Bible Strands
John 7:30
So they tried to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a hostile crowd in the temple courts immediately after declaring His origin from the Father. The moment occurs during a festival gathering where listeners attempt physical action against Him.
The words — ἐζήτουν (ezētoun) means "they were seeking," and ἐπέβαλεν (epebalen) translates literally to "laid [a hand]." These terms describe the crowd's attempt to physically take Jesus.
The thread — The same motif of divine restraint appears in John 7:6, John 8:20, and John 10:39. Each instance ties the failure of hostile action to the unfulfilled timing of Jesus' appointed time.
Why it lands — The text records a failed seizure before stating the theological cause. It requires the reader to recognize that human opposition cannot override divine timing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
Cross-references
- John 7:6 Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come.
- John 8:20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
- John 10:39 At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
- John 7:32 When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him.
- Psalms 76:10 Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.
- Isaiah 46:10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Matthew 21:46 Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
- Mark 11:18 When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.
- Luke 13:32 But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’
- Luke 19:47 Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him.