John 7 50

John 7:50 kjv

Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

John 7:50 nkjv

Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them,

John 7:50 niv

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,

John 7:50 esv

Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,

John 7:50 nlt

Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up.

John 7 verses

John 7 50 Meaning

John 7:50 introduces Nicodemus, a respected member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, who had previously sought Jesus secretly, as he courageously questions his colleagues' rush to judgment. The verse identifies him through his prior nocturnal visit to Jesus (Jn 3:1-21) and highlights his position among the hostile religious leaders. It sets the stage for his appeal to due process, marking a significant, albeit cautious, step in his public alignment with Jesus.

John 7 50 Context

John chapter 7 opens with Jesus at the Feast of Booths, facing growing hostility from Jewish leaders, especially the Pharisees and chief priests, who sought to arrest or kill Him. Jesus taught openly in the Temple, leading to division among the people – some believed Him to be the Messiah, while others were skeptical. The Sanhedrin's hostility culminated in sending officers to arrest Jesus (Jn 7:32). However, the officers returned empty-handed (Jn 7:45), declaring, "Never has anyone spoken like this man!" (Jn 7:46). Enraged, the Pharisees dismissed the officers and ridiculed the common people for believing Jesus, asserting that no ruler or Pharisee believed in Him (Jn 7:47-49). It is into this intensely hostile and dismissive atmosphere that Nicodemus, one of these very rulers, unexpectedly interjects, setting the stage for his crucial, though cautious, challenge in verse 51. His intervention stands against the prevailing unanimous condemnation and prejudice within the Sanhedrin.

John 7 50 Word analysis

• Nicodemus (Greek: Νικόδημος, Nikodēmos):
  • Meaning: "Victory of the people" or "victorious among his people."
  • Significance: A prominent Jewish leader, specifically a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, which makes his interaction and later defense of Jesus highly notable. He represents the possibility of belief among the educated elite, often against societal pressure.
• who had previously come (Greek: ὁ ἐλθὼν πρότερον, ho elthōn proteron):
  • ὁ ἐλθὼν (ho elthōn) - literally "the one having come."
  • πρότερον (proteron) - "before, formerly, previously."
  • Significance: This phrase directly references his encounter with Jesus in John 3. It serves as an identifying mark, reminding readers of his cautious approach to Jesus and setting him apart from his colleagues, indicating an existing, albeit hidden, interest.
• to Jesus by night (Greek: πρὸς αὐτὸν νυκτός, pros auton nyktos):
  • νυκτός (nyktos) - "by night."
  • Significance: The detail "by night" from John 3 is re-emphasized. It symbolized his fear of openly associating with Jesus due to the severe disapproval from the Jewish leadership and potential loss of standing. It highlights his intellectual curiosity battling against social pressure and a journey from hidden inquiry to a more open defense.
• one of them (Greek: εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν, heis ex autōn):
  • Significance: Emphasizes that Nicodemus was among the very group (Pharisees and Sanhedrin members) who were condemning Jesus and mocking the common people for their belief. His dissent thus comes from within their ranks, lending it specific weight and risk.
• said to them (Greek: εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, eipen autois):
  • Significance: A direct verbal challenge to the group's unanimous, prejudiced opinion. This is his first recorded public stand or direct challenge to the Sanhedrin's actions regarding Jesus, signaling a significant personal development.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus by night,": This phrase encapsulates Nicodemus's identity and his evolving relationship with Jesus. It juxtaposes his cautious, secret past interaction with his emerging public stance. It highlights a personal spiritual journey amidst the escalating public conflict.
• "one of them, said to them,": This group of words emphasizes Nicodemus's internal position within the Sanhedrin and the direct, confrontational nature of his subsequent question. It underscores his courage to speak against the collective, highly antagonistic sentiment of his powerful peers, potentially risking his own reputation and status.

John 7 50 Bonus section

• The Power of Internal Dissent: Nicodemus's role highlights the profound impact an insider's dissenting voice can have. When criticism comes from within a group, especially from a respected member, it often carries more weight and forces a pause for consideration than external accusations.
• Gradual Spiritual Growth: Nicodemus serves as an example of gradual spiritual growth. His journey from secret seeker (Jn 3) to cautious questioner (Jn 7) to public disciple (Jn 19) demonstrates that faith can develop over time, often moving from a private intellectual conviction to public confession and action, even under duress.
• Legal Sophistry vs. Justice: The exchange immediately following this verse (Jn 7:51-52) further illustrates the Sanhedrin's profound bias. They retort with legal sophistry and prejudice ("Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee!") instead of engaging with the just point Nicodemus raised, revealing their spiritual blindness and perversion of the Law.
• Quiet Courage: Nicodemus's action, while not overtly defiant, requires significant quiet courage. To speak against a powerful, unanimous body, especially when one's own standing and safety are at risk, demonstrates a commitment to principle beyond personal comfort.

John 7 50 Commentary

John 7:50 marks a pivotal moment in Nicodemus's character development and within the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish authorities. Nicodemus, initially a cautious inquirer who sought Jesus under the cover of night, now, though still subtly, intervenes publicly to challenge the Sanhedrin's unjust condemnation of Jesus. His identity as "one of them" — a high-ranking Pharisee — is crucial, giving his words an authority that would have been dismissed if spoken by a common person. His interjection is not a full-throated defense of Jesus's messiahship, but rather a brilliant appeal to their shared legal principles and Mosaic Law, which mandated a fair hearing before condemnation. This shrewd approach avoids directly endorsing Jesus, instead appealing to the legal righteousness they, as guardians of the Law, should uphold. This quiet, legal challenge forces them to consider their own hypocrisy and sets a precedent for standing for truth and justice even within hostile environments. His courageous move foreshadows a deeper commitment to Jesus, culminating in his public participation in Jesus's burial after the crucifixion (Jn 19:39).