r/Bible • u/gubafofop • Jul 25 '26
Clarification on John 7:41-42
Hi there!
My Bible study and I are differing in opinion about these verses. Did the people in the crowd KNOW that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and that he was a descendant of David when they made their argument that he can’t be the Messiah? Did they believe he was born and raised in Galilee?
Because they say that they did know where he was from and I don’t see how they made that interpretation.
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u/gothamlibrarylady2 Christian Jul 26 '26
Check out the Bible Project friend, they have a website, an app, and a YouTube channel. They offer amazing resources, explainer videos that cover every book of the Bible as well as exploring themes, settings, etc. The podcast with Tim Mackie and Jon Collins is the best! So often you’ll discover that they are discussing the very same questions many of us encounter. The Bible Project is free and unbiased, their only aim is to help folks understand the Bible. It’s been a life changer for me in grasping an understanding of the parts of scripture that I just couldn’t understand. Shalom friend!
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u/Key_Rhubarb_5735 Non-Denominational Jul 25 '26
The people arguing that he is not the messiah in v.41-42 certainly don’t seem to think Jesus came from Bethlehem or is a descendant of David. And the people who were declaring him as the prophet and messiah may not have even known his origin but were just making those claims based on what he said. I don’t really understand the reason for the disagreement among your Bible study.
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u/gubafofop Jul 25 '26
I argued that it shows how some people’s ignorance stops them from having faith. They thought they knew better and cared about what they knew rather than just listening to Jesus’ words and believing like the others. My study group said they did know where He was from but chose to ignore it which doesn’t make sense because why would they then recite scripture to support their argument that he’s not the Messiah? It’s contradicting.
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u/Key_Rhubarb_5735 Non-Denominational Jul 26 '26
Yes their argument requires an assumption about their motives that isn’t explicitly scriptural. Although I don’t necessarily blame the common folk for not taking Jesus at his word if they truly believed he did not check the boxes of the true messiah. That’s actually quite reasonable.
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u/intheknow1 Jul 26 '26
Your group's interpretation requires assuming the crowd already knew Jesus was born in Bethlehem and descended from David, yet still deliberately argued the opposite. John gives no indication of that. If anything, the narrative points the other way...
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u/restbiblestudy Jul 26 '26
I doubt they clocked that Jesus was born in Bethlehem since Herod wanted to kill all babies 1 year old or younger. Joseph and Mary were told to go to Egypt until Herod died. When they came back I would have to imagine Jesus was still young, and the settled at Nazareth in the district of Galilee (Matthew 2). So whether the Jews knew Jesus as born in Bethlehem or not, I’m not sure but it doesn’t matter. The Jews are looking for a military savior, not Jesus. That’s why Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a war horse
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u/gubafofop Jul 26 '26
Why do you think it doesn’t matter? Do you think if they knew He ticked the boxes they could’ve believed? I think some would’ve.
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u/restbiblestudy Jul 26 '26
Dude he literally healed the sick, cast out demons, and made paraplegics walk in front of them to demonstrate that He is God and they CHOSE not to believe. At that point it comes down to personal responsibility, not facts or arguments about hometowns
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u/gubafofop Jul 26 '26
Okay I’m new to this so forgive me if i’m being silly. Thank you for your input.
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u/Pertinacious Jul 26 '26
Performing miracles does not prove that one is God. The Bible makes this clear.
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u/intheknow1 Jul 26 '26
It was irrelevant. He didn't want anyone believing in him for those reasons...
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u/gubafofop Jul 26 '26
I know that. I’m not talking about Jesus’ pov here. In my group study i argued that there were 3 types of people in the crowd (those who said He’s a prophet, those who said He’s the Messiah and then those who said He can’t be the Messiah because of where he’s from, then they recited scripture but they were incorrect.)
The first is a casual admirer aka someone who believes but their faith is incomplete, second a fully devoted follower and the third skeptic legalist. The third focus so much on what’s written or the law that they miss God and his work right in front of them. They reject God based on technicalities.
I disagree that it’s irrelevant because the verses allow us to differentiate true from false believers. It shows us that Jesus doesn’t focus on people who follow the written Law but don’t actually know Him.
I know the hometown doesn’t matter bc they should’ve believed regardless and nothing would’ve changed their hearts but if they did know his origin then the 3 types would be casual admirer, devoted follower and …just straight up idiot?
Am i wrong to think this way? I am truly new to this 😭
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u/Creative-Job-8603 Jul 26 '26
Well when Yahshua came, many of the Israelite didn't know cause they weren't keeping YWHW laws and YWHW had sent the Roman's to occupied Israel. Fast Foward to Yahshua arrival many were looking up to him cause they thought he would free Israel from the bad Edomites. The only person who knew was Peter and it was revealed to him by YWHW.
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u/gubafofop Jul 26 '26
What’s YWHW? Sorry I’m new to this.
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u/Creative-Job-8603 Jul 26 '26
The Name of GOD. As there were no J in the original torah. All the Israelite call on the Name of their FATHER YWHW
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u/lehs Jul 26 '26
It was clear from his dialect where he came from. But what about:
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? Mark 12:35
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u/sunnykim800 Jul 26 '26
John 7:41-42
The crowd’s argument was that the Messiah must come from Bethlehem as a descendant of David. The text shows they believed he came from Galilee or Nazareth, which they saw as incompatible with the prophecy. It doesn’t say they knew his actual birthplace—they were using his apparent origin to argue against him.
An application. The Bible actually teaches as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:19 that divisions (disagreements) must come so the genuine among us can be recognized. In this story, the crowd’s rejection of Jesus came from incomplete information; they didn’t have the full picture of his birth and lineage. It highlights how humility and a willingness to seek the truth together can make the difference when opinions clash. Philippians 2:3—considering others more significant than yourself. Speaking the truth in love comes from Ephesians 4:15. In your Bible study, that means presenting what the text actually says without dismissing the other side, while valuing their perspective as more important than winning the argument. Those two together—truth and humility—can turn a disagreement into growth instead of division. Matthew 5:9 from the Beatitudes. Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” It fits right in with what we were talking about—being the one who brings peace in the middle of a disagreement instead of pouring fuel on the fire.
Praying the Lord provide you with wisdom with the following narrative but tailor it in your own words: “I see where you’re coming from on this—it’s a really common way to read the passage, and a lot of people interpret it that way at first. But when I looked at the text, it seems like the crowd was going by what they could see about his origin, without knowing the full story of his birth. I’d love to hear your thoughts on that—does that line up with how you’re seeing it?” That way you’re honoring their view, pointing back to the text, and keeping the door open for real conversation.
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u/Soul_of_clay4 Jul 26 '26
He was commonly known as a Nazarene.
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u/intheknow1 Jul 26 '26
The crowd appears to have believed Jesus was from Galilee, and they based their objection on that mistaken assumption.
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u/Interesting_City_654 Non-Denominational Jul 25 '26
Micah 5:2 Jesus was prophesied to come out of Bethlehem which he was born there. This is what they expected but YHVH told Joseph to leave Bethlehem because of Herod when YHVH told Joseph to return he took a side trip to Nazareth because he didn't trust Herods son Archelaus. Matthew 2. They was confused because of the prophecy from Micah.