John 7:41

41 Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?

John 7:41 Meaning and Commentary

John 7:41

Others said, this is the Christ
The true Messiah, which they concluded, not only from the miracles, ( John 7:31 ) , but from his speaking of rivers of living water flowing from him that believes in him; for the same prophecy that speaks of miracles to be performed in the times of the Messiah, speaks also of waters breaking out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert, of the parched ground becoming a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water, ( Isaiah 35:5-7 ) .

But some said, shall Christ come out of Galilee?
as they supposed Jesus did; and because he was educated at Nazareth, and Capernaum was his city, and he chiefly conversed, preached, and wrought his miracles in these parts, they concluded that he was born there; and therefore object this to his being the true Messiah. For if they did not mean this, according to their own accounts, the Messiah was to be in Galilee, and to be first revealed there; for they affirm F9 this in so many words, that (lylgd aerab axyvm aklm ylgty) , "the King Messiah shall be revealed in the land of Galilee"; accordingly Jesus, the true Messiah, as he was brought up in Galilee, though not born there, so he first preached there, and there wrought his first miracle; here he chiefly was, unless at the public feasts; and here he manifested himself to his disciples after his resurrection.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 Zohar in Gen. fol. 74. 3. & in Exod. fol. 3. 3. & 4. 1.

John 7:41 In-Context

39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet."
41 Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?
42 Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?"
43 So there was a division in the crowd because of him.

Footnotes 2

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.