The Meaning of John 7:53 Explained

John 7:53

KJV: And every man went unto his own house.

YLT: and each one went on to his house, but Jesus went on to the mount of the Olives.

Darby: And every one went to his home.

ASV: And they went every man unto his own house:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  every man  went  unto  his own  house. 

What does John 7:53 Mean?

Study Notes

and every man
John 7:53 to John 8:11 ; is not found in some of the most ancient manuscripts. Augustine declares that it was stricken from many copies of the sacred story because of a prudish fear that it might teach immorality! But the immediate context John 7:12-46 beginning with Christ's declaration, "I am the light of the world." seems clearly to have its occasion in the conviction wrought in the hearts of the Pharisees, as recorded in; John 7:9 ; as also, it explains the peculiar virulence of the Pharisee's words ( John 7:41 ).

Verse Meaning

This verse suggests that the story that follows was originally the continuation of another narrative. "Everyone" apparently refers to people at a gathering in Jerusalem. This could refer to the Sanhedrin and the officers mentioned in John 7:45-52. However it could also refer to other people on a different occasion.
The textual authenticity of this pericope is highly questionable. Most ancient Greek manuscripts dating before the sixth century do not contain it. However, over900 ancient manuscripts do contain it including the important early Song of Solomon -called Western text (uncial D). We have about24 ,000 ancient manuscripts of the New Testament or parts of it. This number, by the way, contrasts strongly with the number of early copies of the writings of other ancient writers. For example, we have about643copies of the writings of Homer, 8 of Herodotus, 9 of Euripides, 8 of Thucydides, 7 of Plato, 49 of Aristotle, and20 of Tacitus. Furthermore, the earliest copy of the New Testament that we have dates about125 years after its composition whereas the earliest copy of one of the extrabiblical writings referred to above dates about400 years after its composition.
None of the church fathers or early commentators referred to this story in their comments on this Gospel. Instead they passed from John 7:52 right on to John 8:12. Several later manuscripts identify it as special by using an asterisk or obelus at its beginning and ending. An obelus is a straight horizontal stroke either simple or with a dot above and another below it. Writers of ancient manuscripts used obeli to mark a spurious, corrupt, doubtful, or superfluous word or passage. Some old copies have this pericope after John 7:36 or John 7:44 or John 21:25 or Luke 21:38. Its expressions and constructions are more similar to Luke"s writings than they are to John"s. [1]
"This entire section, John 7:53 to John 8:11, traditionally known as the pericope adulterae, is not contained in the earliest and best MSS [2] and was almost certainly not an original part of the Gospel of John. Among modern commentators and textual critics, it is a foregone conclusion that the section is not original but represents a later addition to the text of the Gospel." [2]
The event described here may have occurred, though the passage may represent a conflation of two different accounts (cf. John 21:25). [4] Perhaps it was a piece of oral tradition that later scribes inserted here to illustrate the sinfulness of the Jewish leaders (cf. John 7:24; John 8:15; John 8:46).
"It may be accepted as historical truth; but based on the information we now have, it was probably not a part of the original text." [5]
Then did the Holy Spirit inspire it? Probably He did not. It is similar to some of the apocryphal stories, which some Christian traditions accept as inspired but which others do not. How should the modern Christian use this story? Some expositors do not preach or teach the passage publicly because they believe it is uninspired. However other Christians disagree and accept it as equally authoritative as the rest of Scripture. Roman Catholics accept it because it was in Jerome"s Latin Vulgate translation (late fourth century A.D.), which they regard as authoritative.
If I do not believe it was part of the inspired text of John"s Gospel, why have I bothered to expound it below? I have done so because most English Bibles contain this pericope, and many Christians have questions about it. It is possible that, though not a part of John"s original Gospel, the Holy Spirit inspired it, though this view has problems connected with it.

Context Summary

John 7:40-53 - The Blindness Of Prejudice
These short descriptions of the impressions made on His hearers by the discourses of Jesus indicate the double development which was resulting from His ministry. Those in favor spoke of the Prophet and the Christ. Compare John 1:21; John 6:14. Others raised objections, John 7:41-42. Others again desired to take action, John 7:44.
Though it was a holy day, the Sanhedrin was in session to receive the report of their officers. These, by their candid statement, unconsciously passed a strange criticism on the religious speakers to whom they were wont to listen. Compare John 7:48 with John 7:50 and John 3:1-36.
How greatly Nicodemus had grown since his night-visit to Jesus! And he was to advance still further, John 19:39. The appeal to history was apparently true. Jonah is the only prophet who might have been quoted as an apparent exception, but he may only have been a resident in Galilee when the summons came to him. The reasoning of John 7:52, however, was not conclusive. Even if none had arisen, it was the more likely that the Divine Spirit should choose the most humble origin; and the one most in keeping with the peasant-birth of the manger-bed. [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

What do the individual words in John 7:53 mean?

And went each to the home of him
Καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ

ἐπορεύθησαν  went 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.
ἕκαστος  each 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἕκαστος  
Sense: each, every.
οἶκον  home 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.

What are the major concepts related to John 7:53?

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