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John 7:52

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They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

They answered {G611} and {G2532} said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Art {G3361}{G1488} thou {G4771} also {G2532} of {G1537} Galilee {G1056}? Search {G2045}, and {G2532} look {G1492}: for {G3754} out of {G1537} Galilee {G1056} ariseth {G1453} no {G3756} prophet {G4396}.

They replied, “You aren’t from the Galil too, are you? Study the Tanakh, and see for yourself that no prophet comes from the Galil!”

“Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”

They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

Commentary

John 7:52 KJV captures a moment of intense prejudice and spiritual blindness among the Jewish religious leaders during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Context

This verse follows Nicodemus's attempt to defend Jesus, reminding his fellow Pharisees that Jewish law requires hearing a man before judging him. The "they" who answer him are the other religious authorities, likely some of the Pharisees and chief priests, who are hostile towards Jesus. Their response is not a logical counter-argument but a dismissive, derogatory question aimed at discrediting both Nicodemus and Jesus, based on a commonly held, yet flawed, geographical prejudice against Galilee.

Key Themes

  • Prejudice and Misconception: The statement "out of Galilee ariseth no prophet" reveals a deep-seated contempt for the region of Galilee. This area was often looked down upon by the Judean religious elite, who considered it less pure or less learned. Their assertion was factually incorrect, as prophets like Jonah were indeed from Galilee. This highlights how preconceived notions can blind people to truth, preventing them from recognizing God's chosen ones.
  • Spiritual Blindness: Despite their extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, these leaders failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Their focus on His perceived humble origin in Galilee overshadowed the clear prophecies about His birthplace in Bethlehem of Judea and His divine nature. Their question, "Art thou also of Galilee?", was meant to shame Nicodemus into abandoning his defense of Jesus.
  • Rejection of Divine Truth: The leaders' dismissive attitude demonstrates their unwillingness to genuinely investigate Jesus' claims or consider the evidence. They preferred to rely on popular misconceptions and personal biases rather than seeking understanding or truth from God's Word.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Search, and look" (Greek: ereuna kai ide) is an imperative, a command. It's ironic because they command Nicodemus to search the Scriptures, implying they have done so thoroughly and found nothing to support a prophet from Galilee. However, their conclusion is demonstrably false, highlighting their hypocrisy and selective interpretation. They used the Scriptures not to seek truth, but to justify their preconceived notions and reinforce their own authority against Jesus.

Practical Application

John 7:52 serves as a powerful reminder about the dangers of prejudice and judging others based on their background, origin, or perceived status rather than their character or the truth they present. It challenges us to:

  • Question Assumptions: Be wary of widely accepted but unexamined beliefs, especially those that foster contempt or exclusion. What common misconceptions might we hold today that prevent us from seeing truth?
  • Seek Truth Diligently: Like Nicodemus, be open to examining evidence and challenging popular opinions, even if it means standing apart from the crowd. The religious leaders' command to "search" was hollow because they did not truly seek.
  • Overcome Bias: Recognize that our own biases can prevent us from seeing God's work or understanding His message. Just as Jesus's humble Galilean upbringing was a stumbling block for them, God often works in ways that defy human expectations, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:27 where God chooses the foolish things of the world.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 7:41 (10 votes)

    Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

  • John 1:46 (7 votes)

    And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

  • Isaiah 9:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

  • Isaiah 9:2 (5 votes)

    The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

  • Matthew 4:15 (4 votes)

    The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

  • Matthew 4:16 (4 votes)

    The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

  • 1 Kings 22:24 (2 votes)

    But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?