John 10:22

KJV

¶ And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} it was {G1096} at {G1722} Jerusalem {G2414} the feast of the dedication {G1456}, and {G2532} it was {G2258} winter {G5494}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter,

Berean Standard Bible

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,

American Standard Version

And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 10:22 serves as a pivotal transitional verse, precisely situating Jesus' subsequent profound discourse within a specific time and place: Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, in winter. This seemingly simple statement provides essential chronological and geographical markers, setting the stage for Jesus' escalating claims about His divine identity and relationship with the Father, which unfold immediately thereafter.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks a distinct shift in the narrative flow of John's Gospel. It immediately follows Jesus' extensive and deeply theological discourse in [John 10:1-21](/john/10-1-21 "John 10:1-21 - Jesus, the Good Shepherd"), where He presents Himself as the Good Shepherd, contrasting His sacrificial care for His sheep with the destructive motives of thieves and hired hands. He emphasizes His intimate knowledge of His sheep and their reciprocal knowledge of Him, culminating in the profound statement about His power to lay down and take up His life. John 10:22 then abruptly changes the scene, providing a precise temporal and spatial setting for the next segment of Jesus' teaching, which directly builds upon His earlier claims of divine authority and unique relationship with the Father. The shift to a specific festival and season indicates a new, perhaps more confrontational, phase of His public ministry in Jerusalem.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "feast of the dedication" is universally recognized as Hanukkah, a Jewish festival not prescribed in the Torah but deeply ingrained in the nation's history and religious identity. Its origins are detailed in the intertestamental books of 1 and 2 Maccabees. Hanukkah commemorates the miraculous rededication of the Second Temple in 164 BC by Judah Maccabee, following its desecration by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus had forbidden Jewish practices, sacrificed pigs on the altar, and erected an idol, provoking the Maccabean Revolt. The successful revolt led to the cleansing and rededication of the Temple, celebrated annually as the "Festival of Lights," often falling in December (the Jewish month of Kislev). The mention of "winter" aligns perfectly with this timeframe, as Jerusalem experiences its colder, rainy season during these months. Jesus' presence at this particular festival underscores His engagement with the religious life of His people, even observances that arose post-Torah.
* **Key Themes:** John 10:22 contributes to several overarching themes within John's Gospel. Firstly, it reinforces the theme of **Jesus' active participation in Jewish life and tradition**, demonstrating His rootedness in the covenant people, even as He transcends and fulfills their expectations. His presence at Hanukkah, a festival celebrating deliverance and the purification of the Temple, subtly foreshadows His role as the ultimate cleanser and redeemer. Secondly, the verse sets the stage for the theme of **Jesus' escalating claims of divine identity**. The backdrop of Hanukkah, a festival of light and rededication, provides a poignant context for Jesus' subsequent declarations of His oneness with the Father, as seen in [John 10:30](/john/10-30 "John 10:30 - Jesus and the Father are One"), which provoke accusations of blasphemy. Finally, the verse subtly connects to the broader theme of **light and truth versus darkness and unbelief**, a recurring motif in John's Gospel (e.g., [John 1:4-5](/john/1-4-5 "John 1:4-5 - The Light Shines in the Darkness") and [John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")). Hanukkah celebrates the miraculous light of the Menorah in the rededicated Temple, a symbol that Jesus, the true Light, embodies and surpasses.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **And (Greek, _dé'_):** This conjunction (G1161) serves as a transitional particle, indicating a continuation of the narrative but often with a slight adversative or explanatory nuance. In this context, it smoothly shifts the scene from Jesus' previous discourse to a new setting and interaction, without implying a sharp break but rather a progression in His public ministry.
* **dedication (Greek, _enkaínia'_):** The term (G1456) refers specifically to a "renewal" or "inauguration," particularly of a sanctuary or temple. Its use here points directly to the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple after its defilement. This word carries significant theological weight, evoking themes of cleansing, restoration, and the re-establishment of sacred worship.
* **winter (Greek, _cheimṓn'_):** This word (G5494) denotes a "storm" or "tempest," and by implication, the "rainy season" or "winter." Its inclusion is not merely a meteorological detail but contributes to the atmosphere of the narrative, perhaps subtly hinting at the spiritual "storm" or opposition that Jesus would face during this period of His ministry in Jerusalem, especially given the escalating tension with the Jewish authorities.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ And it was at Jerusalem":** This opening phrase establishes the geographical setting, placing Jesus firmly in the heart of Jewish religious and political life. Jerusalem was the center of Temple worship and the seat of the Sanhedrin, making it a critical location for Jesus' public ministry and confrontations with religious leaders. The use of "was" (G1096, gínomai, to come into being) indicates an event occurring or coming to pass in this specific location.
* **"the feast of the dedication":** This clause provides the specific temporal context, identifying the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. By participating in this festival, Jesus demonstrates His immersion in Jewish cultural and religious life, even as He prepares to reveal truths that challenge the existing religious framework. The festival's theme of rededication and light is highly significant in light of Jesus' identity.
* **"and it was winter":** This final clause offers a practical detail about the season. While seemingly mundane, it reinforces the precise timing of the events and may subtly allude to the cold, perhaps even hostile, reception Jesus was about to encounter from those who questioned His authority and identity. The word for "winter" (G5494, cheimṓn) can also mean "storm," potentially foreshadowing the turbulent events to come.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Concise Detail** to efficiently convey critical contextual information. By specifying "Jerusalem," "the feast of the dedication," and "winter," the author grounds the subsequent discourse in a precise historical and geographical reality, enhancing its verisimilitude. There is also subtle **Foreshadowing** in the mention of "winter" (Greek _cheimṓn_ can mean "storm"), hinting at the rising opposition and spiritual turbulence that Jesus would face in the following verses, culminating in attempts to stone Him. The choice of "the feast of the dedication" itself functions as **Symbolism**, as this festival of light and rededication provides a thematic backdrop for Jesus' claims to be the true Light of the World and the ultimate Temple, fulfilling and surpassing the significance of the physical Temple.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 10:22, though brief, is theologically rich, connecting the historical reality of Jesus' ministry to profound spiritual truths. His presence at Hanukkah, a festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple after its defilement, subtly positions Him as the true cleanser and inaugurator of a new covenant reality. The festival's emphasis on light, celebrating the miraculous oil for the Temple menorah, resonates deeply with Jesus' self-declaration as the "Light of the World" (John 8:12). This setting becomes a deliberate stage for Jesus to reveal His divine identity, challenging the traditional understanding of God's presence and ultimately demonstrating that He is the ultimate fulfillment of all that the Temple and its festivals represented. The tension that immediately follows this verse underscores the radical nature of His claims within this highly charged religious environment.

