Yochanan 7:51

51 Surely Torateinu (Our Torah) judges not the Man unless it hears first from the Man himself and has da’as of what he does, does it? [Dt 1:16; 17:6; Ex 23:1]

Yochanan 7:51 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:51

Doth our law judge any man
Or condemn any man; or can any man be lawfully condemned:

before it hear him:
what he has to say for himself; is this the usual process in our courts? or is this a legal one to condemn a man unheard?

and know what he doth?
what his crimes are. This he said, having a secret respect for Christ, though he had not courage enough openly to appear for him.

Yochanan 7:51 In-Context

49 But this am ha’aretz crowd has no da’as of Torah and is cursed. [DEVARIM 27:26]

50 Rav Nakdimon, the one having come to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach earlier, being one of their own, says to them,

51 Surely Torateinu (Our Torah) judges not the Man unless it hears first from the Man himself and has da’as of what he does, does it? [Dt 1:16; 17:6; Ex 23:1]

52 They answered and said to Rav Nakdimon, Surely not you also are from the Galil, are you? Search [the Kitvei Hakodesh] and see that from the Galil a Navi does not arise. [T.N. but cf 2Kgs 14:25; Isa 9:1,2]

53 And they went each one to his bais.