John 7:51

51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

John 7:51 in Other Translations

51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

51 "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"

51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.

51 "Does our Law decide about a man's guilt without first listening to him and finding out what he is doing?"

51 Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?

51 "Do Moses' Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person's side of the story? We can't judge a person without finding out what that person has done."

51 "Our law doesn't judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he's doing, does it?"

51 "Does our law find someone guilty without hearing him first? Doesn't it want to find out what he is doing?"

John 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.

John 7:51 In-Context

49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked,

51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

53 Then they all went home,