The Meaning of John 7:32 Explained

John 7:32

KJV: The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

YLT: The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers that they may take him;

Darby: The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers that they might take him.

ASV: The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The Pharisees  heard  that the people  murmured  such things  concerning  him;  and  the Pharisees  and  the chief priests  sent  officers  to  take  him. 

What does John 7:32 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Pharisees heard some of the Jews present voicing their belief that Jesus must be the Messiah. These comments moved them to act immediately to arrest Jesus. When the common people turned to Jesus, they turned away from the Pharisees and their teachings. Together with the chief priests, who were mainly Sadducees and not friendly to the Pharisees, they ordered the temple soldiers to seize Jesus. This attempt illustrates the seriousness of the situation as the authorities viewed it. Probably the arrest warrant came from the Sanhedrin. The temple police were Levites responsible to the Sanhedrin.

Context Summary

John 7:32-39 - A Spring Of Life-Giving Water
"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." The truth of that saying clearly appears in the earlier part of this section. When the Lord spoke of returning to the Father His hearers supposed that He was proposing to visit the Jews of the Dispersion. But how profound are these words of promise to those who come to Him! He is not content with speaking of a river. He uses the plural-rivers shall flow from Him. Add stream to stream, torrent to torrent, river to river, and these will barely suffice to set forth the freshness and abundance of life that shall proceed from the soul that previously had been thirsty for its own personal supply.
When our Lord ascended he received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, and then a new era broke on the world. The life of the believer was no longer only an imitation of obedience. It was the uprising and outpouring of the Holy Spirit from within. We become strengthened with might in the inner man and Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. Thereupon we not only are infilled of the Spirit, but it is His gracious ministry to mankind through us that makes the desert rejoice and blossom. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 7

1  Jesus reproves the ambition and boldness of his kinsmen;
10  goes up from Galilee to the feast of tabernacles;
14  teaches in the temple
40  Various opinions of him among the people
45  The Pharisees are angry that their officers took him not,
50  and chide with Nicodemus for taking his side

Greek Commentary for John 7:32

The Pharisees [οι Παρισαιοι]
This group of the Jewish rulers (John 7:11, John 7:15, John 7:25.) was particularly hostile to Christ, though already the Sadducees had become critical (Matthew 16:6) and they join here First aorist active indicative of ακουω — akouō with the genitive case and the descriptive participle of the vivid onomatopoetic verb γογγυζω — gogguzō (John 7:12) now grown louder like the hum of bees. It was the defense of Jesus by a portion of the crowd (John 7:31) that irritated the Pharisees. Here the Pharisees take the initiative and enlist the Sadducees in the Sanhedrin (for this combination see John 7:45; John 11:47, John 11:57; Matthew 21:45; Matthew 27:62, the organized court) to send “officers” For υπηρετας — hupēretas (temple police here) see John 7:45; John 18:3, John 18:12, John 18:22; John 19:6; Acts 5:22, Acts 5:26. For the word see Matthew 5:25; Luke 1:2, “an under rower” (υπο ερετης — hupo class="translit"> eretēs), any assistant. [source]
Officers [ὑπηρέτας]
See on Matthew 5:25; see on Luke 1:2. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 7:32

