Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 7:13
Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
13. no man ] Quite literally; no man dared speak openly either for or against Him, they were so afraid of the hierarchy. Experience had taught them that it was dangerous to take any line which the rulers had not formally sanctioned; and though the rulers were known to be against Christ, yet they had not committed themselves beyond recall, and might turn against either side. ‘A true indication of an utterly jesuitical domination of the people.’ Meyer.
for fear of the Jews ] Literally, for the fear of the Jews, i.e. on account of the prevalent fear of the hierarchy and official representatives of the nation.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Spake openly of him – The word translated openly, here, is commonly rendered boldly. This refers doubtless, to those who really believed on him. His enemies were not silent; but his friends had not confidence to speak of him openly or boldly that is, to speak what they really thought. Many supposed that he was the Messiah, yet even this they did not dare to profess. All that they could say in his favor was that he was a good man. There are always many such friends of Jesus in the world who are desirous of saying something good about him, but who, from fear or shame, refuse to make a full acknowledgment of him. Many will praise his morals, his precepts, and his holy life, while they are ashamed to speak of his divinity or his atonement, and still more to acknowledge that they are dependent on him for salvation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Though many, both of the Galilaeans, among whom he had conversed, and of the common people of Judea, had a very good opinion of Christ, yet the rulers of the Jews were in such a rage against him, that his friends durst not freely discourse their thoughts concerning him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. none spake openly of himthatis, in His favor, “for fear of the [ruling] Jews.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Howbeit, no man spoke openly of him,…. So loud as to be overheard, at least by many, but in a secret and whispering way; or did not speak with freedom, or all their mind, what they really thought of him, nor with courage and boldness:
for fear the Jews; for fear of being mobbed by them, or up and prosecuted, or turned out of the synagogue; for a law was made, that whoever confessed him, should be so used; and this deterred persons from expressing the true sentiments of their minds about him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Howbeit (). See 4:27 for this compound particle (, ), by way of exception, but yet.
Spake (). Imperfect active of , “was speaking,” picturing the whispering or secret talk ( no man openly , ). Best MSS. do not have here with (locative or instrumental case of manner) as in John 7:26; John 10:24; John 11:54, but genuine in John 7:4; Col 2:15. This adverbial use of is common enough (Mr 8:37).
For fear of the Jews ( ). Objective genitive. The crowds really feared the Jewish leaders and evidently did not wish to involve Jesus or themselves. See the same phrase and attitude on the part of the disciples in John 19:38; John 20:19.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Openly [] . The word may mean either without reserve (x. 24; Joh 11:14), or without fear (xi. 54).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Howbeit no man spake openly of him,” (oudeis mentoi parresia elalei peri autou) “However no one openly spoke about or concerning him,” either good or bad. As pilgrim guests in the city, for fear of the disapproval and condemnation of the Jewish hierarchy, they would not speak out openly, give a personal testimony of who Jesus was, Mat 5:13-16.
2) “For fear of the Jews.” (dia ton phobon ton louda ion) “Because of the fear they had of the Jews,” and let it be remembered that “fear hath torments,” and “the fear of man bringeth a snare,” or entrapment, 1Jn 4:18; Pro 29:25. Their greatest fear was exclusion or excommunication from synagogue membership and privileges, if any openly confessed that Jesus was the Messiah Savior, Joh 9:22.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
13. Yet no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. By the Jews he here means the rulers, who had the government in their hands. They burned with such hatred against Christ, that they did not permit a word to be uttered on either side. Not that they were displeased at any reproaches which were heaped upon him, but because they could discover no better expedient than that his name should be buried in oblivion. Thus the enemies of the truth, after having found that they gain nothing by their cruelty, desire nothing more than to suppress the remembrance of him, and this object alone they strive to attain. That all were silent, being subdued by fear, was a proof of gross tyranny, as I have already said; for as unbridled licentiousness has no place in a well-regulated Church, so when all freedom is held oppressed by fear, it is a most wretched condition. But the power of our Lord Jesus Christ shone forth with greater and more wonderful brightness, when — causing himself to be heard amidst armed foes, and amidst their furious resentment, and under so formidable a government — he openly maintained and asserted the truth of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) No man cannot fairly be limited, as it generally has been, to the multitude who believed in Him. It discloses to us rather a reign of terror, in which opinion was stifled, and men dared not speak openly on either side until authority had determined what they should say.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 7:13 is usually, after Augustine, only referred to the party who judged favourably (so also Lcke, De Wette, Ewald, Baeumlein; not B. Crusius, Brckner, Tholuck, Hengstenberg, Godet). All the more arbitrarily, because this was first mentioned, and because the general expression is quite against any such limitation; onwards to can only be taken as corresponding to the , Joh 7:12 , which refers to both parties. Both mistrusted the hierarchy; even those hostile in their judgment were afraid, so long as they had not given an official decision, that their verdict might be reversed . A true indication of an utterly Jesuitical domination of the people.
