Paragraph 7:6–9
Jesus told his brothers that this was not the right time for him to go to Jerusalem.
7:6a
Therefore Jesus told them: In the Greek text this expression connects to the previous sentence with a conjunction that is often translated “therefore.” It introduces Jesus’ response to his brothers. Jesus explained to them why he did not want to go to Jerusalem at that time. Here are other ways to translate this expression:
So Jesus replied (NET Bible Bible)
Although your time is always at hand: This clause could indicate that Jesus’ brothers could go to the festival any time they wanted. Or it could indicate that in general it did not matter when they did things.
Here are other ways to translate this clause:
for you any time is the right time (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Any time is right for you. (Good News Translation)
your: The pronoun your refers to Jesus’ brothers and is plural.
7:6b
My time has not yet come: This clause indicates that this was not the right time for Jesus to act. See the note on the similar phrase “My hour has not yet come” at 2:4b. Jesus rejected his brothers’ suggestion that he should go to Judea at that time and show himself to the world.
The words My time could refer to his time to go to Judea, his time to die, or his time to reveal that he was the Messiah. The text does not explain what Jesus meant by My time, so it is recommended that you do not explain it either.
Here are other ways to translate this clause:
My time has not yet arrived (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
It is not yet the right time for me. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
My time: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as time here refers to a moment in time, the correct moment for an action, an opportunity.
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
The right time for me (NIV93)
has not yet come: In some languages it is not possible to talk of time as “coming.” Instead it may be possible to say:
is not now
-or-
is not yet here (New International Version (2011))
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