Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.
Parallel Translations
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Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.
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Iesus therfore walked no more opely amonge the Iewes: but wet his waye thence vnto a countre nye to a wildernes into a cite called Ephraim and there hauted with his disciples.
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Iesus therefore walked no more openly among the Iewes, but went thence vnto a countrey neere to the wildernes, into a citie called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
Cross-references (9)
Passages linked to John 11:54 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- John 7:1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.
- 2 Chronicles 13:19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages.
- John 7:4 For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”
- 2 Samuel 13:23 After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
- John 4:1-3 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples), he left Judea and departed into Galilee.
- John 7:10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.
- John 7:13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.
- John 10:40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there.
- John 18:20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 54. Which is called Ephraim. As to the name…
54. Which is called Ephraim. As to the name of the town which is mentioned here, I think that either it was pronounced at that time in a corrupted manner, or it was entirely new. For we know how greatly the language was changed after the captivity into Babylon, and likewise how different was the appearance of the country; so that we need not be surprised that some places are mentioned, which in ancient times were altogether unknown.
And there he dwelt with his disciples. By calling them disciples of Christ, he means not those who had received his doctrine, but those who were his constant companions, and who were wont to live under the same roof.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain We may give place to the rage of the…
We may give place to the rage of the wicked, when it is expedient so to do, but yet in such sort, that we swerve not from God’s vocation.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the…
54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
Ver. 54. Into a city called Ephraim] Not elsewhere mentioned; built, perhaps, in honour of their father Ephraim, by the posterity of those rash sons of his, that had brought grief to his heart, and to make amends for their miscarriage. See 1Ch 7:21-22.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews;…
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; for he being the true paschal Lamb, was to be slain at that feast, and put an end to that type, and would therefore reserve himself for that time, which was now at hand. A
city called Ephraim: what this Ephren or Ephraim was, interpreters vainly busy themselves in inquiring; it was some obscure city, and near the wilderness; some think it was in the lot of Benjamin, others think it was in the lot of Ephraim, and obtained its name from the tribe in whose lot it was. The Scripture no where mentions it; and it cannot be expected, but that in so many changes of government as had befallen the Jews, the names of places should be so altered, that we should be at loss for many of them: wherever it was, it is said that Christ and his disciples continued there in some privacy.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Jesus therefore,.... Knowing the resolution the sanhedrim had taken…
Jesus therefore,.... Knowing the resolution the sanhedrim had taken to put him to death, and the schemes they were forming to apprehend him:
walked no more openly among the Jews; at, or near Jerusalem; he did not teach in their streets, nor work miracles, nor appear in public company:
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but went thence, from Bethany:
unto a country near to the wilderness: whether this was the wilderness of Judea, where John came preaching, and near to which our Lord was before he came to Bethany, or the wilderness of Bethaven, Jos 18:12, is not certain:
into a city called Ephraim; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions, call it Ephren, and so some copies; it seems to be the same with the Ephraim of the Misnic and Talmudic doctors; concerning which they say (r),
"Micmas and Mezonicha are the first for fine flour, and the next to them is Ephraim in the valley.''
For it seems there were two Ephraims, one in the valley, and another in the mount (s) it was a place very fruitful for wheat; hence that saying of Jannes and Jambres, the magicians of Egypt, to Moses (t);
"do you bring straw to Ephraim?''
which was a proverbial expression, the same with ours of carrying coals to Newcastle: they seeing Moses do signs and wonders, supposed he did them by enchantment; and the sense of their proverb is, do you bring enchantments into Egypt, where there are so many already? This Ephraim, the Jews say (u), is the same with that in Ch2 13:19, and as there Bethel is mentioned with it, it seems to have been in the tribe of Benjamin: and it may be observed, that Josephus (w) speaks of an Ephraim, along with Bethel likewise; so that they all seem to mean the same place; and according to the same writer, it was but a little city, and it may be an obscure one, for which reason Christ withdrew to it. Epiphanius (x) makes mention of the wilderness of Bethel and Ephraim, through which he travelled, accompanied by a Jew, as he came up from Jericho to the hill country; and is very likely the same wilderness which is here spoken of; and by some called Quarentana, and placed by the river Chereth, in the tribe of Benjamin, north east of Jerusalem; and the same writer elsewhere calls (y) Ephraim, the city of the wilderness: according to Jerom (z), it was twenty miles from Aelia, or Jerusalem; though according to Eusebius, it was but eight miles, which is thought to be the truest account; and by them both is said to be a very large village, and in which they may not differ from Josephus; for it might be a large village, and yet a little city. Jerom (a) takes notice of a place called Aphra, in the tribe of Benjamin, which he says at that time was called the village Effrem, and was five miles from Bethel eastward; and of another called Aphraim, a city in the tribe of Issachar, which in his time went by the name of the village Affarea, six miles from the legion, northward; the former agrees best with this Ephraim.
And there continued with his disciples; spending his time in private conversation with them, teaching and instructing them in things concerning the kingdom of God, his time with them being now but short.
