John 7 7

John 7:7 kjv

The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

John 7:7 nkjv

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

John 7:7 niv

The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.

John 7:7 esv

The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

John 7:7 nlt

The world can't hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil.

John 7 verses

John 7 7 Meaning

John 7:7 declares that the "world," understood as human society apart from God, holds no hatred for those who conform to its values or do not challenge its moral order. However, it actively hates Jesus because His witness, or testimony, exposes the inherent sinfulness and evil nature of its deeds and systems. This verse highlights the fundamental conflict between Christ's truth and the world's depravity.

John 7 7 Context

This verse is spoken by Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. His brothers urge Him to go to Judea to make Himself known publicly, likely seeking a Messiah who would act with political ambition. Jesus' response in John 7:6-8 directly contrasts His divine timing and purpose with their worldly mindset. The broader chapter highlights the division and confusion among the people regarding Jesus' identity, with some believing He is the Christ while others seek to arrest Him. His testimony regarding the world's evil is a key reason for this intense hostility. Historically, Jewish leaders saw Jesus' claims as blasphemous and a threat to their religious authority and societal order, preferring to maintain the status quo.

John 7 7 Word analysis

• The world (ὁ κόσμος, ho kosmos): In Johannine theology, "the world" often refers not just to the created earth, but to humanity and its systems organized in opposition to God and His kingdom. It denotes a sphere of human existence alienated from God, dominated by sin, and characterized by worldly values and desires.
• cannot hate you: Signifies that the world has no reason to persecute Jesus' brothers. They, and by extension anyone who aligns with worldly values, are perceived as acceptable and non-threatening because their "works" (actions, lifestyles, beliefs) do not expose or condemn the world's inherent evil. They are congruent with the world's prevailing spiritual atmosphere.
• but it hates me (ἐμὲ δὲ μισεῖ, eme de misei): The direct, strong antagonism shown toward Jesus is a central theme in John. This hatred stems from a deep-seated spiritual opposition to divine truth and holiness. It's not a personal grudge but a hatred of what He represents and reveals.
• because I testify about it (ὅτι ἐγὼ μαρτυρῶ περὶ αὐτοῦ, hoti egō martyō peri autou): Jesus' "testimony" (μαρτυρία, martyria) is not merely opinion but a divine, authoritative declaration of truth, born of intimate knowledge of God. This testimony functions as a divine judgment against the world.
• that its works are evil (ὅτι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ πονηρά ἐστιν, hoti ta erga autou ponēra estin): "Works" (erga) here refers to the actions, intentions, and overall moral fabric of the world. "Evil" (ponerōn) describes something inherently wicked, morally corrupt, harmful, and active in its opposition to God. Jesus' exposing of these works brings judgment and thus incites hatred.
• Word-group Analysis:
  • "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me": This establishes a stark contrast and forms an exclusionary principle. Those who are of the world (as Jesus' brothers are implicitly considered in their urging of Him to seek worldly glory) are tolerated by the world. Those who stand against the world and its inherent evil are hated. This defines spiritual alignment.
  • "because I testify about it that its works are evil": This phrase clearly states the reason for the world's hatred. Jesus' very purpose is to bear witness to the truth, and the truth reveals the corrupt nature of humanity's deeds. The exposure of evil deeds naturally evokes animosity from those who commit them or identify with them (cf. Jn 3:19-20).

John 7 7 Bonus section

The Greek word for "testify," martyreo, is foundational to understanding John's Gospel. Jesus' entire life and ministry are presented as a comprehensive "martyria" or witness to the truth and nature of God. When He testifies that the world's works are evil, it is an authoritative divine revelation, not a mere human criticism. This deepens the world's rejection, as it is a rejection of divine truth itself. This verse also foreshadows the call for Jesus' followers to likewise bear witness (Acts 1:8), inevitably incurring similar hatred from a world that continues to resist divine light and truth. The inability of the world to "hate" His brothers is also a subtle commentary on their lack of genuine, transformative faith at this point, as they had not yet fully grasped His radical opposition to worldly values.

John 7 7 Commentary

John 7:7 powerfully articulates the spiritual chasm between Christ and the fallen world. The world, being a system arrayed against God, embraces those who do not challenge its prevailing norms, even if they claim religious affiliation. Jesus' brothers, seeking worldly recognition for Him, fit within this paradigm, hence "the world cannot hate you." Their desires were understandable from a human, worldly perspective, yet lacked spiritual discernment. However, Jesus' mission, as a "faithful witness," was to expose the truth about the world: its foundation and actions are fundamentally "evil." This pronouncement, stemming from His divine authority and pure nature, directly convicts and unmasks the world's corruption. Therefore, the world's response is predictable and inevitable: active hatred and opposition towards the One who sheds light on its darkness. This verse establishes the inherent conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world, making it clear that compromise between them is impossible.