CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 2:20 "This temple took forty-six years to build," the Jews replied, "and You are going to raise it up in three days?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/2-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/43_Jhn_02_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 2:20 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="This temple took forty-six years to build, the Jews replied, and You are going to raise it up in three days?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/2-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/2-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/2-19.htm" title="John 2:19">◄</a> John 2:20 <a href="/john/2-21.htm" title="John 2:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/2.htm">New International Version</a> They replied, &#8220It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” <a href="/esv/john/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” <a href="/bsb/john/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” <a href="/blb/john/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore the Jews said, "This temple was built in forty and six years, and You will raise it up in three days?" <a href="/kjv/john/2.htm">King James Bible</a> Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? <a href="/nkjv/john/2.htm">New King James Version</a> Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” <a href="/nasb_/john/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” <a href="/nasb/john/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> The Jews then said, &#8220It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” <a href="/lsb/john/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and will You raise it up in three days?” <a href="/amp/john/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then the Jews replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and You will raise it up in three days?” <a href="/csb/john/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days? ” <a href="/hcsb/john/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Therefore the Jews said, &#8220This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? <a href="/cev/john/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The leaders replied, "It took 46 years to build this temple. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?" <a href="/erv/john/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? <a href="/gwt/john/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Jews said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. Do you really think you're going to rebuild it in three days?" <a href="/gnt/john/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Are you going to build it again in three days?" they asked him. "It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple!" <a href="/isv/john/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> The Jewish leaders said, "This sanctuary has been under construction for 46 years, and you're going to rebuild it in three days?" <a href="/msb/john/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?This temple took forty-six years to build,? the Jews replied, ?and You are going to raise it up in three days?? <a href="/net/john/2.htm">NET Bible</a> Then the Jewish leaders said to him, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and are you going to raise it up in three days?" <a href="/nheb/john/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The Jewish leaders therefore said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" <a href="/wbt/john/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? <a href="/wey/john/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "It has taken forty-six years," replied the Jews, "to build this Sanctuary, and will you rebuild it in three days?" <a href="/web/john/2.htm">World English Bible</a> The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> The Jews, therefore, said, “This temple was built [in] forty-six years, and will You raise it up in three days?” <a href="/blb/john/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore the Jews said, "This temple was built in forty and six years, and You will raise it up in three days?" <a href="/ylt/john/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> The Jews, therefore, said, 'Forty and six years was this sanctuary building, and wilt thou in three days raise it up?' <a href="/slt/john/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Then said the Jews, In forty-six years was this temple built, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> The Jews then said: Six and forty years was this temple in building; and wilt thou raise it up in three days? <a href="/cpdv/john/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Then the Jews said, “This temple has been built up over forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” <a href="/nabre/john/2.htm">New American Bible</a> The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” <a href="/nrsvce/john/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> The Jews said to him, It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days? <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/2.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> The Jews were saying to him: “For forty six years this temple has been being built, and will you raise it in three days?”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/2.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Then the Jews said to him: Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you rebuild it in three days? <a href="/godbey/john/2.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Then the Jews said, Forty and six years was this temple being built, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? <a href="/haweis/john/2.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Then said the Jews, This temple has been forty-six years in building, and canst thou rear it up in three days? <a href="/mace/john/2.htm">Mace New Testament</a> to this said the Jews, forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? <a href="/wey/john/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "It has taken forty-six years," replied the Jews, "to build this Sanctuary, and will you rebuild it in three days?" <a href="/worrell/john/2.