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the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

John 7:23

This shows that someone can be circumcised on a Sabbath day to obey the Law of Moses. So why are you angry with me for healing a person's whole body on the Sabbath day?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Inconsistency;   Jesus, the Christ;   Sabbath;   Temple;   Thompson Chain Reference - Inconsistency;   Religion;   Religion, True-False;   Sabbath;   Wholeness, or Health Restored;   The Topic Concordance - Sabbath;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Circumcision;   Sabbath, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John, gospel of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Circumcision;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Candlestick;   Circumcision;   Feasts;   Tabernacles, Feast of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Anger;   Sabbath;   Scribes;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Claims (of Christ);   Dispersion ;   Education (2);   Error;   Grace ;   Judging (by Men);   Moses ;   Questions and Answers;   Righteous, Righteousness;   Sabbath ;   Sinners;   Temple (2);   Worldliness (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Tabernacles feast of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Sabbath;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Foreskin;   Inspiration;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Wrath (Anger);  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath
King James Version (1611)
If a man on the Sabbath day receiue circumcision, that the Lawe of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I haue made a man euery whit whole on the Sabbath day?
King James Version
If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
English Standard Version
If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?
New American Standard Bible
"If a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry at Me because I made an entire man well on a Sabbath?
New Century Version
If a baby boy can be circumcised on a Sabbath day to obey the law of Moses, why are you angry at me for healing a person's whole body on the Sabbath day?
Amplified Bible
"If, to avoid breaking the Law of Moses, a man undergoes circumcision on the Sabbath, why are you angry with Me for making a man's whole body well on the Sabbath?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?
Legacy Standard Bible
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?
Berean Standard Bible
If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?
Contemporary English Version
in order to obey the Law of Moses. Why are you angry with me for making someone completely well on the Sabbath?
Complete Jewish Bible
If a boy is circumcised on Shabbat so that the Torah of Moshe will not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man's whole body well on Shabbat?
Darby Translation
If a man receives circumcision on sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be violated, are ye angry with me because I have made a man entirely sound on sabbath?
Geneva Bible (1587)
If a man on the Sabbath receiue circumcision, that the Lawe of Moses should not be broken, be ye angrie with me, because I haue made a man euery whit whole on the Sabbath day?
George Lamsa Translation
So if a man is circumcised on the sabbath day, that the law of Moses may not be broken; yet you murmur at me, because I healed a whole man * on the sabbath day?
Good News Translation
If a boy is circumcised on the Sabbath so that Moses' Law is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?
Lexham English Bible
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses would not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole man well on the Sabbath?
Literal Translation
If a man receives circumcision on a sabbath, that the Law of Moses is not broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man whole and healthy on a sabbath?
American Standard Version
If a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit whole on the sabbath?
Bible in Basic English
If a child is given circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?
Hebrew Names Version
If a boy receives circumcision on the Shabbat, that the law of Moshe may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man every bit whole on the Shabbat?
International Standard Version
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man perfectly well on the Sabbath?John 5:8-9,16;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But if a man is circumcised on the day of shabath because the law of Musha may not be broken, why against me do you murmur, because I have altogether healed a man on the day of shabath ?
Murdock Translation
And if a child is circumcised on the sabbath day, that the law of Moses may not be violated, do ye murmur at me, because I have made a man entirely sound on the sabbath day?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yf a man on the Sabboth day receaue circumcision, without breakyng of the lawe of Moyses: disdayne ye at me, because I haue made a man euerywhyt whole on the Sabboth day?
English Revised Version
If a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit whole on the sabbath?
World English Bible
If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man every bit whole on the Sabbath?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
If a man receive circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken: Are ye angry at me, because I intirely healed a man on the sabbath?
Weymouth's New Testament
If a child is circumcised even on a Sabbath day, are you bitter against me because I have restored a man to perfect health on a Sabbath day?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If a man take circumcicioun in the sabat, that the lawe of Moises be not brokun, han ye indignacioun to me, for Y made al a man hool in the sabat?
Update Bible Version
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are you angry with me, because I made a man every bit whole on the Sabbath?
Webster's Bible Translation
If a man on the sabbath receiveth circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have restored a man to sound health on the sabbath?
New English Translation
But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?
New King James Version
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?
New Living Translation
For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath?
New Life Bible
Now if you can do that, why are you angry with Me for healing a man on the Day of Rest?
New Revised Standard
If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man's whole body on the sabbath?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, circumcision, a man receiveth, on Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, with me, are ye bitter as gall, because, a whole man, I made, well, on Sabbath?
Douay-Rheims Bible
If a man receive circumcision on the sabbath day, that the law of Moses may not be broken: are you angry at me, because I have healed the whole man on the sabbath day?
Revised Standard Version
If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the sabbath I made a man's whole body well?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If a man on the Saboth daye receave circumcision without breakinge of the lawe of Moses: disdayne ye at me because I have made a man every whit whoale on the saboth daye?
Young's Literal Translation
if a man doth receive circumcision on a sabbath that the law of Moses may not be broken, are ye wroth with me that I made a man all whole on a sabbath?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf a man receaue circucision vpon the Sabbath, that the lawe of Moses shulde not be broken, dissdayne ye then at me, because I haue made a ma euery whyt whole on the Sabbath?
Mace New Testament (1729)
if to avoid the violation of the Mosaic law, a man be exposed to circumcision on the sabbath-day, are ye angry at me, because I cured a man, whose whole body was indisposed on the sabbath-day?
Simplified Cowboy Version
You say that you circumcise on the Sabbath so that the child will follow the teachings of Moses, but then you get mad at me for healing a man's whole body on the same day. You cut off a piece of man on the Sabbath and call it holy, but I make them whole, and you call me possessed.

