John 7:48
What does John 7:48 mean?
A plain-English look at John 7:48 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 7:48 means
They ask whether any of the rulers or Pharisees have believed in Jesus, implying that elite consensus proves His falsity. This argument from authority sidesteps truth and conscience. It assumes that spiritual insight resides with the powerful, dismissing the possibility that God could work outside their circle. Ironically, one ruler—Nicodemus—is already wrestling toward fairness. The verse shows how groupthink can harden into dogma: if our peers reject Him, He must be wrong. It warns that deference to status can replace honest judgment of God’s word and works.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Have any of the rulers belief in him, or any one of the Pharisees?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862did any one out of the rulers believe in him? or out of the Pharisees?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Hath any one of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Has any one of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?
Context
Building on ridicule, the leaders marshal social proof: the elite are unconvinced. They will then denounce the crowd as accursed for ignorance of the law (verse 49). Into this hostile atmosphere, Nicodemus speaks up to insist on lawful hearing before judgment (verses 50–51). His interjection challenges both their contempt and their hasty, unjust procedures.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 7:50
Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of them),
- 1 Corinthians 2:8
which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:
- John 7:26
And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ?
- John 12:42
Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
- Matthew 11:25
At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes:
- Acts 6:7
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
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