John 7:22

“For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man.”
John 7:22 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

For this reasonδιὰ τοῦτοMosesΜωϋσῆςhas givenδέδωκενyouὑμῖνcircumcisionτὴν περιτομήν(notοὐχthatὅτιit isἐστὶνfromἐκMoses,τοῦ Μωϋσέωςbutἀλλ’fromἐκthe fathers),τῶν πατέρωνandκαὶonἐνthe Sabbathσαββάτῳyou circumciseπεριτέμνετεa man.ἄνθρωπον

Theme · Genesis 17:10

Go to Genesis 17:10

Jesus says that circumcision comes “from the fathers”; in Genesis 17:10 God commands it to Abraham as the sign of the covenant.

The same term appears in both passages.

περιτομήνperitomēnG4061הִמּוֹלhimolH4135“circumcision”

Circumcisionמוּל / περιτομήמול peritomē

The cutting of the foreskin of males. Genesis 17:10-12 gives it to Abraham as the sign of the covenant, on the eighth day after birth; Leviticus 12:3 commands it for Israel. Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6 also speak of circumcising the heart.

See it in the glossary

Theme · Leviticus 12:3

Go to Leviticus 12:3

Leviticus 12:3 commands circumcision on the eighth day; in John 7:22-23 Jesus recalls that it is done even on the Sabbath.

The same term appears in both passages.

περιτέμνετεperitemneteG4059יִמּוֹלyimolH4135“circumcise”

Circumcisionמוּל / περιτομήמול peritomē

See it in the glossary

John 7:22, word by word

MosesΜωϋσῆςMōysēs

Moses

Moses, who led Israel out of Egypt and received God's law.

Where else “Mōysēs” appears

has givenδέδωκενdedōken

give

To hand something to another freely, as a gift.

Where else “dedōken” appears

circumcisionπεριτομήνperitomēn

circumcision

The sign of the covenant with Abraham, a cut in the male's skin.

Where else “peritomēn” appears

it isἐστὶνestin

To be: says who or what something is.

Where else “estin” appears

the fathers)πατέρωνpaterōn

forefather

An ancestor: Abraham as the founder of the family.

Where else “paterōn” appears

the Sabbathσαββάτῳsabbatōi

Sabbath

The seventh day, a rest for God.

Where else “sabbatōi” appears

you circumciseπεριτέμνετεperitemnete

circumcise

Circumcise.

Where else “peritemnete” appears

a manἄνθρωπονanthrōpon

someone

Any person, without saying who, as in the parables.

Where else “anthrōpon” appears

Translation note

Circumcision goes back to Abraham (Genesis 17:10-12); the law commands it on the eighth day (Leviticus 12:3), even when that falls on the Sabbath.

The context

21Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you are all amazed.

22 · This verse (above)

23If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole man well on the Sabbath?

Read all of John 7

To study John 7 in a group

1. What it says
At the festival, what do the people think of Jesus, and what do the guards sent to arrest him say? (vv. 12, 40-46)
2. What it means
Jesus says, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (v. 37). What does he promise the one who believes in him? (vv. 37-39)
3. How I live it
Nicodemus asked that Jesus be heard before being judged (v. 51). When is it wise for you to listen first before forming an opinion about someone?

How to use it