John 7:51
49 But this crowd that does not know the law, they are under a curse.”
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who himself was one of them, asked,
“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
52 “Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”
53 Then each went to his own home.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
- KJV
- Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
- WEB
- “Does our law judge a man unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”
- ASV
- Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?
- DARBY
- Does our law judge a man before it have first heard from himself, and know what he does?
- BLB
- “Does our law judge the man unless it should first hear from him and know what he does?”
- ÅB
- Vår lov dømmer da vel ikke noen uten at de først har hørt ham og fått vite hva han har gjort?
- OTB
- «Fordømmer vår lov en mann uten først å høre ham og finne ut hva han har gjort?»
- B1930
- Vår lov dømmer da vel ikke nogen uten at de først har hørt ham og fått vite hvad han har gjort?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 1:17
Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”
Read in contextActs 23:3
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 19:15–19
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 17:8–11
If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 17:6
On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.
Read in context