7:30a

So they tried to seize Him: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So is more literally “therefore.” In this context it indicates that because of what Jesus said, some people there tried to arrest him.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

At this they tried to seize him (New International Version)
-or-
When Jesus said this, the leaders tried to arrest him

they tried to seize Him: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they tried to seize Him is more literally “they were seeking to seize him,” as in the New American Standard Bible. The Greek does not make clear whom the pronoun they refers to. It could be the crowd (verse 20), people from Jerusalem (verse 25), or the chief priests and Pharisees (verse 32). Because of that, it is best to translate the word they literally. If that is not natural in your language, you may use another ambiguous word. For example:

The Jews tried to arrest him (God’s Word)

The Greek text does not say in what way these people tried to seize Jesus. Perhaps they talked about it together and made plans that did not succeed. Perhaps it did not refer to an official arrest by police or other authorities.

7:30b

but no one laid a hand on Him: The conjunction but introduces something unexpected: although the men tried to arrest Jesus, they could not do it. The phrase laid a hand on means “touched” or “grabbed.” So the men were not able to touch or grab Jesus. Here is another way to translate 7:30a–b:

The Jews tried to arrest him but couldn’t (God’s Word)

laid a hand on Him: This clause refers to arresting or seizing someone, probably using violence. Even though the men tried to arrest Jesus, they were not successful at this point.

7:30c

because His hour had not yet come: The conjunction because introduces the reason why the people could not arrest Jesus then. It was not the right moment or hour for him to be arrested. See the note on 2:4b and 7:6a.

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