John 7:15

KJV1611 – Modern English

And the Jews marveled, saying, How does this man know letters, having never studied?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ἐθαύμαζον οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, λέγοντες, Πῶς οὗτος γράμματα οἶδεν, μὴ μεμαθηκώς;

Transliteration

And ethaumazon the Ioudaioi, legontes, How this grammata oiden, not memathēkōs?

Grammar Details

• *ethaumazon*: imperfect, 3rd plural - were marveling
• *Ioudaioi*: nominative, masculine, plural - Jews/Judeans
• *legontes*: present participle, nominative, masculine, plural - saying
• *grammata*: accusative, neuter, plural - letters/writings/learning
• *oiden*: perfect with present meaning, 3rd singular - knows
• *memathēkōs*: perfect participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having learned

Word Meanings

• *ethaumazon*: were marveling/wondering/amazed
• *Ioudaioi*: Jews/Judeans/Jewish authorities
• *grammata*: letters/writings/learning/education
• *oiden*: knows/understands
• *memathēkōs*: having learned/studied/been trained

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  The Jews were amazed, saying, 'How does this man know so much without having been taught?'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  The{G2532} Jews{G2453} therefore marvelled,{G2296} saying,{G3004} How{G4459} knoweth{G1492} this man{G3778} letters,{G1121} having{G3129} never{G3361} learned?{G3129}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And{G2532} the Jews{G2453} marvelled{G2296}{(G5707)}, saying{G3004}{(G5723)}, How{G4459} knoweth{G1492}{(G5758)} this man{G3778} letters{G1121}, having{G3129} never{G3361} learned{G3129}{(G5761)}?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And the Iewes marveylled sayinge: How knoweth he ye scriptures seynge yt he never learned?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And the Iewes marueyled and sayde: How can he ye scrypture, seynge he hath not lerned it?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And the Iewes marueiled, saving, Howe knoweth this man the Scriptures, seeing that hee neuer learned!

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the Iewes marueyled, saying: howe knoweth he the scriptures, seyng that he neuer learned?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and the Jews were wondering, saying, `How hath this one known letters -- not having learned?'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then the Jews were surprised and said, How has this man got knowledge of books? He has never been to school.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said,“How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?”

Referenced Verses

• Matt 13:54 : 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? they asked.
• Luke 2:47 : 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and answers.
• Luke 4:22 : 22 And all bore witness to him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is this not Joseph's son?
• John 7:46 : 46 The officers answered, No man ever spoke like this man.
• Acts 2:7-9 : 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, 'Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans?' 8 How is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?' 13 Others mocking said, 'They are full of new wine.'
• Acts 4:11-12 : 11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
• Acts 26:24 : 24 And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are out of your mind; much learning is driving you mad.
• John 1:19 : 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you?
• Amos 7:14-15 : 14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.
• Matt 7:28-29 : 28 And it happened, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching. 29 For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
• Matt 22:22 : 22 When they heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.
• Matt 22:33 : 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
• Mark 6:2-3 : 2 And when the Sabbath day came, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were amazed, saying, Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to him, that even such mighty works are performed by his hands? 3 Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.