(r) Misn. Menachot, c. 8. sect. 1. (s) Barlenora in ib. (t) T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 85. 1. Gloss. in ib. Tzcror Hammor, fol. 170. 2. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 86. fol. 75. 4. (u) Yom. Tob. in Misn. Menachot, c. 8. sect. 1. & Gloss. in T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 83. 2. (w) De Bello Jud. l. 4. c. 9. sect. 9. (x) Adv. Haeres. l. 1. Tom. II. Haeres. 30. (y) Ib. Haeres. 29. (z) De locis Hebraicis, fol. 91. A. (a) lb. fol. 88. H. I.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 54. Walked no more openly] παρρησια, He did…
Verse 54. Walked no more openly] παρρησια, He did not go as before through the cities and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing the sick.
Near to the wilderness] Some MSS. add, of Samphourein, or Samphourim, or Sapfurim.
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A city chilled Ephraim] Variously written in the MSS., Ephraim, Ephrem, Ephram, and Ephratha. This was a little village, situated in the neighbourhood of Bethel; for the scripture, 2Ch 13:19, and Josephus, War, b. iv. c. 8. s. 9, join them both together. Many believe that this city or village was the same with that mentioned, 1 Macc. 5:46; 2 Macc. 12:27. Joshua gave it to the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:9; and Eusebius and Jerome say it was about twenty miles north of Jerusalem.
And there continued] Calmet says, following Toynard, that he stayed there two months, from the 24th of January till the 24th of March.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain No more openly - No more publicly, in the…
No more openly - No more publicly, in the cities and towns. Jesus never exposed his life unnecessarily to hazard. Although the time of his death was determined in the counsel of God, yet this did not prevent his using proper means to preserve his life.
The wilderness - See the notes at Mat 3:1.
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A city called Ephraim - This was probably a small town in the tribe of Ephraim, about five miles west of Jericho.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Ephrem was a small city or town in the…
Ephrem was a small city or town in the neighbourhood of Bethel. Some suppose it to be the same as Ephron, mentioned in 2 Paralipomenon xiii 19., and 1 Machabees v., 2 Machabees xii. 17. Eusebius and St. Jerome say it was situated about 20 miles to the north of Jerusalem. (Calmet) --- Here he remained with his disciples till the time in which he had resolved to deliver himself up into the hands of his enemies. (Bible de Vence)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 54. To a city called Ephraim—Ephraim or Ephron is…
54. To a city called Ephraim—Ephraim or Ephron is identified by Robinson with the modern Taiyibeh, which is situated about twenty Roman miles northeast of Jerusalem. It is about six miles from Bethel; it stands upon a high eminence, and commands a view of the vales of the Jordan. It seems to be mentioned in 2Ch_13:19 in connection with Bethel. Driven now twice from the capital, Jesus takes refuge first, in Bethabara, (Joh_1:28,) and last, in Ephraim. In each he remained some five or six weeks; in the last, until he departed for the last Passover. In the former, distance and the Jordan have interposed between himself and Jerusalem, and being under another jurisdiction, he spent his time in teaching and preaching. But in the latter, being but a few miles distant, he is evidently in concealment; so that eager inquiries are made after him at the prelude to the next Passover.
He continued with his disciples—They had anticipated the danger, (Joh_11:8,) and now they share the concealment.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 54. therefore] The decree of the Sanhedrin for His…
54. therefore] The decree of the Sanhedrin for His apprehension had been published (Joh_11:57); the sentence of death was probably a secret among themselves.
openly] Comp. Joh_7:10. He withdraws from all intercourse with His adversaries.
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went thence unto a country] Departed thence into the country.
the wilderness] The desert of Judæa, which extended to the confines of Jericho, would naturally be meant by ‘the wilderness.’
Ephraim] This place cannot be identified with certainty. Eusebius makes it eight miles, Jerome twenty miles, N.E. of Jerusalem: both make it the same as Ephron. If the Ephraim of 2Ch_13:19 and Josephus (B. J. iv. ix. 9) be meant, the wilderness would be that of Bethaven.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (54) Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the…
(54) Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews.—He had heard of the decree of the Sanhedrin which had been publicly made known (Joh_11:57), and therefore avoided persons who would have carried it into effect.
“The Jews” are, as before, the hostile party. The passage is a good illustration of St. John’s use of the term, for He was of course among Jews, in the ordinary meaning of the word, during the sojourn at Ephraim. (Comp. Note on Joh_1:19.)
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But went thence unto a country near to the wilderness.—All the better MSS. read “unto the country . . .” as in contrast to the city, Jerusalem, where “the Jews” dwelt. He went from Bethany, when He had heard of what had taken place at Jerusalem, “into the country.” This is further defined as “near to the wilderness,” and then the name of the city is given.