Luke 6:38 Pressed down [πεπιεσμενον]
Perfect passive participle from πιεζω — piezō old verb, but here alone in the N.T., though the Doric form πιαζω — piazō to seize, occurs several times (John 7:30, John 7:32, John 7:44). [source]
John 10:39 Again []
Pointing back to John 7:30, John 7:32, John 7:44, where the word πιάσαι , to seize, is found. [source]
John 11:47 Gathered a council [συνηγαγον συνεδριον]
Second aorist active indicative of συναγω — sunagō and συνεδριον — sunedrion the regular word for the Sanhedrin (Matthew 5:22, etc.), only here in John. Here a sitting or session of the Sanhedrin. Both chief priests (Sadducees) and Pharisees (mentioned no more in John after John 7:47 save John 12:19, John 12:42) combine in the call (cf. John 7:32). From now on the chief priests (Sadducees) take the lead in the attacks on Jesus, though loyally supported by their opponents (the Pharisees). And said Imperfect active of λεγω — legō perhaps inchoative, “began to say.” What do we? Present active (linear) indicative of ποιεω — poieō Literally, “What are we doing?” Doeth Better, “is doing” (present, linear action). He is active and we are idle. There is no mention of the raising of Lazarus as a fact, but it is evidently included in the “many signs.” [source]
John 12:10 The chief priests took counsel [εβουλευσαντο οι αρχιερεις]
First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω — bouleuō old verb, seen already in John 11:53 which see. The whole Sanhedrin (John 7:32) had decided to put Jesus to death and had asked for information concerning him (John 11:57) that might lead to his arrest, but the Sadducees were specially active now to accomplish the death of Lazarus also Perhaps they argued that, if they should kill both Jesus and Lazarus, then Lazarus would remain dead. The raising of Lazarus has brought matters to a crisis. Incidentally, it may be observed that here we may see the reason why the Synoptics do not tell the story of the raising of Lazarus, if he was still living (cf. the case of Malchus‘s name in John 18:10). [source]
John 7:12 Much murmuring [γογγυσμος πολυς]
This Ionic onomatopoetic word is from γογγυζω — gogguzō for which verb see John 6:41, John 6:61; John 7:32, for secret displeasure (Acts 6:1) or querulous discontent (Philemon 2:14). Among the multitudes “The multitudes” literally, plural here only in John. These different groups were visitors from Galilee and elsewhere and were divided in their opinion of Jesus as the Galileans had already become (John 6:66). A good man Pure in motive. See Mark 10:17.; Romans 5:7 (absolute sense of God). Superior to δικαιος — dikaios Jesus had champions in these scattered groups in the temple courts. Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
John 7:20 The multitude [ο οχλος]
Outside of Jerusalem (the Galilean crowd as in John 7:11.) and so unfamiliar with the effort to kill Jesus recorded in John 5:18. It is important in this chapter to distinguish clearly the several groups like the Jewish leaders (John 7:13, John 7:15, John 7:25, John 7:26, John 7:30, John 7:32, etc.), the multitude from Galilee and elsewhere (John 7:10-13, John 7:20, John 7:31, John 7:40, John 7:49), the common people of Jerusalem (John 7:25), the Roman soldiers (John 7:45.). Thou hast a devil “Demon,” of course, as always in the Gospels. These pilgrims make the same charge against Jesus made long ago by the Pharisees in Jerusalem in explanation of the difference between John and Jesus (Matthew 11:18; Luke 7:33). It is an easy way to make a fling like that. “He is a monomaniac labouring under a hallucination that people wish to kill him” (Dods). [source]
John 7:35 Among themselves [προς εαυτους]
These Jewish leaders of John 7:32 talk among themselves about what Jesus said in a spirit of contempt (this man or fellow, ουτος — houtos). That Almost result like οτι — hoti in Matthew 8:27. Will he go? Negative answer expected in an ironical question, “Is he about to go?” Unto the Dispersion among the Greeks Objective genitive των ελληνων — tōn Hellēnōn (of the Greeks) translated here “among,” because it is the Dispersion of Jews among the Greeks. Διασπορα — Diaspora is from διασπειρω — diaspeirō to scatter apart (Acts 8:1, Acts 8:4). It occurs in Plutarch and is common in the lxx, in the N.T. only here, James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1. There were millions of these scattered Jews. And teach the Greeks Confessing his failure to teach the Jews in Palestine, “thus ignorantly anticipating the course Christianity took; what seemed unlikely and impossible to them became actual” (Dods). [source]
John 8:37 Yet ye seek to kill me [αλλα ζητειτε με αποκτειναι]
As at the recent feast (John 7:20, John 7:25, John 7:30, John 7:32; John 8:20). Some of these very professed believers were even now glowering with murderous vengeance. Hath not free course in you Intransitive use of χωρεω — chōreō old verb from χωρος — chōros (space, place), to have space or room for. They would not abide in Christ‘s word (John 8:31). They had no longer room for his word when once they understood the spiritual aspect of his message. Jerusalem was now just like Galilee once before (John 6:60-66). [source]
John 9:22 Because they feared the Jews [οτι εποβουντο τους Ιουδαιους]
Imperfect middle, a continuing fear and not without reason. See note on the whispers about Jesus because of fear of the Jews (John 7:13). Had agreed already Past perfect middle of συντιτημι — suntithēmi to put together, to form a compact (John 7:32, John 7:47-49). If any man should confess him to be Christ Condition of third class with εαν — ean and first aorist active subjunctive of ομολογεω — homologeō and predicate accusative Χριστον — Christon Jesus had made confession of himself before men the test of discipleship and denial the disproof (Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8). We know that many of the rulers nominally believed on Jesus (John 12:42) and yet “did not confess him because of the Pharisees” Small wonder then that here the parents cowered a bit. That he should be put out of the synagogue Sub-final use of ινα — hina with second aorist middle subjunctive of γινομαι — ginomai Αποσυναγωγος — Aposunagōgos (απο — apo and συναγωγη — sunagōgē) is found in N.T. only here and John 12:42; John 16:2. A purely Jewish word naturally. There were three kinds of excommunication (for thirty days, for thirty more, indefinitely). [source]
1 John 2:2 For the sins of the whole world [περὶ ὅλου τοῦ κόσμου]
The sins of (A. V., italicized) should be omitted; as in Revelation, for the whole world. Compare 1 John 4:14; John 4:42; John 7:32. “The propitiation is as wide as the sin” (Bengel). If men do not experience its benefit, the fault is not in its efficacy. Düsterdieck (cited by Huther) says, “The propitiation has its real efficacy for the whole world; to believers it brings life, to unbelievers death.” Luther: “It is a patent fact that thou too art a part of the whole world; so that thine heart cannot deceive itself, and think, the Lord died for Peter and Paul, but not for me.” On κόσμου see on John 1:9. [source]

What do the individual words in John 7:32 mean?

Heard the Pharisees the crowd murmuring about Him these things and sent chief priests officers that they might seize Him
Ἤκουσαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι τοῦ ὄχλου γογγύζοντος περὶ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα καὶ ἀπέστειλαν ἀρχιερεῖς ὑπηρέτας ἵνα πιάσωσιν αὐτόν

Ἤκουσαν  Heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
Φαρισαῖοι  Pharisees 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: Φαρισαῖος  
Sense: A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile.
ὄχλου  crowd 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
γογγύζοντος  murmuring 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: γογγύζω  
Sense: to murmur, mutter, grumble, say anything against in a low tone.
περὶ  about 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀπέστειλαν  sent 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀποστέλλω 
Sense: to order (one) to go to a place appointed.
ἀρχιερεῖς  chief  priests 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρχιερεύς  
Sense: chief priest, high priest.
ὑπηρέτας  officers 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑπηρέτης  
Sense: servant.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
πιάσωσιν  they  might  seize 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πιάζω  
Sense: to lay hold of.