John 7 · Verse 3

John 7:3

His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
John 7:3, King James Version

John 7:3 in other translations

BSBSo Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
WEBHis brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.
ASVHis brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest.
YLThis brethren, therefore, said unto him, ‘Remove hence, and go away to Judea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works that thou dost;
DARBYHis brethren therefore said to him, Remove hence and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see thy works which thou doest;
BBESo his brothers said to him, Go away from here into Judaea so that your disciples may see the works which you do.
WebsterHis brethren therefore said to him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

What does John 7:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 7:3-5
3-5. His brethren said--(See on Mt 13:54-56). Depart ... into Judea, &c.--In Joh 7:5 this speech is ascribed to their unbelief. But as they were in the "upper room" among the one hundred and twenty disciples who waited for the descent of the Spirit after the Lord's ascension (Ac 1:14), they seem to have had their prejudices removed, perhaps after His resurrection. Indeed here their language is more that of strong prejudice and suspicion (such as near relatives, even the best, too frequently show in such cases), than from unbelief. There was also, probably, a tincture of vanity in it. "Thou hast many disciples in Judea; here in Galilee they are fast dropping off; it is not like one who advances the claims Thou dost to linger so long here, away from the city of our solemnities, where surely 'the kingdom of our father David' is to be set up: 'seeking,' as Thou dost, 'to be known openly,' those miracles of Thine ought not to be confined to this distant corner, but submitted at headquarters to the inspection of 'the world.'" (See Psa 69:8, "I am become a stranger to my brethren, an alien unto my mother's children!")

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. His brethren. Mt 12:47.

Thy disciples. The disciples which he had made when he was before in Judea, Jn 4:1-3.

The works. The miracles.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 His brethren - said - It is generally supposed that these were the children of the sisters of his mother Mary; but some of the ancients have stated that Joseph had several children by a former wife. See the account of the evangelist prefixed to this Gospel. No solid proof can be alleged against this; nor can we pretend to say that these were not the children of Joseph and Mary. Our blessed Lord, it is true, was her first born, while she was yet a virgin; but no man can prove that he was her last. It is an article of faith, in the Popish Church, to believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary; and in this respect, without any reason, several Protestants seem to be Papists. However this may be, it is certain that the Hebrews gave the name of brethren to all the relatives of a particular family. See Gen 31:32, Gen 31:46. That thy disciples also may see - That is, the disciples which he had made two years and six months before, at the Passover: Joh 2:23.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 7:1-13

The brethren or kinsmen of Jesus were disgusted, when they found there was no prospect of worldly advantages from him. Ungodly men sometimes undertake to counsel those employed in the work of God; but they only advise what appears likely to promote present advantages. The people differed about his doctrine and miracles, while those who favoured him, dared not openly to avow their sentiments. Those who count the…

Read the full comment on John 7:1-13 →

John 7:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἶπονeiponSaidG2036
οὖνounthereforeG3767
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
οἱhoitheG3588
ἀδελφοὶadelphoibrothersG80
αὐτοῦ·autouof Him;G846
μετάβηθιmetabēthido departG3327
ἐντεῦθενenteuthenfrom hereG1782
καὶkaiandG2532
ὕπαγεhupagedo goG5217
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ἸουδαίανIoudaianJudeaG2449
ἵναinaso thatG2443
καὶkaialsoG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταίmathētaidisciplesG3101
σουsouof YouG4771
θεωρήσουσινtheōrēsousinwill seeG2334
σοῦsouof YouG4771
τὰtatheG3588
ἔργαergaworksG2041
ἃhathatG3739
ποιεῖς·poieisYou are doing;G4160

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 7:3

  • Matthew 12:46

    While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

  • John 7:5

    For neither did his brethren believe in him.

  • 1 Samuel 17:28

    And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

  • Genesis 37:20

    Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

  • Luke 8:19

    Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

  • Matthew 22:16-17

    And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not?

  • Acts 2:14

    But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

  • Genesis 37:5-11

    And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. …

  • John 7:10

    But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

  • Mark 3:31

    There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

  • Jeremiah 12:6

    For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
brethren.
5; Mt 12:46,47; Mr 3:31; Lu 8:19; Ac 2:14
Depart.
Ge 37:5-11,20; 1Sa 17:28; Jer 12:6; Mt 22:16,17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 7:2

    Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

  • John 7:3

    His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

  • John 7:4

    For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

Read all of John 7

John 7:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y dijéronle sus hermanos: Pásate de aquí, y vete á Judea, para que también tus discípulos vean las obras que haces.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ses frères lui dirent donc: Pars d’ici et va en Judée, afin que tes disciples aussi voient les œuvres que tu fais;
German
Elberfelder 1871
Es sprachen nun seine Brüder zu ihm: Ziehe von hinnen und geh nach Judäa, auf daß auch deine Jünger deine Werke sehen, die du tust;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Dixerunt autem ad eum fratres ejus: Transi hinc, et vade in Judæam, ut et discipuli tui videant opera tua, quæ facis.