Devine Scripture

John 2:13

What does John 2:13 mean?

A plain-English look at John 2:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 2:13 means

This verse highlights the approach of the "Passover of the Jews," one of the most important annual pilgrim festivals, and Jesus' subsequent journey to Jerusalem. His going up to Jerusalem for this feast was a customary religious act, but for Him, it was also an intentional step into a more public and confrontational phase of His ministry. The Passover setting is significant, as it was a time of national religious focus, providing a large audience for His actions in the Temple, which follows immediately.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The time of the Passover of the Jews was near and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the passover of the Jews was nigh, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the pasch of the Jews was at hand: and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' brief stay in Capernaum and signals a major shift in setting and significance. The mention of the Passover and Jesus' ascent to Jerusalem is crucial, as it provides the specific religious and political context for the dramatic confrontation that will unfold in the Temple, moving from a private miracle to a public declaration of authority.

v.12After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, andhisbrethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.

v.13This passage

v.14And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Deuteronomy 16:1

    Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Jehovah thy God; for in the month of Abib Jehovah thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

  • Deuteronomy 16:16

    Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before Jehovah empty:

  • Luke 2:41

    And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.

  • John 5:1

    After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

  • John 2:23

    Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did.

  • Numbers 28:16

    And in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Jehovah’s passover.

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