become publicly known or evident.
- "the [same]" (οὗτος - houtos): This is a demonstrative pronoun, referring back to the "no one" but highlighting that this principle applies to anyone who wishes to be known.
- "did not do" (οὐ ποιεῖ - ou poiei): A direct negation of the verb "poiei."
- "these things" (ταῦτα - tauta): Refers to significant works or actions, specifically implied to be Jesus' own miracles and divine deeds.
- "during that time" (ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ ἐκείνῳ - en tō chronō ekeinō): "en" (in), "tō" (the), "chronō" (time), "ekeinō" (that). It signifies a specific, designated period, which for Jesus was a time of concealment.
Group Analysis:The structure of the sentence implies a universal principle: if someone intends for their deeds to gain recognition and become public, they would not perform them covertly. Conversely, performing deeds secretly suggests an intention not to be made manifest at that moment, or a different motive altogether. Jesus is presenting a logical human-centric principle to explain His current cautious behavior. His brothers thought His actions lacked boldness; Jesus' response implies His actions were calculated according to divine timing, not a lack of ability or willingness to perform works.
John 7 4 Bonus Section
The principle described in John 7:4 reflects a profound understanding of purpose and timing in public life and ministry. It's a principle that resonates throughout scripture, highlighting that God's timing is paramount. Jesus Himself acknowledged, "My time has not yet come" (John 2:4; 7:6). This verse subtly addresses the brothers' lack of spiritual understanding, who viewed ministry through a lens of immediate popularity and public impact, rather than through God's perfect timing and purpose for the Messiah. The verse also serves as an encouragement to believers, suggesting that God's plans often unfold according to His perfect schedule, and that discreet, purposeful action can be more effective than outward showmanship until the appointed time.
John 7 4 Commentary
Jesus uses a general principle of human behavior to explain His current strategy. Normally, if a person performs significant actions and desires public acclaim or recognition, they will do so openly. Performing them secretly implies a different intention. Jesus’ brothers assumed He should be performing works openly to gain followers, questioning why He wasn't more active in Judea. However, Jesus understood that His ministry had divine timing. He was not avoiding Judea out of fear but out of obedience to the Father's plan for when His works and identity should be fully revealed. He operated according to the principle that when the purpose is manifest, the actions leading to it are strategically timed, not necessarily performed in the most outwardly dramatic way until the fullness of the divine plan unfolds. His works during this time were not absent, but done without seeking public notoriety at that particular moment, saving the greater manifestation for His appointed hour.