And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

JOHN 7:12KJV
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John 7:12 (KJV)

What does John 7:12 mean?

John 7:12 describes a divided crowd talking quietly about Jesus. Some people regard him as a good man, while others accuse him of misleading the public. The verse lets the reader hear both judgments as people try to decide what to make of him.

The speakers are people in the crowd, not Jesus himself. After the search for Jesus in verse 11, their talk takes the form of “murmuring”: conversations circulating among people rather than a single public debate.

The Greek behind John 7:12

  • “murmuring” — γογγυσμός (gongysmos): This word carries the sense of quiet talk or muttering. It pictures comments passing among people rather than an announcement made to everyone.
  • “deceiveth” — πλανάω (planaō): This word can mean to lead someone astray. The accusation is that Jesus is causing people to go in the wrong direction, not merely that he has made a mistake.

Why John 7:12 matters

  • The accusation concerns Jesus’ effect on others. Those who oppose him say, “he deceiveth the people,” making his influence over the crowd part of their concern.
  • The quiet manner of the discussion has a reason in the surrounding passage. Verse 13 says people did not speak openly about Jesus because they feared the Jewish leaders.
  • The opposing comments prepare the reader for a public encounter. Later in the passage, Jesus teaches at the temple, and people question how he has acquired his learning (John 7:14–15).

Where else these words appear

“murmuring” Greek G1112 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
  • Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
  • 1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

“deceiveth” Greek G4105 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
  • John 7:47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
  • 2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

“man” Greek G18 · used in 90 verses

  • Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
  • Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
  • Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

“others” Greek G243 · used in 141 verses

  • Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
  • Mark 14:19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
  • Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.