John 7:36

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

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}?

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 7:36 captures the profound bewilderment of the Jewish religious leaders and the crowd following Jesus's enigmatic declaration regarding His imminent departure and their subsequent inability to find Him or follow Him to His destination. This verse powerfully underscores the chasm between Jesus's divine nature and mission, rooted in heavenly realities, and the limited, earthly understanding of His audience, who struggled to comprehend the spiritual implications of His words.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus's statement in [John 7:34](/john/7-34 "John 7:34 - Jesus's Enigmatic Departure Statement"), where He first utters the perplexing words, "Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come." The present verse, [John 7:36](/john/7-36 "John 7:36 - The Crowd's Perplexity"), records the audience's bewildered reaction and their internal questioning about the meaning of His words. The surrounding narrative in [John 7](/john/7 "John 7 - Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles") details Jesus's public teaching during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, a period marked by intense debate, division, and escalating hostility among the Jewish authorities concerning His identity and claims. Their confusion here highlights their failure to grasp the spiritual, rather than merely geographical, nature of Jesus's departure and destination.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, which drew large numbers of Jews to Jerusalem. This festival was a time of national remembrance of God's provision in the wilderness and a hopeful anticipation of the Messiah's coming. The Jewish leaders and many in the crowd held a strong expectation of a political Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman rule. Jesus's talk of "departure" and an inaccessible destination immediately triggered speculation about physical journeys. Their questions about His going "unto the dispersed among the Gentiles" or even taking His own life (a scandalous thought for a prophet) reveal their deeply ingrained earthly perspectives and their inability to conceive of a divine, spiritual "return" to the Father.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in John's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the **Misunderstanding of Jesus's Identity and Mission**. The crowd's earthly interpretations of Jesus's words reveal their spiritual blindness to His true divine nature and heavenly origin, a recurring motif throughout John, as seen in passages like [John 8:23](/john/8-23 "John 8:23 - Jesus's Heavenly Origin"). Secondly, it foreshadows the **Consequences of Unbelief and Rejection**. Jesus's warning that they "shall seek me, and shall not find me" carries a sobering implication of future judgment or missed opportunity for salvation, echoing the dire warnings found in [Proverbs 1:28](/proverbs/1-28 "Proverbs 1:28 - The Folly of Rejecting Wisdom"). Lastly, the phrase "where I am, thither ye cannot come" emphasizes the **Spiritual Separation** between those who embrace Jesus by faith and those who remain in unbelief, a separation that impacts not only present fellowship but also eternal destiny, as further elaborated in [John 3:36](/john/3-36 "John 3:36 - The Consequences of Belief and Unbelief").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **saying (Greek, _lógos'_):** (G3056) From `légō` (to speak); something said, including the thought or topic. In John's Gospel, `lógos` is a profound term, often referring to the Divine Expression, Christ Himself (as in [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God")). Here, the crowd uses it in a more mundane sense, referring to Jesus's statement, yet ironically, they are grappling with the words of the very Logos of God. Their inability to comprehend His `lógos` underscores their failure to understand Him.
* **seek (Greek, _zētéō'_):** (G2212) Of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); to desire, endeavor, inquire for. This word implies a diligent or earnest search. In this context, it suggests a future pursuit that, for those who reject Him, will ultimately prove futile. It implies a search born of desperation or perhaps even a recognition of their error, but one that comes too late for saving grace.
* **cannot (Greek, _dýnamai'_):** (G1410) Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible. Paired with the negative particle `ou` (G3756), it forms `ou dýnamai`, meaning "cannot" or "are not able." This word highlights an absolute inability, not merely a disinclination. It signifies a profound, spiritual barrier that prevents those in unbelief from entering into Jesus's sphere or destiny. Their inability is a consequence of their spiritual condition, not a physical limitation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What [manner of] saying is this that he said":** This clause reveals the profound confusion and perplexity of Jesus's audience. They are not merely asking for clarification but expressing their utter bewilderment at the nature and implications of His statement. The phrase "manner of saying" (Greek: `tís ho lógos hoûtos`) emphasizes that they are struggling not just with the words themselves, but with the entire concept and underlying meaning of Jesus's declaration. It highlights their inability to grasp the spiritual dimension of His discourse.
* **"Ye shall seek me, and shall not find [me]":** This is a direct reiteration of Jesus's earlier warning in [John 7:34](/john/7-34 "John 7:34 - Jesus's Enigmatic Departure Statement"). It is a prophetic statement with a dual layer of meaning. On one hand, it refers to a future time when, after His ascension, His physical presence will no longer be available. On the other, and more critically, it speaks to a spiritual reality: those who persist in unbelief will, at some point, seek Him (perhaps in judgment or desperation), but will not find Him in a saving capacity. Their opportunity for salvation will have passed.
* **"and where I am, [thither] ye cannot come?":** This final clause further intensifies the spiritual chasm. "Where I am" (Greek: `hópou egṓ eimí`) refers not to a physical location but to Jesus's divine state of being, His intimate relationship with the Father, and ultimately, His heavenly dwelling and sovereign authority. The declaration that "ye cannot come" underscores an absolute spiritual impossibility for those who remain alienated from God through unbelief. This is a statement about eternal destiny and the unbridgeable gap between the kingdom of God and those who reject its King.