Into a city called Ephraim.—The position of this “city” is not known. The MSS. spell it variously as Ephraim, Ephrem, Ephram, and Ephratha. Eusebius and Jerome both assumed it to be the same place as Ephron, but differed as to its position, the former fixing it at eight, and the latter at twenty miles, north-east from Jerusalem. Both would place it, therefore, in Judæa; and this agrees with its position “near to the wilderness,” for the desert of Judæa extended nearly as far as Jericho. In 2Ch_13:19, we have an Ephrain or Ephron (according to the written text and the LXX.) in connection with the neighbourhood of Bethel. This is mentioned by Josephus (Wars, iv. 9, § 9), and is near to the wilderness of Bethaven. It is possibly the place named here; but a Jew would naturally use the phrase, “the wilderness,” to mean the desert of Judæa. Dr. Robinson would identify Ephraim and Ephron with Ophrah (Jos_18:23; 1Sa_17:23), and fix the locality at the modern el-Taiyibeh, four or five miles east from Bethel, and sixteen from Jerusalem, which would agree roughly with the position assigned by Jerome. We must be content to leave the matter in this uncertainty. (Comp. Note on Luk_17:11.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain This constituted the close of his earthly ministry after…
This constituted the close of his earthly ministry after his ordinary method. Jesus therefore walked (cf. Joh_7:1) no more openly (parrhsia ; cf. Joh_7:4) among the Jews; but he deputed thence into the country nigh unto the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. Westcott says the place is mentioned in connection with Bethel. (2Ch_13:19) Not far from Bethel, on the border between Benjamin and Ephraim, is Taiyibeh a conical hill with a village perched aloft, which Robinson ("Bibl. Res.," 2:127) and Stanley ("Sinai and Palestine," p. 210) identify with this Ephraim. In this form the word does not appear in the Old Testament, but Ensebius and Jerome make it twelve miles from Jerusalem, on the east of the road leading to Sichem; and Josephus ("Bell. Jud:," 4:9:9) speaks of "two little towns of Bethela and Ephraim, through which Vespasian passed and left garrisons." Hengstenberg identifies it with "Baal-hazor, which is by Ephraim". (2Sa_13:23) The maps of Van der Welt and of the Palestine Exploration Society place it on the site of Ephraim, Ephron, (2Ch_13:19) or Ophrah, (Jos_18:23) about seven miles north-east from Bethel, and give as second designation Apharaim. The intelligence must have reached our Lord that the Sanhedrin had formally pronounced sentence against him. This may have induced him to retire from Jerusalem until the next great feast, when he would publicly challenge their allegiance. From this neighborhood our Lord could (as we learn from the synoptists) have easily joined the caravan from Persea, which, after crossing Jordan near Jericho, there set its face towards Jerusalem, or the caravan which may have come through Samaria to Bethel. There he abode a (tarried) with the disciples. Meta (says Godet) is not synonymous with sun , but equivalent to he confined himself in the desert region north-east of Jerusalem to the company of the twelve.
Vers. 54-57. A brief period of retirement.
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Jesus was now forced to withdraw for a time into a lonely place, so as to place himself beyond the reach of the Sanhedrim
I THE PLACE OF HIS RETIREMENT. "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence into a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples .
1. The place lay some distance north of Jerusalem, on the borders of the desert.
2. It was well adapted for a brief period of quiet and unbroken intercourse with his disciples, that he might prepare them for his approaching end.
II THE CURIOSITY OF THE COUNTRY PEOPLE AT JERUSALEM RESPECTING JESUS.
1. It was near the time of the Passover, and many Jews had gone up to purify themselves for the feast.
2. They had heard so much respecting his miracles, his parables, his discourses, that they sought him out to gratify a not unnatural curiosity. "They said among themselves, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? The question suggests that, aware of the plot of the Sanhedrin for his destruction, Jesus might stay away from the feast.
3. They had been made acquainted with the decree of the Sanhedrin. "Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had also given a commandment, that, if any man heard where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.
(1) Jesus had disappeared from Bethany immediately after the raising of Lazarus. The Jews could not trace his movements after that event.
(2) The commandment of the chief priests and Pharisees betrays an extreme anxiety to arrest Jesus, and put an end. to a career so fatally disturbing to all their ideas and hopes.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 54. Jesus therefore walked no more openly. He avoided…
54. Jesus therefore walked no more openly. He avoided them until his “hour was come,” and retired to Ephraim, a city sixteen miles northeast of Jerusalem on the borders of the wilderness.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Jesus leaves Bethany and goes to Ephraim. In verse 55 the story shifts to telling about what many of the Jews are doing now that Passover is near.
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walk openly among the Jews
Here "Jews" is a synecdoche for the Jewish leaders and "walk openly" is a metaphor for "live where everyone could see him." AT: "live where all the Jews could see him" or "walk openly among the Jewish leaders who opposed him"
the country
the rural area outside cities where fewer people live
There he stayed with the disciples
Jesus and his disciples stayed in Ephraim for a while. AT: "There he stayed with his disciples for a short period of time" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
went up to Jerusalem
The phrase "went up" is used here because Jerusalem is higher in elevation than the surrounding areas.
translationWords
walk
Jew
desert
Ephraim
disciple
Passover
Jerusalem
pure
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.