John 7:40 kjv
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
John 7:40 nkjv
Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet."
John 7:40 niv
On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet."
John 7:40 esv
When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet."
John 7:40 nlt
When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, "Surely this man is the Prophet we've been expecting."
John 7 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 18:15 | "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among you..." | Prophecy of "the Prophet" like Moses. |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a Prophet like you... and I will put my words in his mouth..." | God promises to put His words in the Prophet's mouth. |
| Acts 3:22 | "Moses indeed said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers...' " | Peter identifies Jesus as this promised Prophet. |
| Acts 7:37 | "This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers.' " | Stephen confirms Jesus is the Prophet. |
| John 1:21 | They asked him, “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” | John the Baptist clarifies he is not "the Prophet." |
| John 1:25 | They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” | Questions surrounding the identity of "the Prophet." |
| John 6:14 | When the people saw the sign... they said, “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world!” | Earlier recognition of Jesus as the Prophet after feeding the 5,000. |
| John 7:37 | On the last day of the feast, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” | Jesus' preceding discourse about living water. |
| John 7:38 | “Whoever believes in me... ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” | Context of Jesus' "saying" that impacted the crowd. |
| John 7:41 | Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?” | Shows immediate division among the people about Jesus' identity. |
| Matt 21:11 | And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” | People recognized Jesus as a prophet at His Triumphal Entry. |
| Luke 7:16 | Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” | Reaction after Jesus raises the widow's son in Nain. |
| Luke 24:19 | He said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people..." | Disciples on the road to Emmaus describe Jesus. |
| Matt 16:14 | They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” | Diverse opinions on Jesus' identity, including as a prophet. |
| Luke 13:33 | “But I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.” | Jesus identifies Himself with the fate of prophets. |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. | The expectation of true prophets and warnings about false ones. |
| Isa 55:1 | “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!" | Prophetic invitation to God's abundant provision, echoed by Jesus' call for living water. |
| Zech 14:8 | On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. | Prophecy of living water, fulfilled spiritually by Jesus. |
| John 10:20 | Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” | Contrast to positive reaction, showing continued division. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God's ultimate revelation through Jesus, surpassing prior prophets. |
John 7 verses
John 7 40 Meaning
This verse captures the immediate, strong reaction of a significant portion of the crowd to Jesus' teachings, specifically His profound declarations during the Feast of Booths. Many people, upon hearing His words, emphatically declared their belief that He was "the Prophet" long foretold in the Scriptures, distinct from mere ordinary prophets or even the anticipated Messiah in some expectations. This marked a crucial point of public recognition, highlighting His prophetic authority and the impactful nature of His message.
John 7 40 Context
This verse is situated in the midst of Jesus' public ministry during the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) in Jerusalem. This festival was a major annual pilgrimage where Jewish people celebrated God's faithfulness during their wilderness wanderings, often involving joyful ceremonies and a prominent water libation rite. Jesus used this occasion to proclaim Himself as the source of living water (John 7:37-38), directly appealing to the spiritual thirst of the people. This powerful claim, along with His preceding teachings (John 7:14-24) and signs, deeply affected the multitude. The religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and chief priests (John 7:32, 7:45), were already hostile, having sent officers to arrest Him. Therefore, the people's recognition of Jesus as "the Prophet" immediately sets up a stark contrast between the faith of the common folk and the escalating unbelief of the authorities who scrutinized Him based on their traditions and legalistic interpretations rather than His divine words and actions.
John 7 40 Word analysis
- Therefore (οὖν - oun): This conjunction signifies a consequence or result, indicating that the crowd's reaction was a direct outcome of what Jesus had just said (specifically John 7:37-39, His call to come and drink living water).
- Many (πολλοί - polloi): Highlights that this was not a unanimous view, but a significant portion of the "people," indicating a broad base of recognition and belief, differentiating them from the skeptical religious leaders.
- of the people (ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου - ek tou ochlou): Refers to the "multitude" or "crowd," generally implying common individuals rather than the Sanhedrin members or the learned religious elite. This underscores the accessibility of Jesus' message to ordinary people.
- when they heard: Emphasizes that their conclusion was drawn directly from Jesus' audible words, demonstrating the power and clarity of His teaching.
- this saying (τοῦτον τὸν λόγον - touton ton logon): Directly refers to Jesus' immediate discourse, especially His claim to provide "rivers of living water" for those who believe (John 7:38). It was the divine authority and profundity of His words that resonated deeply.
- said (ἔλεγον - elegon): Implying a declarative, vocal affirmation. They were not merely thinking it but expressing it openly.
- Truly (ἀληθῶς - alēthōs): An emphatic adverb meaning "certainly," "indeed," or "verily." It conveys absolute conviction and removes all doubt from their statement, indicating deep belief.
- this is (οὗτός ἐστιν - houtos estin): A strong declaration of identity. They were confident in their discernment of who Jesus was.
- the Prophet (ὁ προφήτης - ho prophētēs): The definite article "the" is crucial here. It doesn't mean a prophet, but the specific Prophet anticipated according to Deut 18:15-18. This was a distinct figure in Jewish expectation, sometimes conflated with but often separate from the Messiah or Elijah, who was to be "like Moses" – a great lawgiver, miracle worker, and revealer of God's will. This identification acknowledges Jesus' divine commission and authority to speak for God.
John 7 40 Bonus section
The recognition of Jesus as "the Prophet" highlights His role as the ultimate communicator of God's truth. While the title "Prophet" does not encompass His full identity as Messiah, Son of God, or Lord, it was a significant and biblically grounded step in the people's understanding. It affirmed His divine authority and validated the powerful impact of His words and actions, recalling the mighty works of Moses and the direct divine communication experienced by the Old Testament prophets. This simple, yet profound, declaration from the crowd stands in stark contrast to the sophisticated but ultimately flawed reasoning of the Jewish leaders who could not recognize the very truth standing before them.
John 7 40 Commentary
John 7:40 reveals a pivotal moment in public perception of Jesus, where many from the crowd, deeply impacted by His words, affirmed His identity as "the Prophet." This recognition stems directly from Jesus' audacious claims regarding "living water" at the culmination of the Feast of Booths. The definite article "the" signifies a specific awaited figure, largely understood as the Prophet like Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18. This prophecy spoke of a coming divine spokesperson, entrusted with God's words, who would perform mighty signs and lead God's people.
The people's affirmation "Truly this is the Prophet" underscores their conviction in His authoritative teaching and the profound truth within His message. It represents a simpler faith, receptive to Jesus' divine claims without the immediate intellectual and theological barriers of the religious leadership. This public declaration also marks a developing crisis, as it pits the people's nascent faith against the hardened opposition of the Sanhedrin, setting the stage for the escalating conflict and division seen in the subsequent verses. This verse emphasizes the power of Jesus' words to convince and reveal His true identity.