Devine Scripture

John 7:19

What does John 7:19 mean?

A plain-English look at John 7:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 7:19 means

Jesus reminds them that Moses gave the Law, yet none of them keeps it. He then asks why they seek to kill Him. The charge lays bare hypocrisy: champions of the Law are breaking it by plotting murder. Their zeal is selective, punishing perceived Sabbath violations while ignoring a far weightier command. By appealing to Moses, Jesus meets them on their ground and shows that their anger at Him is not rooted in love for the Law but in rejection of truth. His question forces them to face the contradiction between their public righteousness and secret intent.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Did not Moses give you the law? Even so, not one of you keeps the law. Why have you a desire to put me to death?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

hath not Moses given you the law? and none of you doth the law; why me do ye seek to kill?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Has not Moses given you the law, and no one of you practises the law? Why do ye seek to kill me?

Context

Having established standards for discernment and integrity, Jesus now applies them directly to His opponents. The crowd’s reply will reveal ignorance of the leaders’ plot (verse 20), prompting Jesus to explain the controversy over one work done on the Sabbath (verse 21) and to expose their inconsistency regarding circumcision (verses 22–23). The discussion narrows from general to specific.

v.18He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

v.19This passage

v.20The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?

Cross references

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

  • Deuteronomy 1:17

    Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.

  • Mark 3:6

    And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

  • Acts 7:38

    This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:

  • John 7:1

    And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judæa, because the Jews sought to kill him.

  • John 5:45

    Think not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, on whom ye have set your hope.

  • Romans 3:10

    as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

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