John 7:43

Joh 7:43. Σχίσμα, a division) So ch. Joh 9:16, “Some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them;” Joh 10:19. A division is generally of a manifold character; on one dogma, or on many dogmas; and of good men from bad men, or else of the bad from the good, or of the good from the good, or of the bad from the bad.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Joh 7:43-44 . Σχίσμα … χεῖρας . On this verse Calvin has the following pertinent remark: “quaecunque dissidia emergunt quum praedicatur Evangelium, eorum causa et semen prius in hominibus latebant; sed tunc demum quasi ex somno expergefacti se movere incipiunt, qualiter vapores aliunde quam a sole procreantur, quamvis nonnisi exoriente sole emergant”. To this divided state of opinion He owed His immunity on this occasion.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 43. There was a division] σχισμα, a schism; they were divided in sentiment, and separated into parties. This is the true notion of schism.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(43) There was a division among the people.—The word for division is our word “schism.” It is found in the earlier Gospels in one instance only, “the rent is made worse” (Mat_9:16; Mar_2:21). This is nearer to the older meaning of the word, which is used, for example, of the hoofs of animals, and the leaves of trees. St. John uses it only to mark this rent into two parties of the Jewish multitude, here and in Joh_9:16; Joh_10:19. In St. Paul it is used of the divisions of the Church at Corinth (1Co_1:10; 1Co_11:18; 1Co_12:25). The use of the word in its ethical sense may belong in some special way to Ephesus, for only in writings from this city do we find it in Biblical Greek. Later, both the word and the fact denoted by it passed into the history of the Church.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

43. a division] Schisma, whence our word ‘schism.’ It means a serious and possibly violent division: Joh_9:16, Joh_10:19; 1Co_1:10; 1Co_12:25; comp. Act_14:4; Act_23:7. In N.T. it is never used in the modern sense of a separation from the Church, but of parties in the Church. In the Synoptists it is used only in its original sense of physical severing; ‘a worse rent is made;’ Mat_9:16; Mar_2:21.

among the people] In the multitude.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees,.... Who were assembled together in council, as the great sanhedrim of the nation; who were sitting and expecting Jesus to be brought before them. The same officers they sent to take him, Joh 7:32, returned to them without him; for though they were sent on that errand which they intended to have performed, yet they were not on the side of those who were for seizing him by force, nor of those who objected to his being the Messiah; but rather took part with those who affirmed he was the Messiah; or at least looked upon him to be some extraordinary prophet:

and they said unto them; that is, the chief priests and Pharisees said to the officers; the Syriac version reads, "the priests said unto them":

why have ye not brought him? They mention not the name of Jesus by way of contempt, and knowing that the officers would easily understand them; though the Persic version expresses it, reading the words thus, "why have ye not brought Jesus?" seeing them returned without him, they were transported with rage and fury, and fell upon them in a fierce and furious manner, for disobeying their orders, who had sat there waiting some time: and hoping, and not doubting, but they should have him in their hands, whose blood they were thirsting after: wherefore it was a great disappointment to them, and much enraged them to see them come without him.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

Ver. 43. So there was a division] And yet these were the visible Church and favourers of Christ. That is no just cause of offence then that some take at our dissensions. Rare enim abit sine aliquibus dissensionibus etiam inter bonos et sanclos haee vita (Bucholcer), still Satan is thus busy, and Christians are thus improvident, that as if they lacked enemies, they deal blows among themselves, and fly in one another’s faces. It was never well since the Church was "all of one heart and one soul, neither was there any controversy at all among them," as one ancient Greek copy hath added to that text, Act 4:32.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A division as to their opinions about him, as was before expressed.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

43. A division—Some adducing, doubtless, the well known truth of his descent and birth; while others are so incensed that they are ready, if some one will only lead the way in laying hands upon him, to join in his apprehension. This failure is followed by a closing defeat, which our Evangelist proceeds to narrate.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So there arose a division in the crowds because of him

The crowds could not agree about who or what Jesus was.

but no one laid hands on him

To lay hands on someone is an idiom which means to grab him or to hold onto him. AT: "but no one grabbed him to arrest him" (See: Idiom)

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

43. σχίσμα. Whence our word ‘schism.’ It means a serious and possibly violent division: Joh 9:16, Joh 10:19; 1Co 1:10; 1Co 12:25; comp. Act 14:4; Act 23:7. In N.T. it is never used in the modern sense of a separation from the Church, but of parties in the Church. In the Synoptists it is used only in its original sense of physical severing; ‘a worse rent is made;’ Mat 9:16; Mar 2:21.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

43. σχίσμα οὖν ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὄχλῳ διʼ αὐτόν. The people were divided in opinion about Him, as before (v. 12). A similar σχίσμα among the “Pharisees” and “Jews” is noted again, 9:16, 10:19.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

There was a division [σχισμα εγενετο] . More correctly, as Rev., "there arose a division." See on 1 3.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.