John 7:52
What does John 7:52 mean?
A plain-English look at John 7:52 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 7:52 means
They answer Nicodemus with scorn: “Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.” They deflect his legal point by attacking his supposed regional loyalty and invoking a generalization as if it settled the matter. Their argument is both prejudicial and imprecise. More importantly, it avoids the substance—Jesus’ works and words. The leaders’ insecurity shows in their mockery. The scene lays bare a council unwilling to examine evidence fairly. Their rejection is rooted less in truth and more in disdain and fixed assumptions about how and where God must act.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This was their answer: And do you come from Galilee? Make search and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862They answered and said to him, `Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They answered and said to him: Art thou also a Galilean? Search the scriptures, and see that out of Galilee a prophet riseth not.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They answered and said to him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look, that no prophet arises out of Galilee.
Context
This contemptuous reply closes the council’s exchange. They have refused legal fairness and fallen back on insults and stereotypes. With no arrest made and no consensus reached, the gathering dissolves. The final verse notes that everyone goes home (verse 53), leaving the conflict unresolved and pointing forward to further encounters in Jerusalem as Jesus’ hour approaches.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 7:41
Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee?
- Proverbs 9:7
He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
- Exodus 2:14
And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely the thing is known.
- John 9:34
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
- Matthew 4:15
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
- Genesis 19:9
And they said, Stand back. And they said, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and drew near to break the door.
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