John 7 · Verse 52

John 7:52

They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
John 7:52, King James Version

John 7:52 in other translations

BSB“Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”
WEBThey answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
ASVThey answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
YLTThey answered and said to him, ‘Art thou also out of Galilee? search and see, that a prophet out of Galilee hath not risen;'
DARBYThey answered and said to him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search and look, that no prophet arises out of Galilee.
BBEThis was their answer: And do you come from Galilee? Make search and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.
WebsterThey answered and said to him, Art thou also from Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

What does John 7:52 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 7:50-53

50-53. Nicodemus--reappearing to us after nearly three years' absence from the history, as a member of the council, probably then sitting.

Read the full comment on John 7:50-53 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 52. Art thou also of Galilee? Here is another expression of contempt. To be a Galilean was a term of the highest reproach. They knew well that he was not of Galilee, but they meant to ask whether he also had become a follower of the despised Galilean. Ridicule is not argument, and there is no demonstration in a gibe; but, unhappily, this is the only weapon which the proud and haughty often used in opposing religion.

Ariseth no prophet. That is, there is no prediction that any prophet should come out of Galilee, and especially no prophet that was to attend or precede the Messiah. Comp. Jn 1:46. They assumed, therefore, that Jesus could not be the Christ.

(u) "Out of Galilee" Isa 9:1,2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 52 Art thou also of Galilee? - They knew very well that he was not; but they spoke this by way of reproach. As if they had said, thou art no better than he is, as thou takest his part. Many of the Galileans had believed on him, Which the Jews considered to be a reproach. Art thou his disciple, as the Galileans are? Search, and look - Examine the Scriptures, search the public registers, and thou wilt see that out of Galilee there ariseth no prophet. Neither the Messiah, nor any other prophet, has ever proceeded from Galilee, nor ever can. This conclusion, says Calmet, was false and impertinent: false, because Jonah was of Gathheper, in Galilee: see 2Kgs 14:25, compared with Jos 19:13. The Prophet Nahum was also a Galilean, for he was of the tribe of Simeon; and some suppose that Malachi was of the same place. The conclusion was false, because there not having been a prophet from any particular place was no argument that there never could be one, as the place had not been proscribed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 7:40-53

The malice of Christ's enemies is always against reason, and sometimes the staying of it cannot be accounted for. Never any man spake with that wisdom, and power, and grace, that convincing clearness, and that sweetness, wherewith Christ spake. Alas, that many, who are for a time restrained, and who speak highly of the word of Jesus, speedily lose their convictions, and go on in their sins! People are foolishly…

Read the full comment on John 7:40-53 →

John 7:52 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.

ἀπεκρίθησανapekrithēsanThey answeredG611
καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπανeipanthey saidG2036
αὐτῷ·autōto him;G846
μὴmēSurely notG3361
καὶkaialsoG2532
σὺsuyou yourselfG4771
ἐκekfromG1537
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ΓαλιλαίαςGalilaiasGalileeG1056
εἶ;eiare?G1510
ἐραύνησονeraunēsondo searchG2045
καὶkaiandG2532
ἴδεidedo seeG1492
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐκekout ofG1537
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ΓαλιλαίαςGalilaiasGalileeG1056
προφήτηςprophētēsa prophetG4396
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐγείρεται.¶egeiretaiis raised.G1453

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

Cross references for John 7:52

  • John 7:41

    Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

  • John 1:46

    And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

  • Isaiah 9:1-2

    Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

  • Matthew 4:15-16

    The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

  • Proverbs 9:7-8

    He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

  • Exodus 2:14

    And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

  • Genesis 19:9

    And they said, Stand back. And they said again, 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 came near to break the door.

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 22:24

    But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Art.
9:34; Ge 19:9; Ex 2:14; 1Ki 22:24; Pr 9:7,8
Search.
41; 1:46; Isa 9:1,2; Mt 4:15,16

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

Context

  • John 7:51

    Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

  • John 7:52

    They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

  • John 7:53

    And every man went unto his own house.

Read all of John 7

John 7:52 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Respondieron y dijéronle: ¿Eres tú también Galileo? Escudriña y ve que de Galilea nunca se levantó profeta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils répondirent et lui dirent: Et toi, es-tu aussi de Galilée? Enquiers-toi, et vois qu’un prophète n’est pas suscité de Galilée.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie antworteten und sprachen zu ihm: Bist du etwa auch aus Galiläa? Forsche und sieh, daß aus Galiläa kein Prophet aufsteht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Responderunt, et dixerunt ei: Numquid et tu Galilæus es? scrutare Scripturas, et vide quia a Galilæa propheta non surgit.