Discovery BoxJohn 7:48-51 
Context7:48 None of the rulers 1 or the Pharisees have believed in him, have they? 2 7:49 But this rabble 3 who do not know the law are accursed!”
7:50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus 4 before and who was one of the rulers, 5 said, 6 7:51 “Our law doesn’t condemn 7 a man unless it first hears from him and learns 8 what he is doing, does it?” 9
1 sn The chief priests and Pharisees (John 7:45) is a comprehensive term for the groups represented in the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) as in John 7:45; 18:3; Acts 5:22, 26. Likewise the term ruler here denotes a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews. Note the same word (“ruler”) is used to describe Nicodemus in John 3:1, and Nicodemus also speaks up in this episode (John 7:50).
2 tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here the tag is “have they?”).
3 tn Grk “crowd.” “Rabble” is a good translation here because the remark by the Pharisees is so derogatory.
4 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Grk “who was one of them”; the referent (the rulers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn Grk “said to them.”
7 tn Grk “judge.”
8 tn Grk “knows.”
9 tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here the tag is “does it?”).
