John 7:40 Meaning: The Prophet Who Was More Than a Prophet
Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, This is of a truth the prophet.
Many, therefore out of the multitude, having heard the word, said, `This is truly the Prophet;'
[Some] out of the crowd therefore, having heard this word, said, This is truly the prophet.
Meaning in one sentence
After Jesus' living water sermon, some called Him 'the Prophet.' Were they identifying Him as the Messiah? John 7:40 explores their partial belief.
Context
It is the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, a festival remembering God's provision in the wilderness. Jesus stands and cries out, inviting anyone who thirsts to come to Him and drink. He promises rivers of living water, which John explains refers to the Spirit that believers would receive after Jesus' glorification. The crowd hears these words, and their response is mixed. Many of them say, "This is truly the Prophet." They recall the prophet Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18:15. But others say, "This is the Christ," and still others object, arguing that the Christ must come from Bethlehem. A division arises. The same words produce different reactions.
Key Words
Two words carry special weight in this verse. The first is alēthōs, often translated "truly." It means in reality, most certainly. These hearers are not guessing. They are convinced that Jesus matches the description of the promised Prophet. They use the strongest adverb they know.
The second word is prophētēs, "Prophet." In Jewish expectation, the Prophet from Deuteronomy 18 was a figure like Moses, a mediator of God's word. Some thought he would be the Messiah; others believed he would be a forerunner. The crowds who said this were right to recognize God at work in Jesus, but their confession fell short. They heard Jesus' words but did not yet see that He was more than a prophet.
The verb elegon ("were saying") suggests an ongoing, repeated claim. It was their settled opinion for the moment, but it did not lead them to full trust.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have noted the incomplete faith behind this confession. John Calvin observed that the crowd approved of the Teacher but did not truly receive Him, because they did not acknowledge Him as the Son of God and Author of salvation. The Cambridge Bible notes that "the Prophet" is here plainly distinguished from "the Christ" in the next verse. Other commentators, like Matthew Henry, suggest that their confession was true as far as it went, but it did not go far enough. The recognition was genuine but incomplete. Across traditions, there is agreement that hearing Jesus' words and acknowledging Him as a prophet is a step, but only a step, toward the faith that saves.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that when the crowd called Jesus "the Prophet," they were confessing Him as the Messiah. But the context shows otherwise. In verse 41, others specifically say "This is the Christ," placing "the Prophet" as a separate category. Many Jews of the time expected two figures: a forerunner prophet and the Messiah. The crowd's words were true, Jesus is the Prophet Moses promised, but they fell short of the full truth that He is the Christ, God's Son.
Living This Out
You and I can be like that crowd. We can hear Jesus' most compelling words, feel something stir inside us, and even speak well of Him. We can call Him a great teacher, a wise prophet, a moral example. And all of that is true. But the question this verse leaves with you is: have you stopped there? The crowd's confession didn't change their lives. They went home still thirsty, still divided. This week, when you read about Jesus or hear His words, ask yourself not just "Is He a prophet?" but "Is He my Lord?" Let the living water He offers do its full work.
Main takeaway: Many in the crowd called Jesus a prophet, but they failed to see that He is the Christ, the Son of God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some people heard Jesus talk about water that makes you never thirsty again. They said, "He must be a prophet!" They were right, but they didn't know He was God's Son. You can know more than they did.
For ages 9, 12
When Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit as living water, many people in the crowd believed He was a prophet. But they stopped there. They did not believe He was the Messiah, God's promised King. It's possible to know a lot about Jesus and still not trust Him with your whole life. The crowd shows us that hearing is not the same as believing.
Questions People Ask
What did 'the Prophet' mean to the Jewish people in Jesus' time?
Many Jews believed Moses spoke of a future prophet like himself in Deuteronomy 18:15. Some thought this prophet would be the Messiah, while others believed he would be a separate forerunner who would prepare the way for the Messiah. This distinction appears in John 1:21, where the priests ask John the Baptist if he is the Prophet.
Why did the crowd divide after hearing Jesus' words?
Jesus' teaching about living water caused different reactions. Some said He was the Prophet, others said He was the Christ, and still others objected because they thought the Christ must come from Bethlehem. This showed that even people who heard the same words could reach different conclusions.
Is 'the Prophet' in John 7:40 the same as 'the Christ'?
In the context, some people distinguished the two, as seen in verses 40-41 where 'the Prophet' is mentioned first, then others say 'This is the Christ.' However, Christians believe Jesus fulfills both roles. The crowd's understanding was incomplete; they saw part of His identity but not the whole.
What does John want us to learn from this reaction?
John shows that hearing Jesus' words is not enough. The crowd heard His invitation and recognized something true about Him, but many did not come to Him in faith. The Gospel calls us to move beyond partial recognition to personal trust in Jesus as the Son of God.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study