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> The Jews, therefore, said, "In forty-six years this temple was built, and wilt Thou raise it up in three days?" <a href="/worsley/john/2.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Forty and six years has this temple been in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? but He spake of the temple of his body. <a href="/parallel/john/2-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=558" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/2.htm">Jesus Cleanses the Temple</a> …19Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” 20<a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: houtos (DPro-NMS) -- This; he, she, it. ">“This</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3485.htm" title="3485: naos (N-NMS) -- A temple, a shrine, that part of the temple where God himself resides. From a primary naio; a fane, shrine, temple.">temple took</a> <a href="/greek/5062.htm" title="5062: Tesserakonta (Adj-DNP) -- Forty. The decade of tessares; forty.">forty-six</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/1803.htm" title="1803: hex (Adj-DNP) -- Six. A primary numeral; six."></a> <a href="/greek/2094.htm" title="2094: etesin (N-DNP) -- A year. Apparently a primary word; a year.">years</a> <a href="/greek/3618.htm" title="3618: oikodomēthē (V-AIP-3S) -- From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or confirm.">to build,”</a> <a href="/greek/3767.htm" title="3767: oun (Conj) -- Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2453.htm" title="2453: Ioudaioi (Adj-NMP) -- Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.">Jews</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: Eipan (V-AIA-3P) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">replied,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">“and</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: sy (PPro-N2S) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">You</a> <a href="/greek/1453.htm" title="1453: egereis (V-FIA-2S) -- (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.">are going to raise it up</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/5140.htm" title="5140: trisin (Adj-DFP) -- Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; three.">three</a> <a href="/greek/2250.htm" title="2250: hēmerais (N-DFP) -- A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. ">days?”</a> 21But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/26-61.htm">Matthew 26:61</a> and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” <a href="/mark/14-58.htm">Mark 14:58</a> “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’” <a href="/acts/6-14.htm">Acts 6:14</a> For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a> The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. <a href="/john/10-18.htm">John 10:18</a> No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” <a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a> Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. <a href="/1_corinthians/3-16.htm">1 Corinthians 3:16</a> Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? <a href="/1_corinthians/6-19.htm">1 Corinthians 6:19</a> Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; <a href="/2_corinthians/6-16.htm">2 Corinthians 6:16</a> What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” <a href="/ephesians/2-21.htm">Ephesians 2:21</a> In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. <a href="/hebrews/9-11.htm">Hebrews 9:11</a> But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. <a href="/revelation/21-22.htm">Revelation 21:22</a> But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. <a href="/1_kings/6-1.htm">1 Kings 6:1</a> In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD. <a href="/1_kings/6-37.htm">1 Kings 6:37-38</a> The foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Ziv. / In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So he built the temple in seven years. <a href="/2_chronicles/3-2.htm">2 Chronicles 3:2</a> Solomon began construction on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/19-43.htm">Build</a> <a href="/luke/17-28.htm">Building</a> <a href="/luke/4-2.htm">Forty</a> <a href="/numbers/2-11.htm">Forty-Six</a> <a href="/john/2-18.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/john/2-19.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/hosea/9-12.htm">Rear</a> <a href="/john/2-19.htm">Rebuild</a> <a href="/john/2-19.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/john/2-6.htm">Six</a> <a href="/john/2-19.htm">Temple</a> <a href="/john/2-19.htm">Three</a> <a href="/luke/22-61.htm">Wilt</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/7-49.htm">Build</a> <a href="/john/2-21.htm">Building</a> <a href="/acts/1-3.htm">Forty</a> <a href="/numbers/1-21.htm">Forty-Six</a> <a href="/john/3-1.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/john/5-21.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/acts/7-21.htm">Rear</a> <a href="/acts/15-16.htm">Rebuild</a> <a href="/john/2-21.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/john/4-6.htm">Six</a> <a href="/john/2-21.htm">Temple</a> <a href="/john/6-19.htm">Three</a> <a href="/john/5-6.htm">Wilt</a><div class="vheading2">John 2</div>1. <a href="/john/2-1.htm">Jesus turns water into wine;</a> 12. <a href="/john/2-12.htm">departs into Capernaum,</a> 13. <a href="/john/2-13.htm">and to Jerusalem,</a> 14. <a href="/john/2-14.htm">where he purges the temple of buyers and sellers.</a> 18. <a href="/john/2-18.htm">He foretells his death and resurrection.</a> 23. <a href="/john/2-23.htm">Many believe because of his miracles, but he will not trust himself with them.