The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

JOHN 7:20KJV
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John 7:20 (KJV)

What does John 7:20 mean?

John 7:20 describes how the crowd responded to Jesus by accusing him of being possessed by a demon and questioning who was trying to kill him. The people were reacting with disbelief and hostility to Jesus’ claim that someone was seeking his life.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking publicly at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. The crowd, made up of ordinary people, is confused and skeptical about Jesus’ warning that some want to kill him. Their accusation, “Thou hast a devil,” was a way of dismissing his words as madness or delusion, not a literal statement about demon possession.

The Greek behind John 7:20

  • δαιμόνιον (daimonion, “devil”): This Greek word often refers to an evil spirit or demon, but here it is used as an insult, suggesting Jesus is out of his mind or speaking irrationally.
  • ζητεῖ (zētei, “goeth about” or “seeks”): The Greek verb carries the sense of actively searching or plotting, highlighting the seriousness of Jesus’ claim that someone is seeking to kill him.
  • ἀποκτεῖναι (apokteinai, “to kill”): This word means to put to death, making clear that Jesus is talking about a real threat to his life, not just opposition or criticism.

Why John 7:20 matters

  • John 7:20 shows the gap between what Jesus knows (that some leaders want to kill him) and what the crowd believes, highlighting the confusion and division among the people about who Jesus is.
  • The verse reveals how quickly people can dismiss uncomfortable truths by attacking the speaker’s sanity or character, rather than considering the message.
  • This moment sets up the tension for the rest of the chapter, as the threat against Jesus becomes more obvious and the crowd’s understanding slowly changes.

Where else these words appear

“devil” Greek G1140 · used in 52 verses

  • Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
  • Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
  • Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

“kill” Greek G615 · used in 71 verses

  • Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
  • Luke 11:48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
  • Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

“about” Greek G2212 · used in 116 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
  • John 16:19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?