John 8:20 Meaning and Explanation
“These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →John marks the setting — the temple treasury — and notes that no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
What Does John 8:20 Mean?
John pauses to record place and providence. The treasury stood by the Court of the Women, among the trumpet-shaped offering chests — a busy, public corner of the temple, well within reach of the authorities who wanted Jesus silenced. Yet no man laid hands on him.
The reason is one of this Gospel's quiet refrains: his hour was not yet come. Jesus' life was governed not by the plots of men but by the purpose of God; no hand could touch him until the hour he himself would call his glorification (John 12:23). And when that hour came, he was not overpowered but self-given — no man taketh it from me, I lay it down of myself (John 10:18).
John 8:20 in the Original Language
gazophylakion (γαζοφυλάκιον), 'treasury' -- the offering-chest area of the temple near the Court of the Women.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 8:20
What does John 8:20 mean?
John marks the setting — the temple treasury — and notes that no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.