#### Literary Devices
John 7:36 employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "What manner of saying is this...?" This question, posed by the crowd, is not truly seeking an answer from Jesus but expresses their profound confusion and inability to comprehend His spiritual truths. It highlights the dramatic irony of the situation, as the Son of God speaks plainly, yet His audience, steeped in earthly expectations, remains spiritually blind. There is also a strong element of **Irony** in the crowd's speculation. They consider Jesus going to the "dispersed among the Gentiles" or even taking His own life, while the true "departure" Jesus speaks of is His glorious ascension to the Father, a divine act beyond their earthly comprehension. Finally, the verse contains **Foreshadowing**. Jesus's statement about seeking Him and not finding Him, and their inability to come where He is, foreshadows the ultimate spiritual separation and judgment that awaits those who reject Him, a theme that will be further developed in His later discourses on eternal life and judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 7:36 profoundly underscores the theological truth of divine sovereignty in salvation and the dire consequences of human unbelief. Jesus's words reveal that access to Him and His heavenly realm is not a matter of human effort or geographical pursuit, but a spiritual privilege granted through faith. The inability of the unbelieving crowd to "come" to where Jesus is highlights the spiritual chasm created by sin and the necessity of divine intervention for reconciliation. It points to an eschatological reality where the opportunity for salvation is finite, and persistent rejection leads to an irreversible separation from God's presence.

* [John 8:21](/john/8-21 "Jesus's Warning of Unfindable Departure")
* [Hosea 5:6](/hosea/5-6 "Seeking God in Vain")
* [Matthew 23:37-39](/matthew/23-37-39 "Jesus's Lament Over Jerusalem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 7:36 serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency and spiritual nature of responding to Jesus Christ. It challenges us to examine the depth of our own understanding and commitment. Are we seeking Jesus merely out of curiosity, for earthly benefits, or in a superficial manner, or are we truly seeking Him in spirit and truth, desiring genuine fellowship and transformation? The verse warns against the perils of spiritual blindness and procrastination, emphasizing that there is a finite window of opportunity to embrace Christ in a saving way. For those who, by God's grace, respond in faith, the promise is not merely to "find" Him, but to "come" to where He is, experiencing profound spiritual union and eternal life. This calls us to cultivate a heart of humility, open to the Spirit's illumination, so that we may truly comprehend and follow the divine path Jesus lays before us, ensuring we are not among those who seek in vain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be prone to misunderstand Jesus's words or mission through an overly earthly or self-centered lens?**
* **What does it mean to "seek" Jesus in a way that truly "finds" Him, leading to salvation and spiritual access to His presence?**
* **How does the warning "where I am, thither ye cannot come" motivate me to deepen my faith and commitment to Christ today?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure my understanding of Jesus is rooted in biblical truth rather than cultural expectations or personal preferences?**

### FAQ

**What did the Jewish leaders think Jesus meant by "where I am, thither ye cannot come?"**

Answer: The Jewish leaders and the crowd were completely baffled by Jesus's statement. Their earthly mindset led them to speculate about physical destinations. Some thought He might be planning to leave Judea and go to the "dispersed among the Gentiles" (the Jewish diaspora living outside of Israel), perhaps to teach them. Others might have even considered the scandalous possibility that He intended to take His own life, which would take Him to a place they could not follow. Their confusion highlights their inability to grasp the spiritual, heavenly nature of Jesus's true destination: His return to the Father through His death, resurrection, and ascension, as described in [John 14:28](/john/14-28 "Jesus's Return to the Father").

**Does "Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me" mean that God will stop accepting people at some point?**

Answer: This statement carries a sober warning about the consequences of persistent unbelief and missed opportunity. While God's grace is abundant, there is a point, often related to one's death or the final judgment, when the opportunity for saving faith passes. For those who continually reject Jesus during their lifetime, a future "seeking" may occur, perhaps out of desperation or in the face of judgment, but it will be too late for a saving encounter. Jesus reiterates this warning in [John 8:21](/john/8-21 "Dying in Sins"), stating, "I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come." It emphasizes the urgency of responding to the gospel while it is still "the day of salvation" ([2 Corinthians 6:2](/2_corinthians/6-2 "The Day of Salvation")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 7:36, though spoken in a context of misunderstanding and warning, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus's glorious ascension and the subsequent provision of the Holy Spirit, which uniquely enables believers to "come" to where He is. While the unbelieving could not follow Him to His heavenly abode, Jesus's departure was not an abandonment but a necessary step for His exaltation and the sending of the Comforter. His ascension to the Father's right hand ([Acts 1:9-11](/acts/1-9-11 "The Ascension of Jesus")) established His eternal reign and priestly intercession. Crucially, through the Holy Spirit, believers are now spiritually united with Christ and have access to the Father. Jesus Himself promised, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus, the Way to the Father")). Thus, the very "place" where Jesus is—His divine presence and heavenly realm—is now accessible to all who believe, not through physical journey, but through spiritual union with Him, allowing us to "come boldly unto the throne of grace" ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Bold Access to God's Throne")).

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 3:9

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

John 7:34

Ye shall seek me, and shall not find [me]: and where I am, [thither] ye cannot come.

John 12:34

The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

John 6:41

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

John 16:17

Then said [some] of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

John 16:18

They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

John 6:52

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?