At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The mention of "winter" here isn't just about the weather; it highlights Jesus seeking shelter in Solomon's Porch precisely because it was a harsh, unpleasant season. This sets the stage for the intense confrontation that follows, where Jesus stands exposed metaphorically by hostile crowds, even as he finds physical cover.
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, a winter festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple after its desecration. He's walking in Solomon's Porch, a sheltered area within the Temple complex, when a group of Jews confronts Him, demanding a plain answer about His identity. This encounter follows earlier debates and growing opposition to Jesus' claims and actions.
The Feast of Dedication wasn't a holiday from the Old Testament. It celebrated a dramatic moment of reclaiming what was lost.
This feast, also known as Hanukkah, commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was defiled. It was instituted by Judas Maccabeus to remember God's faithfulness in restoring His place of worship after a period of oppression and desecration. It's a celebration of renewal and God's power to bring life back to what seems ruined.
Why mention the weather? Jesus sought shelter, but not just from the cold – He was in a place of spiritual winter and opposition.
The mention of 'it was winter' isn't just a detail of the season. It paints a picture of the spiritual climate. Jerusalem was cold, perhaps stormy, and Jesus found himself walking in Solomon's Porch, seeking cover. This setting highlights the hostility Jesus faced from the Jewish leaders. Despite the external cold and internal opposition, Jesus continued to teach and minister, finding a sheltered place for truth to be shared amidst a frozen religious climate.
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enkainia · Greek Noun
An annual Jewish festival (Hanukkah) commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 164 B.C. after its defilement by Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
hierō · Greek Noun
The central place of worship for Israel, where God’s presence dwelt among His people; it represents the intersection of the divine and the earthly.
This verse places Jesus' ministry within the context of the Feast of Dedication, a festival celebrating the rededication of the Temple after its defilement. This historical backdrop intensifies the confrontation, as Jesus' claims of unity with the Father are viewed as blasphemy against the very Temple being celebrated.
c. 167 BC
Temple Profaned
Antiochus Epiphanes, a Seleucid king, defiled the Jerusalem Temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar and suppressing Jewish religious practices.
c. 164 BC
Temple Purified and Rededicated
Judas Maccabeus led a successful revolt, cleansing the Temple and rededicating it to God, an event commemorated by the Feast of Dedication.
c. 20 December— this verse
Feast of Dedication Begins
The eight-day festival, also known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights, begins in Jerusalem.
Winter (during the Feast)
Jesus in Jerusalem
Jesus walks in Solomon's Porch in the Temple to escape the winter weather, where He is confronted by hostile Jewish leaders.
Winter (during the Feast)
Confrontation and Accusation
Jewish leaders challenge Jesus, who declares His unity with the Father, leading them to accuse Him of blasphemy and attempt to stone Him.
This passage describes the rededication of the Temple after its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes, which is the historical event commemorated by the Feast of Dedication mentioned in John.
Jesus quotes this Psalm ('I said, “You are gods, you are all sons of the Most High.”') to respond to the Jews' accusation of blasphemy for calling Himself the Son of God, highlighting that even in their scriptures, individuals were called 'gods' in a certain sense.
John 1:14This verse states that 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' paralleling Jesus' presence in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication as the 'renewal' or 'dedication' of God's presence among His people, not just in a building.
Hebrews 9:23The passage speaks of heavenly things needing to be purified with sacrifices, contrasting with the earthly tabernacle. Jesus' presence and actions during the Feast of Dedication point to a greater, heavenly reality of dedication and cleansing.
John 10:30Immediately following this verse, Jesus declares, 'I and the Father are one.' This highlights the profound theological dispute occurring during the Feast of Dedication, where Jesus' claims to unity with the Father led to accusations of blasphemy.
expositorsJohn 10:22: "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter."
Chapter 22JESUS, SON OF GOD. “And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: it was winter; and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s porch. The Jews therefore came round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost Thou hold us in suspense? If Thou art the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me…
bensonJohn 10:22: "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter."
John 10:22-23 . And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication — Or, as εγενετο δε τα εγκαινια may be rendered, Now the feast of dedication came on at Jerusalem: for it does not appear that the preceding discourses, from John 7:14 , were delivered at this feast, but at the feast of tabernacles. Dr. Campbell reads, Once, when they were celebrating the feast of dedication, it being winter, as Jesus walked,…
The mention of "winter" here isn't just about the weather; it highlights Jesus seeking shelter in Solomon's Porch precisely because it was a harsh, unpleasant season. This sets the stage for the intense confrontation that follows, where Jesus stands exposed metaphorically by hostile crowds, even as he finds physical cover.
Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, a winter festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple after its desecration. He's walking in Solomon's Porch, a sheltered area within the Temple complex, when a group of Jews confronts Him, demanding a plain answer about His identity. This encounter follows earlier debates and growing opposition to Jesus' claims and actions.
Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, a winter festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple after its desecration. He's walking in Solomon's Porch, a sheltered area within the Temple complex, when a group of Jews confronts Him, demanding a plain answer about His identity. This encounter follows earlier debates and growing opposition to Jesus' claims and actions.
"At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon." — The mention of "winter" here isn't just about the weather; it highlights Jesus seeking shelter in Solomon's Porch precisely because it was a harsh, unpleasant season. This sets the stage for the inte…
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Last reviewed October 2026