John 7:51

51 "Our law does not condemn a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, [does it]?"

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 But this crowd who does not know the law is accursed!"

50 Nicodemus, the one who came to him previously--who was one of them--said to them,

51 "Our law does not condemn a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, [does it]?"

52 They answered and said to him, "You are not also from Galilee, [are you]? Investigate and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee!" [[

53 And each one went to his [own] house.

Footnotes

• [a] *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase "[does it]"