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John 7:20

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 7:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?
John 7:20 — American Standard Version

Context — John 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from myself.
18He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?
20The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?
21Jesus answered and said unto them, I did one work, and ye all marvel because thereof.
22Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man.
23If a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit whole on the sabbath?
← John 7:19John 7:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The people answered and said, etc.] These seem to be the country people, who came from Galilee and other parts, who knew nothing of the designs of the Jerusalem Jews upon him; nor were they his downright enemies at least, but rather seemed to favour him, and were on his side, though greatly provoked to hear him talk after this manner: thou hast a devil; or art possessed with one; thou talkest like one of the demoniacs, like a madman, one beside thyself; whom the devil has so much power over, and has so deprived of thy senses, that thou knowest not what thou sayest: who goeth about to kill thee? no man; for they could not believe that any man, or body of men, would be so wicked, as to attempt…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The people answered, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?--This was said by the multitude, who as yet had no bad feeling to Jesus, and were not in the secret of the plot hatching, as our Lord knew, against Him.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The people - Perhaps some of the people who were not aware of the designs of the rulers. Thou hast a devil - Thou art deranged or mad. See John 10:20. As they saw no effort to kill him, and as they were ignorant of the designs of the rulers, they supposed that this was the effect of derangement. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The people answered, Thou hast a devil - A lying spirit. Who seeketh to kill thee? - These, coming from distant parts, probably did not know the design of the priests and rulers. John 7:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:20 You’re demon possessed! See 8:48-52; 10:20-21.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Thou: Joh 8:48, Joh 8:52, Joh 10:20; Mat 10:25, Mat 11:18, Mat 11:19, Mat 12:24; Mar 3:21, Mar 3:22, Mar 3:30; Act 26:24 John 7:21”
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Related study paths

Read John 7 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification