# John 7.17

<!-- 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/))
> 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>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself.</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?</span> (John 7:15-19, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 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>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?”</span> (John 7:15-19, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 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>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?</span> (John 7:15-19, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 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>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">if any one may will to do His will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is of God, or, I do speak from myself.</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">'He who is speaking from himself his own glory doth seek, but he who is seeking the glory of him who sent him, this one is true, and unrighteousness is not in him;</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">hath not Moses given you the law? and none of you doth the law; why me do ye seek to kill?'</span> (John 7:15-19, 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

- [G1097 - ginosko](/codex/g1097-ginosko/), *ginosko* (Strong's G1097). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Mark 4.11-12](/codex/mark-4-11-12/), [Mark 6](/codex/mark-6/).
- [G2316 - theos](/codex/g2316-theos/), *theos* (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.23](/codex/matthew-1-23/), [Matthew 3.16](/codex/matthew-3-16/), [Matthew 5.9](/codex/matthew-5-9/).

## 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.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Belief-Choice Objection Defeater](/codex/belief-choice-objection-defeater/)
- [Free Will Argument from Love](/codex/free-will-argument-from-love/)

**Concepts:**

- [Arminianism](/codex/arminianism/)
- [Belief-Choice Objection](/codex/belief-choice-objection/)
- [Free Will and Determinism](/codex/free-will-and-determinism/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 7](/codex/john-7/)
- [Libertarian Free Will](/codex/libertarian-free-will/)

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