] on account of the fear that prevailed .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
Ver. 13. For fear of the Jews ] Who had made an order (it seems) somewhat like that of the Jesuits’ edict at Dola in the country of Burgundy, that for prevention of heresy, no man should speak of God, either in good sort or bad. This the Jews did, 1. To save themselves a labour of confuting our Saviour’s doctrine. 2. To persuade the people that it was such horrible blasphemy as was not fit to be named. So the Papists debar the people all sound of the religion, in prohibiting the books of the reformed writers, and hiding their own treatises, wherein the tenet of the Protestants is recited only to be confuted: so that you shall seldom in all Italy meet with Bellarmine’s works or any of the like nature to be sold.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
13. . ] This was true only of the side who said : they dared not speak their mind: the others spoke plainly enough. Here again . are distinguished from the .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
for = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104. Joh 7:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
13. .] This was true only of the side who said : they dared not speak their mind: the others spoke plainly enough. Here again . are distinguished from the .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 7:13
Joh 7:13
Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.-This was the talk in a private way among acquaintances, none speaking publicly because the rulers of the Jews had condemned him. [They feared that open discussion would bring condemnation upon themselves from the rulers.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
spake: Joh 3:2, Joh 9:22, Joh 9:34, Joh 12:42, Joh 12:43, Joh 19:38, Joh 20:19, Pro 29:25, Gal 2:12, Gal 2:13, 2Ti 2:9-13, Rev 2:13
Reciprocal: Joh 11:54 – went
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ASHAMED OF JESUS
No man spake openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
Joh 7:13
The seventh chapter is divided from the preceding one by a wide interval of time. The many miracles which our Lord wrought, while he walked in Galilee, are passed over by John in comparative silence. The events which he was specially inspired to record, are those which took place in or near Jerusalem. Observe
I. The desperate hardness and unbelief of human nature.We are told that even our Lords brethren did not believe in Him. Holy and harmless and blameless as He was in life, some of His nearest relatives, according to the flesh, did not receive Him as the Messiah. It was bad enough for His own people, the Jews sought to kill Him. But it was even worse that His brethren did not believe. That great Scriptural doctrine, mans need of preventing and converting grace, stands out here, as if written with a sunbeam. It becomes all who question that doctrine to look at this passage and consider. Let them observe that seeing Christs miracles, hearing Christs teaching, living in Christs own company, were not enough to make men believers. The mere possession of spiritual privileges never yet made any one a Christian. All is useless without the effectual and applying work of God the Holy Ghost.
II. One principal reason why many hate Christ.Our Lord said to His unbelieving brethren, The world cannot hate you; but Me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. These words reveal one of those secret principles which influence men in their treatment of religion. They help to explain that deadly enmity with which many during our Lords earthly ministry regarded Him and His Gospel. They could have tolerated His opinions if He would only have spared their sins. The principle is one of universal application. It is at work now just as much as it was then. The real cause of many peoples dislike to the Gospel is the holiness of living which it demands. Teach abstract doctrines only, and few will find any fault. Denounce the fashionable sins of the day, and call on men to repent and walk consistently with God, and thousands at once will be offended.
III. The strange variety of opinions about Christ, which were current from the beginning.There was much murmuring among the people concerning Him: for some said, He is a good man; others said, Nay, but He deceiveth the people. The words which old Simeon had spoken thirty years before were here accomplished in a striking manner. The endless differences and divisions about religion, which we see on all sides in the present day, ought never to surprise us. The open hatred of some toward Christ; the carping, fault-finding, prejudiced spirit of others; the bold confession of the few faithful ones; the timid, man-fearing temper of the many faithless ones; the unceasing war of words and strife of tongues with which the Churches of Christ are so sadly familiarare only modern symptoms of an old disease.
IV. What think we of Christ ourselves?This is the one question with which we have to do. Let us never be ashamed to be of that little number who believe on Him, hear His voice, follow Him, and confess Him before men.
Bishop J. C. Ryle.
Illustration
Who these brethren were is a matter of dispute. Some think, as Alford, Stier, and others, that they were literally our Lords own brethren, and the children of Mary by Joseph, born after our Lords birth. (See Psa 69:8.) Some think, as Theophylact and others, that they were the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and brought up by Mary under the same roof with our Lord. Others think, as Augustine, Zwingle, Musculus, and Bengel, that the word brethren does not necessarily mean more than cousins or kinsmen. (See 1Ch 23:22.) This is the most probable opinion. We take these brethren to have been relatives and kinsmen of Joseph and Mary, living at Nazareth, or Capernaum, or elsewhere in Galilee, who naturally observed all our Lords doings with interest and curiosity, but at present did not believe on Him. To suppose, as some do, that these brethren were some of our Lords Apostles, is a most improbable theory, and flatly contrary to the fifth verse of this chapter.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
3
The undercurrent referred to in the preceding verse was caused by fear of the Jews. Not knowing just what course they would take as to the treatment of Jesus, people did not commit themselves on the subject, for fear of finding themselves in an embarrassing situation when the issue came out entirely into the open.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 7:13. Howbeit no man spake boldly concerning him, because of the fear of the Jews. Both sides, through their fear of the Jews, shrank from speaking out their thoughts. So complete was the ascendancy of these rulers over the people that no one ventured on any open discussion of the claims of Jesus. There was no doubt a belief that the Jews were hostile to Him, but no public condemnation had been pronounced,possibly no decision had been arrived at: till the leaders spoke out the people could only mutter their opinions.Thus, then, the picture of what Jerusalem was at this moment is completed. Met together at the feast are Galileans, already half believers in Jesus, ready to be roused into enthusiastic activity by a display of His power; hostile Jews, the ecclesiastical authorities and those who shared their spirit, determined to crush out all inquiry as to His claims; and multitudes discussing these in secret, and revealing the utmost discordance of opinion. Everywhere we see movement, uncertainty, hope, or fear.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
7:13 Howbeit no man spake {c} openly of him for fear of the Jews.
(c) Or, boldly and freely: for the majority of the Jews wanted nothing more than to extinguish his fame and his name.