The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
When Jesus spoke of raising "this temple" in three days, the Jewish leaders immediately scoffed, focusing on the immense forty-six years already poured into Herod's grand building project. Their response reveals they understood his words literally and couldn't fathom such a feat, demonstrating how easily faith can be overshadowed by practical, earthly calculations when confronted with the seemingly impossible.
The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus cleansed the temple, the Jewish leaders challenged him, demanding a sign to prove his authority. Jesus responded cryptically, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to his body. The leaders, misunderstanding him, scoffed, pointing out the massive, ongoing construction of the actual temple which had already taken 46 years.
Jesus declared he could rebuild the temple in three days. The religious leaders were shocked, thinking he meant the massive stone structure. But Jesus was talking about something far more profound.
The True Temple
Jesus' statement about raising the temple in three days was a profound declaration about his own body. While the Jews were focused on the physical building of Herod's Temple, which had been under construction for 46 years, Jesus was speaking of a spiritual reality.
The response from the Jews wasn't just confusion; it was laced with disbelief and contempt. They deliberately twisted Jesus' words to mock His claims.
Deliberate Distortion
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The conversation reveals a stark contrast between Jesus' spiritual message and the Jews' literalistic, critical mindset.
The Jews' scoffing reply highlights their literal-mindedness and resistance to Jesus' authority. By pointing to the 46 years of ongoing construction, they dismiss his claim to rebuild the Temple in three days, unaware he was speaking metaphorically of his own body.
c. 20/19 BC
Herod the Great begins Temple renovation
Herod the Great, aiming to solidify his rule and impress his subjects, begins a massive, ambitious project to renovate and expand the Second Temple complex in Jerusalem.
c. AD 27-28
Tiberius's 15th year begins
The 15th year of Emperor Tiberius's reign, a significant marker for dating events in Jesus' ministry, falls around this time.
c. AD 28— this verse
Passover celebration in Jerusalem
Jesus, around 30 years old, travels to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. It is during this visit that he drives out the money changers and sacrificial animal sellers from the Temple courts.
AD 64
Temple renovation officially completed
Though major work was done earlier, the extensive renovation and expansion project of the Temple, begun by Herod, is finally declared complete under Herod Agrippa II.
This passage echoes Jesus' meaning by calling believers themselves the 'temple of God,' highlighting that Jesus was speaking of his own body, the ultimate dwelling place of God, rather than the physical structure.
1 Corinthians 6:19Similar to 1 Corinthians 3:16, this verse refers to the believer's body as a 'temple of the Holy Spirit,' reinforcing the idea that Jesus was speaking metaphorically about his body, which would be raised in three days.
Matthew 12:6Jesus declares himself 'greater than the temple,' which directly connects to his statement about raising a temple in three days, showing his authority and divine significance over the physical building.
John 10:17-18Jesus states, 'I lay down my life that I may take it up again,' mirroring the resurrection promise he made in John 2 and further emphasizing his unique authority over his own life and death.
John 20:19After Jesus' resurrection, his disciples remembered his words about raising the temple in three days, showing how the event itself served as the ultimate sign and confirmation of his claims.
ellicottJohn 2:20: "Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?"
(20) They profess to seek a sign for evidence; they use it for cavil. Forty and six years was this temple in building.—It is implied that it was not then finished. The date of the completion is given by Josephus (Ant. xx. 9, § 7) as A.D. 64. The same author gives the eighteenth year of the reign of Herod the Great (Nisan 734—Nisan 735, A.U.100) as the commencement of the ren…
barnesJohn 2:20: "Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?"
Then said the Jews ... - The Jews, either from the ambiguity of his language, or more probably from a design to cavil, understood him as speaking of the temple at Jerusalem. What he said here is all the evidence that they could adduce on his trial Matthew 26:61 ; Mark 14:58 , and they reproached him with it when on the cross, Matthew 27:40 . The Jews frequently perverted our…
When Jesus spoke of raising "this temple" in three days, the Jewish leaders immediately scoffed, focusing on the immense forty-six years already poured into Herod's grand building project. Their response reveals they understood his words literally and couldn't fathom such a feat, demonstrating how easily faith can be overshadowed by practical, earthly calculations when confronted with the seemingly impossible.
After Jesus cleansed the temple, the Jewish leaders challenged him, demanding a sign to prove his authority. Jesus responded cryptically, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to his body. The leaders, misunderstanding him, scoffed, pointing out the massive, ongoing construction of the actual temple which had already taken 46 years.
After Jesus cleansed the temple, the Jewish leaders challenged him, demanding a sign to prove his authority. Jesus responded cryptically, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referring to his body. The leaders, misunderstanding him, scoffed, pointing out the massive, ongoing construction of the actual temple which had already taken 46 years.
"The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”" — When Jesus spoke of raising "this temple" in three days, the Jewish leaders immediately scoffed, focusing on the immense forty-six years already poured into Herod's grand building project. Their resp…
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Last reviewed October 2026