Joh 7:27 | RWP | e4.org | Howbeit ( αλλα ). Clearly adversative here. This man ( τουτον ). Possibly contemptuous use of ουτος as may be true in , . Whence he is ( ποθεν εστιν ). The Galilean Jews knew the family of Jesus ( ), but they knew Jesus only as from Nazareth, not as born in Bethlehem (verse ). When the Christ cometh ( ο Χριστος οταν ερχητα ). Prolepsis of ο Χριστος and indefinite temporal clause with οταν and the present middle subjunctive ερχητα rather than the more usual second aorist active ελθη as in verse , a trifle more picturesque. This is a piece of popular theology. "Three things come wholly unexpected--Messiah, a godsend, and a scorpion" ( Sanhedrin 97a). The rulers knew the birthplace to be Bethlehem ( ; .), but some even expected the Messiah to drop suddenly from the skies as Satan proposed to Jesus to fall down from the pinnacle of the temple. The Jews generally expected a sudden emergence of the Messiah from concealment with an anointing by Elijah ( Apoc. of Bar . XXIX. 3; 2Esdr. 7:28; 13:32; Justin Martyr, Tryph . 110).

‏ John 7:27

Howbeit ( αλλα ). Clearly adversative here.

This man ( τουτον ). Possibly contemptuous use of ουτος as may be true in 25, 26.

Whence he is ( ποθεν εστιν ). The Galilean Jews knew the family of Jesus (6:42), but they knew Jesus only as from Nazareth, not as born in Bethlehem (verse 42).

When the Christ cometh ( ο Χριστος οταν ερχητα ). Prolepsis of ο Χριστος and indefinite temporal clause with οταν and the present middle subjunctive ερχητα rather than the more usual second aorist active ελθη as in verse 31, a trifle more picturesque. This is a piece of popular theology. "Three things come wholly unexpected--Messiah, a godsend, and a scorpion" (Sanhedrin 97a). The rulers knew the birthplace to be Bethlehem (7:42; Mt 2:5f.), but some even expected the Messiah to drop suddenly from the skies as Satan proposed to Jesus to fall down from the pinnacle of the temple. The Jews generally expected a sudden emergence of the Messiah from concealment with an anointing by Elijah (Apoc. of Bar. XXIX. 3; 2Esdr. 7:28; 13:32; Justin Martyr, Tryph. 110).