John 7:15

John 7:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
• New International Version (NIV)The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

Context of John 7:15

13But nobody spoke in public places about him, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. 14In the middle of the time of the festival, Jesus went to the temple. He started to teach in the yard there. The Jewish leaders were very surprised. They asked, ‘How does this man know so much? He has not learned in our schools.’ 16Jesus answered, ‘What I teach does not come from me. No, it comes from the one who sent me. 17Anyone who chooses to do what God wants will know about my teaching. They will know whether it comes from God, or whether it comes from my own thoughts.

John 7:15 word by word

ἐθαύμαζον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι λέγοντες· πῶς οὗτος γράμματα οἶδεν μὴ μεμαθηκώς;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
• marvelledθαυμάζωthaumazō · to marvelG2296
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• knowethεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• this manοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• lettersγράμμαgramma · something writtenG1121
• havingμανθάνωmanthanō · to learnG3129
• neverμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for John 7:15

• John 7:46The officers answered, ‘Nobody has ever spoken great things like this man speaks.’
• Matthew 7:28Jesus finished speaking. The crowds of people were very surprised at the things that he taught them.
• Matthew 22:22When they heard Jesus' answer, they were very surprised. So they left him and they went away.
• Luke 2:47Everyone who heard Jesus was very surprised. He understood so many things and he could answer difficult questions.
• Matthew 13:54Jesus returned to his own town. He taught the Jewish people in their meeting room there. The people were very surprised about the things that he taught them. They said to each other, ‘We do not know how this man learned all these things. And we do not know how he does all these powerful things.
• Mark 6:2When it was the Jewish day of rest, Jesus went to their meeting place. He began to teach the people who were there. Many of them were surprised about the things that he was saying to them. They said to each other, ‘How did this man learn all these things? How did he become so wise? How does he do all these powerful things?
• Luke 4:22Everyone was talking about Jesus. They were surprised at the good way in which he spoke. They said to each other, ‘We know that he is only Joseph's son.’
• Acts 2:7They were very surprised and they said to each other, ‘These men who are speaking our languages are all from Galilee.
• Acts 4:11The Bible says this about him: “The builders refused to use a certain stone. They thought that it had no value. But now that stone has become the most important stone at the corner of the building.” ’
• Amos 7:14Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘My job was not as a prophet. My father never did that work. My job was to work as a shepherd. I also took care of fig trees.

Commentaries on John 7:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? - The Jewish learning consisted in the knowledge of their own scriptures, and the traditions of their elders. In this learning our blessed Lord excelled. No person ever spoke with more grace and dignity, or knew better how to make a more proper use, or a happier application, of Jewish allegories and parables; because none ever penetrated the sense of the Scriptures as he did; none ever cited them more…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Knoweth this man letters - The Jewish letters or science consisted in the knowledge of their Scriptures and traditions. Jesus exhibited in his discourses such a profound acquaintance with the Old Testament as to excite their amazement and admiration. Having never learned - The Jews taught their law and tradition in celebrated schools. As Jesus had not been instructed in those schools, they were amazed at his learning. What early human teaching the Saviour…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-24Verses 14-24 Every faithful minister may humbly adopt Christ's words. His doctrine is not his own finding out, but is from God's word, through the teaching of his Spirit. And amidst the disputes which disturb the world, if any man, of any nation, seeks to do the will of God, he shall know whether the doctrine is of God, or whether men speak of themselves. Only those who hate the truth shall be given up to errors which will be fatal. Surely it was as…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15They wondered how he could teach with such understanding. Jesus had not studied under a well-known rabbi (a Jewish teacher of the law). Instead, he said that his teaching came from his heavenly Father. This was different from many Jewish teachers. For example, Peter and John were known as untrained men (Acts 4:13). In contrast, Paul had studied under a respected teacher (Acts 22:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1514-15. about the midst of the feast--the fourth or fifth day of the eight, during which it lasted. went up into the temple and taught--The word denotes formal and continuous teaching, as distinguished from mere casual sayings. This was probably the first time that He did so thus openly in Jerusalem. He had kept back till the feast was half through, to let the stir about Him subside, and entering the city unexpectedly, had begun His "teaching" at the…Read the comment

Topics related to John 7:15

• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Division
• Judge
• Thither
• Ignorance
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Law in the New Testament
• Temple
• Unlearned

Commentaries on John 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings