John 7:28

KJV

Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G3767} cried {G2896} Jesus {G2424} in {G1722} the temple {G2411} as he taught {G1321},{G2532} saying {G3004}, Ye both {G2504} know me {G1492}, and {G2532} ye know {G1492} whence {G4159} I am {G1510}: and {G2532} I am {G2064} not {G3756} come {G2064} of {G575} myself {G1683}, but {G235} he that sent {G3992} me {G3165} is {G2076} true {G228}, whom {G3739} ye {G5210} know {G1492} not {G3756}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Whereupon Yeshua, continuing to teach in the Temple courts, cried out, “Indeed you do know me! And you know where I’m from! And I have not come on my own! The One who sent me is real. But him you don’t know!

Berean Standard Bible

Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him,

American Standard Version

Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In John 7:28, Jesus, teaching publicly in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, confronts the crowd's superficial understanding of His identity. He declares that while they claim to know His earthly origin, they fundamentally misunderstand His divine source and mission. Jesus asserts that He has not come on His own authority but is sent by the Father, whom He describes as "true," yet remains unknown to His listeners, highlighting their spiritual blindness despite their religious claims.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** John 7:28 is situated amidst intense debate and controversy surrounding Jesus's identity during the [Feast of Tabernacles](/john/7-2 "John 7:2 - Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles"). The chapter opens with Jesus initially avoiding Judea due to plots against Him, but He later goes up to Jerusalem secretly (or at least not openly). His public teaching in the Temple courts (as early as [John 7:14](/john/7-14 "John 7:14 - Jesus teaching in the Temple")) sparks division among the crowds and consternation among the Jewish authorities. Many question His authority and origin, particularly because they believe they know His earthly background from Nazareth, which conflicts with their expectations of the Messiah's mysterious appearance (cf. [John 7:27](/john/7-27 "John 7:27 - The crowd's question about Jesus's origin")). Jesus's "cried out" response in [John 7:28](/john/7-28 "John 7:28 - Jesus's declaration of His true origin") is a direct address to these very doubts, immediately preceding further attempts by the authorities to seize Him ([John 7:30](/john/7-30 "John 7:30 - Attempts to seize Jesus")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals, a joyous celebration commemorating God's provision for Israel in the wilderness and looking forward to the Messianic age. Jerusalem would have been bustling with pilgrims, creating a large audience for Jesus's teaching. The Temple courts were public spaces where rabbis often taught and debates occurred. The Jewish expectation regarding the Messiah's origin was complex; while some prophecies pointed to Bethlehem ([Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Messiah's birthplace")), there was also a belief that the Messiah's coming would be sudden and mysterious, with no one knowing "whence he is" ([John 7:27](/john/7-27 "John 7:27 - The crowd's question about Jesus's origin")). This popular belief fueled their skepticism about Jesus, whom they perceived as having a known, ordinary origin. Jesus's declaration directly challenges this misconception by shifting the focus from His earthly provenance to His divine commission.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in John's Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the **misunderstanding of Jesus's identity**, a recurring motif where people perceive Jesus only on a superficial, human level, failing to grasp His divine nature and origin (e.g., [John 1:10-11](/john/1-10-11 "John 1:10-11 - The world did not know Him")). Secondly, it highlights Jesus's **divine commission and dependence on the Father**, a central Johannine theme emphasizing that Jesus's words and works are not self-initiated but directly from God (e.g., [John 5:19](/john/5-19 "John 5:19 - The Son does nothing of Himself"), [John 8:42](/john/8-42 "John 8:42 - Jesus came from God")). Thirdly, it exposes the **spiritual blindness of those who claim to know God** but reject His Son, revealing that true knowledge of God comes through Jesus (e.g., [John 14:7](/john/14-7 "John 14:7 - Knowing the Father through Jesus")). Finally, the declaration that the Father "is true" emphasizes God's **absolute veracity and faithfulness**, a foundational truth upon which Jesus's entire mission rests.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cried (Greek, _krázō'_):** From G2896, meaning "to 'croak' (as a raven) or scream, i.e. (genitive case) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat)." This is not a casual remark but a loud, public, and emphatic declaration. In the bustling Temple courts, Jesus's "crying out" indicates the urgency and importance of His message, designed to cut through the noise and challenge the deeply held misconceptions of His listeners. It conveys a sense of passionate proclamation rather than quiet teaching.
* **know (Greek, _eídō'_):** From G1492, a primary verb meaning "to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know." Jesus uses this word twice in the verse, creating a powerful contrast. When He says, "Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am," He acknowledges their superficial, earthly knowledge of His person and origin. However, when He concludes with "whom ye know not," He uses the same word to expose their profound spiritual ignorance of the true God who sent Him. This highlights the difference between empirical, external knowledge and deep, intimate, saving knowledge.
* **true (Greek, _alēthinós'_):** From G228, meaning "truthful." This word signifies more than merely "not false"; it denotes "genuine," "real," "authentic," or "ultimate reality." When Jesus states, "he that sent me is true," He is not just saying God is honest, but that God is the very embodiment of truth and reality, the authentic source of all being and revelation. This emphasizes the absolute reliability and genuine nature of God the Father and, by extension, the truthfulness of Jesus's claims as His Sent One.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying,"**: This initial clause sets the scene, emphasizing the public and authoritative nature of Jesus's declaration. The verb "cried" (from _krázō_) indicates a loud, forceful pronouncement, not a quiet discourse. This was a deliberate act to capture attention in the busy Temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles, underscoring the gravity of His words and His desire for them to be heard and understood by all.
* **"Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am:"**: Jesus acknowledges the crowd's perceived knowledge of Him. They knew His physical presence, His family, and His hometown (Nazareth). This "knowing" (_eídō_) is superficial, based on external observation and common assumptions. It represents their human, limited perspective, which ironically became a stumbling block to recognizing His true identity as the Messiah. They believed their earthly knowledge was sufficient, yet it blinded them to divine truth.
* **"and I am not come of myself,"**: This is a crucial theological statement. Jesus emphatically denies self-initiation or independent authority. His mission, words, and actions are not His own ideas or power but are entirely derived from and dependent upon the Father. This declaration refutes any notion that He is merely a human teacher or prophet acting on His own accord, positioning Himself as the obedient Son sent on a divine mission.
* **"but he that sent me is true,"**: Jesus identifies the source of His authority: the Father, who "sent" Him. The Father is described as "true" (_alēthinós_), signifying His absolute authenticity, reliability, and ultimate reality. This statement grounds Jesus's claims in the unwavering character of God Himself, asserting that the one who commissioned Jesus is the very essence of truth, making Jesus's message undeniably true.
* **"whom ye know not."**: This is a stark and profound indictment. Despite their religious devotion, their knowledge of Scripture, and their claims to serve God, Jesus reveals that the Jewish leaders and the crowd do not truly know the Father. Their rejection of Jesus, the one sent by the Father, demonstrates their fundamental spiritual ignorance of God Himself. This highlights a critical theme in John: true knowledge of God is inextricably linked to recognizing and believing in Jesus, the Son whom He sent.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Jesus acknowledges their claim to "know" Him and His origin, only to immediately expose their profound ignorance of the true God who sent Him. Their earthly "knowledge" paradoxically prevents them from grasping divine truth. This creates a powerful **contrast** between superficial, human understanding and genuine, spiritual insight. The repeated use of the verb "know" (_eídō_) further emphasizes this contrast, highlighting the different levels of knowing. Jesus's declaration, "I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true," serves as a **paradoxical statement** to the crowd, who saw Him as a man from Nazareth, yet He claims a divine, unearthly origin and authority. The phrase "cried Jesus" (from _krázō_) is an example of **emphasis** through verb choice, indicating a forceful, public proclamation designed to draw attention and convey the urgency and gravity of His message in the bustling Temple.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 7:28 is a foundational verse for understanding Jesus's unique relationship with the Father and the nature of true knowledge of God. It underscores the profound truth that Jesus is not a self-appointed religious leader but the divinely commissioned Son, whose entire mission and authority derive from the Father. The Father's "truthfulness" (alēthinós) guarantees the veracity of Jesus's claims and the authenticity of His revelation. The tragic reality is that those who claimed to know God best, the religious leaders of Israel, were precisely the ones who did not truly know Him because they rejected the one He sent. This verse sets the stage for the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish authorities, rooted in their spiritual blindness and their inability to perceive God's work through His Son.