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>“This temple took forty-six years to build,” The Jews are referring to the Second Temple, which was originally constructed under Zerubbabel after the Babylonian exile and later extensively renovated by Herod the Great. Herod began the renovation around 20-19 BC, and the construction continued long after his death. The forty-six years mentioned here likely refer to the time elapsed since Herod's renovation began. This statement reflects the pride and significance the Jewish people placed on the temple as the center of their religious life and identity. The temple was not only a place of worship but also a symbol of national pride and God's presence among His people.the Jews replied, The term "the Jews" in the Gospel of John often refers to the Jewish leaders or authorities, rather than the Jewish people as a whole. In this context, it likely refers to the religious leaders who were questioning Jesus' authority. This interaction highlights the tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities, a recurring theme in the Gospel of John. The leaders were often skeptical of Jesus' claims and sought to challenge Him, as they were concerned about maintaining their religious and social order.“and You are going to raise it up in three days?” Jesus' statement about raising the temple in three days is a prophetic reference to His resurrection. While the Jewish leaders interpreted His words literally, Jesus was speaking metaphorically about His body as the true temple. This misunderstanding underscores the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders and their inability to grasp the deeper truths Jesus was revealing. The resurrection of Jesus is a pivotal event in Christian theology, signifying victory over sin and death and affirming Jesus' divine authority. This statement also connects to other scriptural references where Jesus speaks of His death and resurrection, such as in <a href="/matthew/12-40.htm">Matthew 12:40</a> and <a href="/mark/8-31.htm">Mark 8:31</a>. The concept of Jesus as the temple is further explored in the New Testament, where believers are described as the body of Christ, the new temple indwelt by the Holy Spirit (<a href="/1_corinthians/3-16.htm">1 Corinthians 3:16-17</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> Central figure in the passage, who speaks of raising the temple in three days, referring to His resurrection. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_jews.htm">The Jews</a> The religious leaders or people questioning Jesus, misunderstanding His reference to the temple. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_temple_in_jerusalem.htm">The Temple in Jerusalem</a> The physical structure that took forty-six years to build, representing the center of Jewish worship. 4. <a href="/topical/h/herod_the_great.htm">Herod the Great</a> The ruler who initiated the renovation of the Second Temple, which is the temple being referred to. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_resurrection.htm">The Resurrection</a> The event Jesus alludes to, symbolizing His power over death and the fulfillment of His mission.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_jesus'_words.htm">Understanding Jesus' Words</a> Jesus often spoke in metaphors and parables. It's crucial to seek spiritual understanding beyond the literal interpretation. <a href="/topical/t/the_significance_of_the_resurrection.htm">The Significance of the Resurrection</a> The resurrection is central to Christian faith, demonstrating Jesus' victory over sin and death. <a href="/topical/t/the_true_temple.htm">The True Temple</a> Jesus Himself is the true temple, the meeting place between God and humanity. Believers are called to be living temples, housing the Holy Spirit. <a href="/topical/m/misunderstanding_and_faith.htm">Misunderstanding and Faith</a> The Jews' misunderstanding of Jesus' words highlights the importance of faith and spiritual insight in comprehending God's plans. <a href="/topical/g/god's_timing_and_plans.htm">God's Timing and Plans</a> The Jews focused on the time it took to build the physical temple, but God's plans often transcend human timelines and understanding.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) They profess to seek a sign for evidence; they use it for cavil.Forty and six years was this temple in building.--It is implied that it was not then finished. The date of the completion is given by Josephus (Ant. xx. 9, ? 7) as A.D. 64. The same author gives the eighteenth year of the reign of Herod the Great (Nisan 734--Nisan 735, A.U.100) as the commencement of the renewal of the Temple of Zerubbabel (Ant. xv. 11, ? 1). This would give A.U.C. 781-782, i.e., A.D. 28-29, as the date of the cleansing. In another passage Josephus gives the month Kislev A.U.C. 734, as the date of the festival connected with the building of the Temple (Ant. xiv. 16, ? 4). This would fix our present date as the Passover of A.U.C. 781, i.e., A.D. 28. St. Luke furnishes us with an independent date for the commencement of the ministry of John the Baptist. If we count the "fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius (comp. Note on <a href="/luke/3-1.htm" title="Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,">Luke 3:1</a>) from the commencement of his first reign with Augustus (A.U.C. 765, i.e., A.D. 12), this date will be A.U.C. 780, i.e., A.D. 27. The present Passover was in the following year, i.e., as before, A.D. 28. The sole reign of Tiberius commenced two years later (A.D. 14), so that while we have certainly no discrepancy between these independent dates, we have probably a very striking coincidence. Its bearing upon the authenticity of the present Gospel is evident.Rear it up represents the same Greek word as "raise up," in the previous verse; but the word fits the double meaning. It is the regular term for raising from the dead; but it is also used of rearing up a building, as, e.g., in 3 Ezra 5:44; <a href="//apocrypha.org/ecclesiasticus/49-11.htm" title="How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand:">Ecclesiasticus 49:11</a>.