John 7:51
What does John 7:51 mean?
A plain-English look at John 7:51 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 7:51 means
Nicodemus asks whether their law judges a man without first hearing from him and knowing what he does. He calls them back to the principles of justice. This is not yet a confession of faith, but a plea for righteousness consistent with Moses. The request pierces their rush to condemn and exposes their bias. If they honored the law they invoke, they would give Jesus a fair hearing and weigh His works, which testify to God’s hand. The verse shows that even procedural integrity becomes threatening when a verdict is predetermined.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Is a man judged by our law before it has given him a hearing and has knowledge of what he has done?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Doth our law judge the man, if it may not hear from him first, and know what he doth?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Doth our law judge any man, unless it first hear him and know what he doth?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Does our law judge a man before it have first heard from himself, and know what he does?
Context
Nicodemus articulates the legal standard, challenging the council’s haste. Instead of reconsidering, they respond with ridicule in the next verse, accusing him of Galilean bias and asserting that no prophet arises from Galilee (verse 52). Their reply sidesteps the legal issue, revealing a commitment to prejudice over justice. The scene then disperses without resolution (verse 53).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 17:8
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose;
- Proverbs 18:13
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
- 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.
- Acts 23:3
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
- Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.
- Deuteronomy 17:6
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
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