Paragraph 7:28–31

Jesus continued teaching in the temple. He declared that he was from God and that he knew God. Some of the people listening were angry and wanted to arrest him, but many others believed that he was the Messiah.

7:28a

Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out: Jesus continued to teach in the temple courtyard. See 7:14.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple… (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out… (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Then Jesus, in the middle of his teaching, called out… (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

still teaching in the temple courts: Jesus continued to teach in the temple. He was not in the main building but in the courtyard. See the notes on 7:14a, b and use the same terms for teaching and temple here and there.

cried out: The Greek verb the Berean Standard Bible translates cried out indicates that Jesus spoke out loudly so that everyone could hear him. In some languages it may be natural to use a different verb. For example:

Jesus proclaimed
-or-
Jesus shouted

7:28b

You know Me, and you know where I am from: There are two ways to interpret this sentence.

(1) It is a rhetorical question with the implied answer that they did not know him or where he came from. For example:

Do you really know me and know where I am from? (Good News Translation)

(Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, ESV07, NET Bible Bible footnote)

(2) It is a statement asserting that the people knew Jesus. For example:

Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, ESV16, NET Bible Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This makes better sense with the context. The rhetorical question indicates that although the people thought that they knew where Jesus was from, they did not know everything. He really came from God, even though he grew up in Nazareth in Galilee. The Good News Translation has therefore been used as the Source Line in the Display.

Here are other ways to translate this rhetorical question:

Do you really think you know me and where I came from? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
So you (plur.) think you know who I am and where I come from.

7:28c

The Greek text of 7:28c begins with a common conjunction that is often translated as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this conjunction. Several translations translate it as “but,” which indicates that the Jews do not know as much as they think that they do. Introduce Jesus’ next statement in a way that is natural in your language.

I have not come of My own accord: Jesus was saying that he did not decide himself to come to the world. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I didn’t decide to come on my own. (God’s Word)
-or-
But I have not come by my own authority. (New Century Version)

of My own accord: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of My own accord means “on my own authority” or “by my own decision.” There is a similar phrase in 7:17c (“speak on my own”), 5:19b (“the Son can do nothing by Himself”), and 5:30a (“I can do nothing by Myself”). See the notes there.

7:28d

but He who sent Me is true: Jesus declared that he came to earth because he was sent by one who was true. Here, true means that God the Father, He who sent Me, is real or genuine.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Rather, I came because he who is real sent me
-or-
but one who is true sent me

but: The conjunction but here indicates a contrast between coming on one’s own and being sent by another. The Greek does not explicitly say, “I have been sent by another,” but it is implied. Be sure that your translation does not indicate a contrast between Jesus and the one who sent him. Jesus was also true. If a literal translation of this conjunction implies that Jesus was not also true, you may need to not translate the conjunction. That is what the New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, and Revised English Bible have done.

He who sent Me: This phrase refers to God. The reaction of the crowd shows that they understood this. If your readers will not understand this, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

⌊God⌋ who sent me here

7:28e

You do not know Him: The pronoun You is plural and refers to the people Jesus was talking to. The pronoun Him refers to God again. The Greek text emphasizes both pronouns. The people knew about God but did not know him well or personally.

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