John 7:36

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

What [manner of] saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find [me]: and where I am, [thither] ye cannot come?

Complete Jewish Bible:

And when he says, ‘You will look for me and not find me; indeed, where I am, you cannot come’ — what does he mean?”

Berean Standard Bible:

What does He mean by saying, ‘You will look for Me, but you will not find Me,’ and, ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

American Standard Version:

What is this word that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, ye cannot come?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

What^{G5101} manner of saying^{G3056} is^{G2076} this^{G3778} that^{G3739} he said^{G2036}, Ye shall seek^{G2212} me^{G3165}, and^{G2532} shall^{G2147} not^{G3756} find^{G2147} me: and^{G2532} where^{G3699} I^{G1473} am^{G1510}, thither ye^{G5210} cannot^{{G3756}{G1410}} come^{G2064}?

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Commentary for John 7:36

John 7:36 is part of the narrative of Jesus' ministry as recorded in the Gospel of John. This verse captures a statement made by Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles, a significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and their dependence on God. During this festival, Jesus was teaching in the temple, and His teachings were causing a stir among the people and the religious leaders.

In this particular verse, Jesus is foretelling His departure from the world and the inability of His contemporaries to find Him once He has returned to the Father. The "manner of saying" refers to the cryptic nature of Jesus' words, which often required further explanation. His statement is layered with meaning: on one level, it speaks to the immediate future when He would be crucified and resurrected, after which He would ascend to heaven, a place His enemies could not follow. On a deeper level, it points to the spiritual reality that those who reject Him in this life will not be able to come into His presence in eternity.

The historical context of this verse is crucial for understanding its themes. Jesus was speaking in a time of great tension between the Jewish leaders and Himself. His miracles and teachings challenged the established religious norms, and His claims to be the Messiah were seen as blasphemous by the authorities. By saying that they would seek Him and not find Him, Jesus was prophesying not only His physical absence after His ascension but also the spiritual blindness of those who refused to believe in Him. This verse underscores themes of seeking and finding, belief and unbelief, and the ultimate separation between those who accept Jesus and those who do not. It also foreshadows the expansion of Jesus' mission beyond the Jewish nation to include all people who would come to Him in faith.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G5101
   There are 483 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τίς
   Transliteration: tís
   Pronunciation: tis
   Description: probably emphatic of τὶς; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):--every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.
   
2. Strong's Number: G3056
   There are 316 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λόγος
   Transliteration: lógos
   Pronunciation: log'-os
   Description: from λέγω; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
   
3. Strong's Number: G2076
   There are 812 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐστί
   Transliteration: estí
   Pronunciation: es-tee'
   Description: third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
   
4. Strong's Number: G3778
   There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: οὗτος
   Transliteration: hoûtos
   Pronunciation: how'-tahee
   Description: from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.
   
5. Strong's Number: G3739
   There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅς
   Transliteration: hós
   Pronunciation: ho
   Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2036
   There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔπω
   Transliteration: épō
   Pronunciation: ep'-o
   Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2212
   There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ζητέω
   Transliteration: zētéō
   Pronunciation: dzay-teh'-o
   Description: of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life):--be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means). Compare πυνθάνομαι.
   
8. Strong's Number: G3165
   There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μέ
   Transliteration: mé
   Pronunciation: meh
   Description: a shorter (and probably original) form of ἐμέ; me:--I, me, my.
   
9. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
10. Strong's Number: G2147
    There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εὑρίσκω
    Transliteration: heurískō
    Pronunciation: hyoo-reh'-o
    Description: a prolonged form of a primary , which (together with another cognate form) is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect; to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.
    
11. Strong's Number: G3756
    There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐ
    Transliteration: ou
    Pronunciation: ookh
    Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
    
12. Strong's Number: G3699
    There are 77 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὅπου
    Transliteration: hópou
    Pronunciation: hop'-oo
    Description: from ὅς and πού; what(-ever) where, i.e. at whichever spot:--in what place, where(-as, -soever), whither (+ soever).
    
13. Strong's Number: G1473
    There are 334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐγώ
    Transliteration: egṓ
    Pronunciation: eg-o'
    Description: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me. For the other cases and the plural see ἐμέ, ἐμοί, ἐμοῦ, ἡμᾶς, ἡμεῖς, ἡμῖν, ἡμῶν, etc.
    
14. Strong's Number: G1510
    There are 137 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰμί
    Transliteration: eimí
    Pronunciation: i-mee'
    Description: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was. See also εἶ, εἴην, εἶναι, εἰσί, ἦν, ἔσομαι, ἐσμέν, ἐστέ, ἐστί, κέρδος, ἴσθι, ὦ.
    
15. Strong's Number: G5210
    There are 228 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὑμεῖς
    Transliteration: hymeîs
    Pronunciation: hoo-mice'
    Description: irregular plural of σύ; you (as subjective of verb):--ye (yourselves), you.
    
16. Strong's Number: G1410
    There are 201 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: δύναμαι
    Transliteration: dýnamai
    Pronunciation: doo'-nam-ahee
    Description: of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible:--be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.
    
17. Strong's Number: G2064
    There are 604 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔρχομαι
    Transliteration: érchomai
    Pronunciation: el'-tho
    Description: middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) , or (active) , which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.