John 7:12

12 And among the crowds there was much whispering about him. Some said, "He's a good man"; but others said, "No, he is deceiving the masses."

John 7:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:12

And there was much murmuring among the people concerning
him
There was a general whisper, and a private controversy and contention among the people about him, upon inquiry being made after him:

for some said he is a good man;
a man of a good principle, of a good life and conversation; and who is good, kind, and beneficent, both to the bodies and souls of men; preaches good doctrine, and does many good things:

others said: nay,
or denied him to be a good man:

but he deceiveth the people;
drawing them off from the law of Moses, teaching them to break the sabbath, setting himself up for the Messiah, and asserting himself to be the son of God.

John 7:12 In-Context

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the festival, he too went up, not publicly but in secret.
11 At the festival, the Judeans were looking for him. "Where is he?" they asked.
12 And among the crowds there was much whispering about him. Some said, "He's a good man"; but others said, "No, he is deceiving the masses."
13 However, no one spoke about him openly, for fear of the Judeans.
14 Not until the festival was half over did Yeshua go up to the Temple courts and begin to teach.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.