John 7:22

Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

Moses {G3475} therefore {G1223}{G5124} gave {G1325} unto you {G5213} circumcision {G4061};(not {G3756} because {G3754} it is {G2076} of {G1537} Moses {G3475}, but {G235} of {G1537} the fathers {G3962};) and {G2532} ye {G4059} on {G1722} the sabbath day {G4521} circumcise {G4059} a man {G444}.

Moshe gave you b’rit-milah — not that it came from Moshe but from the Patriarchs — and you do a boy’s b’rit-milah on Shabbat.

But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.)

Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man.

In John 7:22, Jesus continues His discourse with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles. He confronts their legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath law by using their own practices against them, specifically the practice of circumcision on the Sabbath.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' defense against accusations that He broke the Sabbath by healing a man at the pool of Bethesda (see John 5:9). The Jewish authorities were seeking to kill Him for this perceived transgression. Here, Jesus highlights their inconsistency: they are willing to perform circumcision, a ritual requiring work, on the Sabbath without objection, yet they condemn Him for an act of compassion and healing.

Key Themes

  • Origin of the Law: Jesus clarifies that while Moses transmitted the law of circumcision, its origin predates Moses, stemming from the covenant God made with Abraham (see Genesis 17:10). This emphasizes that some laws have a deeper, more foundational purpose.
  • Prioritizing Commandments: The Jews understood that the command to circumcise a male child on the eighth day (Leviticus 12:3) superseded the general Sabbath prohibition against work. Jesus uses this established principle to argue that if a ritual act could "break" the Sabbath for a greater purpose (fulfilling the covenant), then His act of making a whole man well on the Sabbath (John 7:23) was certainly justifiable.
  • Hypocrisy and Righteous Judgment: Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of His accusers. They were meticulous about a ritualistic application of the law, even when it involved "work" on the Sabbath, but failed to see the greater spiritual and compassionate purpose behind His actions. This sets the stage for His call to judge with righteous judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "of the fathers" (Greek: ek tōn paterōn) clearly points to the patriarchs, particularly Abraham, emphasizing the ancient and foundational nature of the covenant of circumcision. Jesus distinguishes this older, covenantal command from the Mosaic Law, which codified and expanded upon existing principles but did not originate circumcision itself.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers to examine their own understanding and application of God's commands. Are we sometimes more focused on the letter of the law than its spirit? Do we prioritize external rituals over acts of compassion, mercy, and genuine spiritual transformation? Jesus teaches us to seek the deeper meaning and purpose behind God's instructions, valuing righteousness, mercy, and faith over rigid legalism, as He also taught in Matthew 12:7.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Leviticus 12:3

    And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

  • Genesis 17:10

    This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

  • Genesis 17:14

    And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

  • Romans 4:9

    ¶ [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

  • Romans 4:11

    And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

  • Galatians 3:17

    And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

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