Contextual Overview

14 When the festival was about half finished, Jesus went to the Temple area and began to teach. 15 The Jewish leaders were amazed and said, "How did this man learn so much? He never had the kind of teaching we had!" 16 Jesus answered, "What I teach is not my own. My teaching comes from the one who sent me. 17 People who really want to do what God wants will know that my teaching comes from God. They will know that this teaching is not my own. 18 If I taught my own ideas, I would just be trying to get honor for myself. But if I am trying to bring honor to the one who sent me, I can be trusted. Anyone doing that is not going to lie. 19 Moses gave you the law, right? But you don't obey that law. If you do, then why are you trying to kill me?" 20 The people answered, "A demon is making you crazy! We are not trying to kill you." 21 Jesus said to them, "I did one miracle on a Sabbath day, and you were all surprised. 22 But you obey the law Moses gave you about circumcision—and sometimes you do it on a Sabbath day. (Really, Moses is not the one who gave you circumcision. It came from our ancestors who lived before Moses.) Yes, you often circumcise baby boys on a Sabbath day. 23 This shows that someone can be circumcised on a Sabbath day to obey the Law of Moses. So why are you angry with me for healing a person's whole body on the Sabbath day?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that the law of Moses should not be broken: or, without breaking the law of Moses, Matthew 12:5

I have made: Rather, "I have healed a whole man" ןכןם [Strong's G3650], בםטסשנןם [Strong's G444], and not the circumcised member only. This reasoning was in perfect accordance with the principles of the Jews. So Tanchuma, "Circumcision, which is performed on one of the 248 members of man, vacates the sabbath; how much more the whole body of a man!" John 5:8, John 5:9, John 5:14-16

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:12 - he that is eight days old Genesis 21:4 - General Leviticus 12:3 - General Matthew 14:36 - perfectly Mark 2:27 - General Luke 14:3 - Is John 5:18 - broken Acts 3:16 - perfect Acts 4:9 - the good

Cross-References

Genesis 7:1
Then the Lord said to Noah, "I have seen that you are a good man, even among the evil people of this time. So gather your family, and all of you go into the boat.
Genesis 7:8
All the clean animals, all the other animals on the earth, the birds, and everything that crawls on the earth
Genesis 7:9
went into the boat with Noah. These animals went into the boat in groups of two, male and female, just as God commanded.
Genesis 7:10
Seven days later the flood started. The rain began to fall on the earth.
Genesis 7:14
They and every kind of animal on the earth were in the boat. Every kind of cattle, every kind of animal that crawls on the earth, and every kind of bird were in the boat.
Genesis 7:15
All these animals went into the boat with Noah. They came in groups of two from every kind of animal that had the breath of life.
Genesis 7:17
Water flooded the earth for 40 days. The water began rising and lifted the boat off the ground.
Genesis 7:18
The water continued to rise, and the boat floated on the water high above the earth.
Genesis 7:20
The water continued to rise above the mountains. The water was more than 20 feet above the highest mountain.
Genesis 7:21
Every living thing on earth died—every man and woman, every bird, and every kind of animal. All the many kinds of animals and all the things that crawl on the ground died. Every living, breathing thing on dry land died.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision,.... As it was certain in many instances he did:

that the law of Moses might not be broken; either the law concerning circumcision, which confirmed the law given to Abraham, and required it should be on the eighth day, let it fall when it would, even on a sabbath day; and therefore on that day, male children received circumcision, that that law might be kept, and not be broken: or else the law concerning the sabbath; and the sense be, if circumcision was administered on the sabbath day, "without breaking the law of Moses", as some render the words, which commanded the observation of the sabbath,

are ye angry at me; and pursue me with so much wrath and bitterness,

because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? or "a man that was whole, sound on the sabbath day"; who was wholly, or all over disordered, every limb of whom shook with the palsy: or as some think the sense is, he was made every whit whole, both in soul and body; and then the argument is, if it was, no breach of the sabbath to make a wound, and lay a plaster on it, as in circumcision; it would be no violation of it, nor ought any to be offended with it, that Christ should heal a diseased man, who was so in every part of his body, and restore health to his soul likewise and nothing is more common with the Jews than to say, the danger of life, and פיקוח נפש, "the preservation of the soul", or life, drive away the sabbath b.

b T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 132. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That the law of Moses should not be broken - In order that the law requiring it to be done at a specified time, though that might occur on the Sabbath, should be kept.

Are ye angry ... - The argument of Jesus is this: “You yourselves, in interpreting the law about the Sabbath, allow a work of necessity to be done. You do that which is necessary as an ordinance of religion denoting separation from other nations, or external purity. As you allow this, you ought also, for the same reason, to allow that a man should be completely restored to health - that a work of much more importance should be done.” We may learn here that it would be happy for all if they would not condemn others in that thing which they allow. People often accuse others of doing things which they themselves do in other ways.

Every whit whole - Literally, “I have restored the whole man to health,” implying that the man’s whole body was diseased, and that he had been entirely restored to health.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. Every whit whole — The law of circumcision required the removal of a small portion of flesh, which was considered a blot and reproach among the Hebrews, because it confounded them with the nations who were not in covenant with God. Christ, to this, opposes the complete cure of the infirm man, who was diseased throughout his whole body: if the one was permitted on the Sabbath day, for the reason already alleged, surely the other had stronger reasons to recommend it.

Some think that the original words, ολον ανθρπον, should be translated, the whole man; and that the meaning is, that the blessed Saviour made him whole both in body and soul. This makes the miracle the greater, and shows still more forcibly the necessity of doing it without delay.

Battier ap. Wets. supposes that, instead of ολον, χωλον should be read - I have made a MAIMED man whole; but there is no countenance for this reading in any of the MSS., versions, or fathers.


 
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