The crowd here is arguing that because they think they know Jesus's human origins (his parents, his hometown), he can't be the Messiah. But their reasoning flips into a profound misunderstanding: they're arguing that the Messiah should have a mysterious origin, completely missing that Jesus’s miraculous conception and divine source is that mysterious origin they're looking for.
But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Some people in the crowd at the temple are discussing Jesus, aware that the authorities want to arrest him but confused because he's speaking openly. They then use a supposed prophetic clue to dismiss Jesus, arguing that while they know Jesus's humble origins, the true Messiah's background will be a mystery. This immediately leads Jesus to directly challenge their flawed understanding and proclaim his divine origin.
The crowd is arguing about Jesus. Some are wondering if he's the Messiah, but others quickly dismiss the idea. Their main argument? They think they know exactly where Jesus comes from.
The people in John 7:27 are using a common (though flawed) understanding of Messianic prophecy to reject Jesus.
Their Logic:
This highlights how easily people can use selective interpretations of Scripture to justify their unbelief. They focused on one aspect of prophecy (an unknown origin) while ignoring others, and used their 'certainty' about Jesus' humble background as a reason to reject him.
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But Jesus doesn't let this flawed reasoning stand. He overhears their debate and steps in, directly addressing their misunderstanding of his origins.
Jesus’ response in the temple, though not fully quoted in this specific verse, is a powerful refutation of the crowd's argument.
The Divine Perspective:
This reveals a core tension in Jesus' ministry: people judged him based on his human appearance and known earthly connections, failing to grasp his divine identity and mission. His origin wasn't just a matter of family lineage, but of divine sending.
Understand the original words
ekraxen · Greek Verb
To make public, preach, or declare a message with boldness and authority. It often implies a herald announcing a royal or divine proclamation.
alethinos · Greek Adjective
In a biblical context, truth refers to that which is real, genuine, and reliable. It is an essential attribute of God, meaning He is faithful to His word, His character, and His promises.
The crowd's statement reflects a common Jewish expectation that the Messiah's immediate origin would be mysterious or unknown, contrasting with their 'known' earthly family of Jesus. This highlights how their preconceived notions, rather than the evidence before them, blinded many to Jesus' identity.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophecies of Messiah's Coming
Prophets like Isaiah and Daniel foretold the coming of a Messiah, with some passages hinting at a mysterious or divine origin, and others pointing to a specific lineage and birthplace (e.g., Bethlehem). These prophecies created complex expectations about the Messiah's identity and arrival.
c. 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Jewish Messianic Expectations
During this period, Jewish hopes for a Messiah were high, often colored by political and religious circumstances. Beliefs varied, but many expected a powerful, divinely appointed leader who would restore Israel. Some traditions suggested the Messiah's immediate parentage might be unknown or mysterious.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus preached, taught, and performed miracles throughout Galilee and Judea, drawing large crowds but also facing increasing opposition from religious authorities who questioned His claims and origins.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Teaches in the Jerusalem Temple
Jesus boldly taught in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, sparking debate among the crowds and challenging the religious leaders. His familiar earthly origins (son of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth) were well-known to many, contrasting with their vague, and sometimes contradictory, ideas about the Messiah's mysterious coming.
This passage speaks of the Messiah being 'cut off from the land of the living' and his 'generation' – his origin and lineage – being unknown, directly echoing the crowd's reasoning in John 7:27.
Daniel 7:13The vision of 'one like a son of man' coming with the clouds of heaven suggests a divine and mysterious origin for the Messiah, contrasting sharply with the 'known' human lineage that the objectors in John 7 were fixated on.
John 7:41-42This passage immediately follows, showing the crowd's own knowledge that the Christ was to come from Bethlehem and the line of David, highlighting their selective use of Scripture to reject Jesus based on his perceived 'known' origin.
John 1:14The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us reveals the profound mystery of God taking on human form. This verse in John 1 speaks to the divine origin that is ultimately 'unknown' in its full scope, despite Jesus living as a man.
Luke 1:35The miraculous conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit explains the divine and mysterious element of his origin, which is precisely what the objectors in John 7 missed because they focused only on his human parentage.
vincentJohn 7:27: "Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is."
Howbeit (ἀλλὰ)But, it cannot be that the rulers have made such a discovery, for we know whence this man is.We know (οἴδαμεν)The knowing of the rulers is expressed by ἔγνωσαν; have they ascertained by searching and watching. The people's knowledge, οἴδαμεν, is that of settled conviction.Whence (πόθεν)Referring to His parentage and family.No one knoweth whence He isOpinions differ as…
jfbJohn 7:27: "Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is."
- Howbeit we know this man, &c.—This seems to refer to some current opinion that Messiah's origin would be mysterious (not altogether wrong), from which they concluded that Jesus could not be He, since they knew all about His family at Nazareth.
The crowd here is arguing that because they think they know Jesus's human origins (his parents, his hometown), he can't be the Messiah. But their reasoning flips into a profound misunderstanding: they're arguing that the Messiah should have a mysterious origin, completely missing that Jesus’s miraculous conception and divine source is that mysterious origin they're looking for.
Some people in the crowd at the temple are discussing Jesus, aware that the authorities want to arrest him but confused because he's speaking openly. They then use a supposed prophetic clue to dismiss Jesus, arguing that while they know Jesus's humble origins, the true Messiah's background will be a mystery. This immediately leads Jesus to directly challenge their flawed understanding and proclaim his divine origin.
Some people in the crowd at the temple are discussing Jesus, aware that the authorities want to arrest him but confused because he's speaking openly. They then use a supposed prophetic clue to dismiss Jesus, arguing that while they know Jesus's humble origins, the true Messiah's background will be a mystery. This immediately leads Jesus to directly challenge their flawed understanding and proclaim his divine origin.
"But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord.…" — The crowd here is arguing that because they think they know Jesus's human origins (his parents, his hometown), he can't be the Messiah. But their reasoning flips into a profound misunderstanding: t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
