John 7:42 - Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the offspring of David, 2 Samuel 7:12 and from Bethlehem, Micah 5:2 the village where David was?”

Generated Verse: John 7:42

What does "John 7:42" mean?


This verse, John 7:42, reflects a common understanding of the Messiah's expected origins in first-century Judaism. Let's break it down:

"Hasn’t the Scripture said...": This indicates that the statement isn't a new idea, but something already established in Jewish scriptures (what Christians call the Old Testament). The speakers are referencing widely known prophecies.

"...that the Christ comes of the offspring of David...": This refers to the lineage of the Messiah. 2 Samuel 7:12 (specifically verses like 2 Samuel 7:16) promises that David's descendants will have an everlasting kingdom. It was generally understood that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, fulfilling this promise.

"...and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?": This references the Messiah's place of birth. Micah 5:2 is a key prophecy that states the ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem. Bethlehem was also David's hometown (1 Samuel 17:12). Therefore, this adds another layer of expectation - a Messianic figure born in the historically significant town of Bethlehem.

In essence, the verse states that according to Jewish scriptures, the Messiah is expected to:

1. Be a descendant of David (of the line of David).
2. Be born in Bethlehem.

Why this verse is significant in the context of John 7:

This verse appears in the middle of a debate about Jesus. Some people in the crowd are arguing whether or not Jesus could be the Christ. They point out that Jesus is from Galilee, not Bethlehem, and are unaware (or unconvinced) of the circumstances of his birth.

The verse highlights a problem the people have in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. They believe they know what the Messiah should be like and where he should come from. Their preconceived notions blind them to the possibility that Jesus, who seems to be from Galilee, could fulfill those prophecies.

John's Gospel shows that Jesus did fulfill these prophecies (he was born in Bethlehem and was of the lineage of David), but these facts were either unknown or dismissed by some of the people questioning him. The author of John's Gospel is presenting this as evidence for those who will believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

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