* [John 8:12](/john/8-12 "Jesus, the Light of the World")
* [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "Jesus, the True Temple")
* [Luke 2:41-49](/luke/2-41-49 "Jesus at the Temple as a Boy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 10:22, while a contextual verse, offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that Jesus fully entered into human history and culture, participating in the established traditions of His people, even those not explicitly commanded by Mosaic Law. This demonstrates His humility, His respect for His heritage, and His willingness to engage with people where they were. For us, this means that our faith is not to be lived in isolation from the world, but rather to be incarnated within our own cultural contexts. We are called to be present, to engage thoughtfully with our societies, and to find opportunities within everyday life and cultural observances to point to the greater truth of Christ. Just as Jesus used the backdrop of Hanukkah to reveal His identity as the Light and the Son of God, we too can seek to illuminate the truth of the Gospel within our spheres of influence, allowing our lives to speak to the ultimate fulfillment found in Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' participation in a non-Torah festival like Hanukkah inform our understanding of Christian engagement with cultural traditions today?**
* **In what ways can we, like Jesus, use specific times and settings in our lives to reveal deeper spiritual truths to those around us?**
* **Considering the "winter" setting and the "feast of dedication," what "lights" do we need to bring into the "cold" or "dark" areas of our lives or communities, pointing to Christ?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "the feast of the dedication" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The "feast of the dedication" refers to Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. This festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC by Judah Maccabee, after it had been defiled by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Although not commanded in the Torah, it was a significant annual celebration for the Jewish people, symbolizing God's faithfulness, the triumph of light over darkness, and the restoration of pure worship. Jesus' presence at this festival is highly symbolic, as He is the ultimate fulfillment of the Temple and the true Light of the World, as He declared in [John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World").

**Why is the detail "it was winter" included in this verse?**

Answer: The mention of "winter" provides a precise chronological marker, as Hanukkah typically falls in December, which is indeed a colder, rainy season in Jerusalem. Beyond a simple meteorological detail, it may also carry a subtle symbolic weight. The Greek word for "winter" (_cheimṓn_) can also mean "storm" or "tempest." This could subtly foreshadow the escalating spiritual "storm" or intense opposition Jesus was about to face from the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, particularly after His bold claims about His relationship with the Father in the subsequent verses (e.g., [John 10:30-33](/john/10-30-33 "John 10:30-33 - Jesus' Claim of Oneness with the Father and the Jews' Response")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 10:22, by setting the scene at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, subtly yet profoundly points to Christ's ultimate fulfillment of all that this festival represented. Hanukkah celebrated the rededication of a defiled temple and the miraculous provision of light. Jesus, however, declares Himself to be the true Temple (as seen in [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus, the True Temple")), whose body is the ultimate dwelling place of God, a sanctuary that cannot be defiled. Furthermore, He is the "Light of the World" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")), not merely a temporary light in a physical temple, but the eternal source of spiritual illumination that dispels the darkness of sin and ignorance. The festival's historical context of deliverance from oppressive rule finds its ultimate realization in Christ, who offers true liberation from spiritual bondage ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")). Thus, Jesus' presence at Hanukkah is not merely an observance of tradition, but a living testament to His identity as the one who brings about the ultimate rededication of humanity to God and shines as the never-fading Light of salvation. His subsequent discourse in [John 10:23-39](/john/10-23-39 "John 10:23-39 - Jesus' Claims and the Jews' Opposition") confirms these profound Christological claims, revealing Him as the very Son of God, one with the Father.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.