* [John 5:19](/john/5-19 "John 5:19 - The Son can do nothing of Himself"): "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for whatsoever things he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."
* [John 8:42](/john/8-42 "John 8:42 - Jesus came from God"): "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me."
* [John 17:3](/john/17-3 "John 17:3 - Eternal Life is Knowing God and Jesus"): "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 7:28 challenges us to move beyond superficial knowledge of Jesus to a deep, transformative understanding of His divine origin and mission. It prompts us to consider what kind of "knowing" we possess. Do we know Jesus merely as a historical figure, a good teacher, or a moral example, based on external facts and popular opinion? Or do we truly know Him as the Son sent by the "true" God, the one through whom alone we can come to know the Father? This verse reminds us that genuine faith is not intellectual assent to facts about Jesus, but a personal, intimate knowledge that recognizes His divine authority and submits to His divine will. It calls us to examine our own hearts: are there areas where our preconceived notions or worldly wisdom are blinding us to God's truth as revealed in Christ? To truly know Jesus is to know the Father, and to reject Jesus is to remain ignorant of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does "knowing" Jesus truly mean, beyond historical or factual knowledge?**
* **In what ways might our own assumptions or cultural understandings prevent us from fully grasping Jesus's divine identity and mission?**
* **How does recognizing Jesus as sent by the "true" God deepen our trust in His words and His work?**
* **What practical steps can we take to move from a superficial acquaintance with God to a genuine, transformative knowledge of Him through Jesus?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus "cry out" in the Temple, and what is the significance of this?**

Answer: Jesus "cried out" (Greek: _krázō_) in the Temple, indicating a loud, public, and emphatic declaration. This was not a quiet teaching but a passionate pronouncement designed to grab the attention of the bustling crowd during the Feast of Tabernacles. The significance lies in the urgency and gravity of His message. He was confronting deeply ingrained misconceptions about His identity and origin, and a forceful delivery was necessary to cut through the noise and challenge His listeners directly. It underscores that His words were not casual but authoritative and divinely important.

**What is the paradox in Jesus saying, "Ye both know me... whom ye know not"?**

Answer: The paradox lies in the two different levels of "knowing" (Greek: _eídō_). When Jesus says, "Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am," He acknowledges their superficial, earthly knowledge of Him – they knew His physical presence, His family, and His hometown (Nazareth). However, when He immediately follows with "whom ye know not" (referring to the Father who sent Him), He exposes their profound spiritual ignorance. They might have known facts about Him and claimed to know God, but they lacked an intimate, saving knowledge of the true God because they failed to recognize and accept the Son whom He sent. This highlights that true knowledge of God is revealed through Jesus, and rejecting Jesus means remaining ignorant of God Himself, as demonstrated in [John 14:7](/john/14-7 "John 14:7 - Knowing the Father through Jesus").

**What does it mean that "he that sent me is true"?**

Answer: The word "true" (Greek: _alēthinós_) signifies more than just "not false." It means "genuine," "real," "authentic," or "ultimate reality." When Jesus states that the Father who sent Him "is true," He is asserting that God is the very embodiment of truth, the authentic source of all being and revelation. This declaration establishes the absolute reliability and genuine nature of God the Father, thereby validating the truthfulness of Jesus's own claims and the divine authenticity of His mission. It assures His listeners, and us, that Jesus's message is grounded in the unwavering character of God Himself.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 7:28 profoundly reveals the Christ-centered nature of God's redemptive plan. Jesus's declaration that He did not come "of myself" but was "sent" by the "true" Father points directly to His pre-existence and divine commission as the Son of God, a theme woven throughout John's Gospel (e.g., [John 3:16-17](/john/3-16-17 "John 3:16-17 - God sent His Son")). The crowd's ignorance of the Father, despite their religious devotion, underscores the New Testament truth that no one truly knows the Father except through the Son ([Matthew 11:27](/matthew/11-27 "Matthew 11:27 - No one knows the Father except the Son")). Jesus is the ultimate revelation of the "true" God, the very "image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the image of the invisible God")) and the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the radiance of God's glory")). His coming, not of Himself but sent by the Father, culminates in His sacrificial death and resurrection, through which humanity can finally come to know the true God and receive eternal life ([John 17:3](/john/17-3 "John 17:3 - Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus")). Thus, Jesus is the only way to the Father, the authentic manifestation of God's truth and love to a world that otherwise "knows not" Him ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")).

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.

Cross-References

John 8:42

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

John 8:19

Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 8:26

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation [is] in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

John 8:14

Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, [yet] my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

Matthew 11:27

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.