John 7:5 kjv
For neither did his brethren believe in him.
John 7:5 nkjv
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
John 7:5 niv
For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
John 7:5 esv
For not even his brothers believed in him.
John 7:5 nlt
For even his brothers didn't believe in him.
John 7 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 13:55-57 | "Is not this the carpenter's son?... And they took offense at Him." | His own hometown rejects Him |
| Mark 3:21 | "And when His family heard it, they went out to seize Him, for they were saying, 'He is out of His mind.'" | Family thinks Jesus is deranged |
| Mark 6:3-4 | "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary...? And they took offense at Him. And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown...and among his relatives.'" | Prophet's lack of honor in own family |
| Jn 1:11 | "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him." | General rejection by 'His own' people |
| Matt 12:46-50 | "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?... For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." | Jesus redefines His true family |
| Deut 13:6 | "If your brother, your mother's son, or your daughter...entices you secretly..." | Familial ties can present spiritual conflict |
| Micah 7:6 | "For son treats father contemptuously, daughter rises up against her mother...A man's enemies are the men of his own household." | Prophecy of division within families |
| Ps 69:8 | "I have become estranged from my brothers And a stranger to my mother’s sons." | Prophetic of Messiah's rejection by kin |
| Isa 53:3 | "He was despised and forsaken of men..." | General rejection of the Suffering Servant |
| Jn 6:64 | "But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe..." | Jesus knew inner unbelief |
| Jn 2:23-25 | "Many believed in His name... But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men..." | Superficial belief vs. true faith |
| 1 Cor 9:5 | "Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife...even as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?" | Later, Jesus' brothers become believers |
| Acts 1:14 | "These all with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." | Brothers are present in Upper Room after ascension |
| Gal 1:19 | "But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother." | James, the Lord's brother, recognized as an apostle |
| Jude 1:1 | "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James..." | Jude, one of Jesus' brothers, authors a book |
| Lk 8:19-21 | "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside and want to see You.' But He answered... 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.'" | Prioritizing spiritual family over physical one |
| Jn 6:44 | "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." | Belief requires divine enablement |
| Rom 3:10-12 | "There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God...there is none who does good, not even one." | Universal human inability to seek God |
| 1 Cor 1:21 | "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." | The wisdom of the world opposes belief |
| Jn 14:10-11 | "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?... Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, otherwise believe on account of the works themselves." | Jesus' identity demands belief based on works |
| Lk 4:24 | "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown." | Parallel to rejection by those closest |
John 7 verses
John 7 5 Meaning
John 7:5 explicitly states that even Jesus' own half-brothers did not believe in Him at that time. This indicates a profound spiritual skepticism or outright rejection of His divine claims and identity, despite their close familial relationship and direct exposure to His teachings and miracles. Their unbelief highlights the personal challenge Jesus faced within His own household.
John 7 5 Context
This verse is situated during Jesus' journey to the Feast of Tabernacles. Chapters 7-10 record the growing controversy surrounding Jesus in Jerusalem. His brothers urged Him to go publicly to Judea to display His works, perhaps seeking fame or validation, and seemingly suggesting He use His power for worldly recognition (Jn 7:3-4). Verse 7:5 provides the critical insight that their urging was not from genuine faith in His divine mission or identity as the Messiah, but likely stemmed from worldly ambitions or a misunderstanding of His kingdom. The broader chapter emphasizes the increasing division over Jesus' identity – some saw Him as a good man or prophet, others a deceiver, and some the Christ.
Historically, Jewish society highly valued family honor and unity. The fact that Jesus' own household, those most familiar with Him, did not believe in Him would have been a significant social impediment and a scandal. It underscored the challenge Jesus faced, as even those closest to Him struggled to grasp His spiritual nature amidst strong nationalistic messianic expectations.
John 7 5 Word analysis
- For (γάρ, gar): A conjunction introducing a causal explanation. It clarifies why Jesus resisted their suggestion in the preceding verses. Their counsel was not based on faith.
- not even (οὐδὲ, oude): An emphatic negation. It stresses the surprising and profound nature of their unbelief, highlighting that even those most intimately connected to Jesus physically were spiritually disconnected.
- His brothers (οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ, hoi adelphoi autou): Refers to the biological half-siblings of Jesus, sons of Mary and Joseph born after Jesus. These are James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matt 13:55). This phrase underscores their close familial relationship.
- believed (ἐπίστευον, episteuon): Imperfect tense of pisteuō (to believe). This indicates a continuous or habitual state of unbelief at that time. It was not a momentary doubt but an ongoing lack of conviction concerning His divine nature and messianic identity. Their belief, as portrayed in John's Gospel, means more than acknowledging His existence; it entails trusting in Him for salvation and recognizing Him as God incarnate.
- in Him (εἰς αὐτόν, eis auton): The preposition eis (into) combined with auton (Him) denotes direction and commitment. It signifies a profound, saving trust directed towards Jesus as the Christ, which they lacked.
Words-group analysis:
- For not even His brothers: This phrase establishes a stark reality. The closest of family, privy to His upbringing and perhaps early ministry, failed to see His true identity. This is particularly striking given the expectation of family support in Jewish culture. Their unbelief emphasizes that physical proximity to Jesus does not guarantee spiritual understanding.
- believed in Him: This indicates the fundamental nature of their skepticism. It wasn't just a difference of opinion; it was a rejection of His messianic claims and a failure to commit to Him as Lord and Savior. This contrasts sharply with the "disciples" mentioned earlier (Jn 6:66-69) who did believe.
John 7 5 Bonus section
The subsequent chapters of John depict an intensifying struggle for understanding and acceptance of Jesus. This initial familial unbelief contrasts starkly with the later accounts, particularly after Jesus' resurrection, where His half-brothers, specifically James and Jude, became prominent leaders and authors in the early Church (Acts 1:14; 1 Cor 9:5; Gal 1:19; Jude 1:1). This transformation illustrates a powerful redemptive arc, showing that even the most stubborn unbelief, experienced firsthand by Jesus within His own family, can be overcome by the power of His resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit. This detail provides crucial testimony, as these brothers would have been privy to His life in a way few others were, lending immense credibility to their eventual confession of faith in Him as Lord.
John 7 5 Commentary
John 7:5 serves as a poignant theological statement, underscoring that belief in Jesus is not a matter of familial association or physical presence, but of spiritual revelation. The profound irony is that Jesus, the divine Son, experienced rejection from those in His own earthly household. Their persistent unbelief (indicated by the imperfect tense) highlights a human tendency to rely on earthly reasoning or expectations rather than divine truth. This verse sets the stage for a recurring theme in John: the struggle to recognize Jesus as the Son of God, even for those with intimate access. Ultimately, this passage emphasizes that faith in Christ transcends natural ties, making it clear that salvation is personal and divinely enabled, not inherited or assumed through kinship.