# John 7.14

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 12. And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him: some said, He is a good man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray. 13. Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
>
> **14. But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.**
>
> 15. The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16. Jesus therefore answered them and said, <span class="rl-speech">My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.</span> (John 7:12-16, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 12. There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.” 13. Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
>
> **14. But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.**
>
> 15. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?” 16. Jesus therefore answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.</span> (John 7:12-16, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 12. And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
>
> **14. Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.**
>
> 15. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? <sup>letters: or, learning</sup> 16. Jesus answered them, and said, <span class="rl-speech">My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.</span> (John 7:12-16, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 12. and there was much murmuring about him among the multitudes, some indeed said, 'He is good;' and others said, 'No, but he leadeth astray the multitude;' 13. no one, however, was speaking freely about him, through fear of the Jews.
>
> **14. And it being now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up to the temple, and he was teaching,**
>
> 15. and the Jews were wondering, saying, 'How hath this one known letters, not having learned?' 16. Jesus answered them and said, <span class="rl-speech">'My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me;</span> (John 7:12-16, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G2424 - Iesous](/codex/g2424-iesous/), *Iesous* (Strong's G2424). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1.18](/codex/matthew-1-18/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.