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 20, 21. - The immediate reference of the words to the building before them was only one of a thousand misapplications of the words of Jesus. The seeds of truth which his words contain would take root in after days. Meanwhile the Jews answered and said - taking the obvious and literal sense of the words, and treating them with an ill-concealed irony, if not scoff, to which our Lord made no reply - In forty and six years was this temple built as we see it today. This is one of the most important chronological data for the life of our Lord. Herod the Great, according to Josephus ('Ant.,' 15:11 1), commenced the rebuilding of the second temple in the autumn of the eighteenth year of his reign. We find that his first year reckoned from Nisan, A.U.C. 717-718. Consequently, the eighteenth year must have commenced between Nisan, A.U.C. 734-735 and 735-736. The forty-sixth year after this would make the. Passover at which this speech was delivered - the spring of A.U.C. 781 (Wieseler, 'Chronicles Synopsis of the Four Gospels,' translation; and Herzog, 'Encyc.,' 21:546. The fact that Josephus, in his 'Bell. Jud.,' 1:21, gives the fifteenth year of Herod's reign instead of the eighteenth, is shown by Wieseler to be an error of the transcriber, see p. 152, note), which, if we compare with the other hints, is a fixed point from which to reckon the birth year and death year of our Lord. The "about thirty years old" of the Lord at his baptism throws us to about A.U.C. 751, B.C. 2, for the year of his birth, and if there be only one Passover mentioned in John's Gospel between this and the last Passover, it gives A.U.C. 783 for the year of his death. This date is at least coincident with the date derived from the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, as that of the commencement of the mission of John (see my examination of these dates in appendix to 'John the Baptist'). The temple which Herod began to repair in the eighteenth year of his reign was not completed until A.D. , under Herod Agrippa II., a very short period before its utter destruction. The irony and scorn are manifest: Wilt thou raise it up in three days? John shows, in ver. 21, that, in the deep sense in which our Lord used the words, he abundantly justified his promise. But he - ἐκεῖνος, the Lord, not the people, not the disciples - spake of the temple of his body. This is the reflection which was made upon the word of Jesus by the evangelists in after days. Even Mark (<a href="/mark/14-58.htm">Mark 14:58</a>) reveals the presence of a spiritual interpretation of the words by some of his unsympathetic listeners. It must not be forgotten that, in the synoptists, we find the presence of the idea that his service was a temple service, and that he was greater than the temple (<a href="/matthew/12-6.htm">Matthew 12:6</a>; cf. also <a href="/hebrews/3-6.htm">Hebrews 3:6</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/12-12.htm">1 Corinthians 12:12, 27</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/6-15.htm">1 Corinthians 6:15</a>; <a href="/romans/12-5.htm">Romans 12:5</a>; <a href="/ephesians/4-12.htm">Ephesians 4:12</a>; <a href="/ephesians/1-22.htm">Ephesians 1:22, 23</a>; with Ephesians 2:19-22). Nor must it be forgotten that the Logos itself was, in the figurative language of Philo, spoken of as the house, or temple, of God. Later rabbinical representations also describe "the body of man as the temple in which the Shechinah operates" (Wunsche). A difficulty arises from the Lord's having claimed in these words to be on the point of raising himself from the dead, whereas elsewhere his resurrection is referred to the mighty power of God, as in ver. 22; <a href="/acts/2-24.htm">Acts 2:24</a>; <a href="/acts/3-15.htm">Acts 3:15</a>; <a href="/acts/4-10.htm">Acts 4:10</a>; <a href="/romans/4-24.htm">Romans 4:24</a>; <a href="/romans/8-11.htm">Romans 8:11</a>; <a href="/galatians/1-1.htm">Galatians 1:1</a>; <a href="/ephesians/1-20.htm">Ephesians 1:20</a>, etc. Without doubt, God and the Father, the Supreme Power, was thus seen in living activity; but the Divine nature of Christ not infrequently so steps forward into his consciousness that he can say, "I and the Father are one;" and (ch. 10:17, 18) "I will lay down my life that I may take it again" (cf. <a href="/ephesians/4-8.htm">Ephesians 4:8-10</a>). <a href="/commentaries/john/2-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>“This οὗτος (houtos) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. temple {took} ναὸς (naos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3485.htm">Strong's 3485: </a> A temple, a shrine, that part of the temple where God himself resides. From a primary naio; a fane, shrine, temple. forty-six Τεσσεράκοντα (Tesserakonta) Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5062.htm">Strong's 5062: </a> Forty. The decade of tessares; forty. years ἔτεσιν (etesin) Noun - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2094.htm">Strong's 2094: </a> A year. Apparently a primary word; a year. to build,” οἰκοδομήθη (oikodomēthē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3618.htm">Strong's 3618: </a> From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or confirm. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Jews Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2453.htm">Strong's 2453: </a> Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah. replied, Εἶπαν (Eipan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. You σὺ (sy) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. are going to raise it up ἐγερεῖς (egereis) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1453.htm">Strong's 1453: </a> (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. three τρισὶν (trisin) Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5140.htm">Strong's 5140: </a> Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; 'three'. days?” ἡμέραις (hēmerais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2250.htm">Strong's 2250: </a> A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/2-20.htm">NT Gospels: John 2:20 The Jews therefore said Forty-six years was (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/2-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 2:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 2:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/2-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 2:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 2:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>