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<!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 7:24 Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/7-24.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/43_Jhn_07_24.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 7:24 - Jesus Teaches at the Feast" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.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/7-23.htm" title="John 7:23">◄</a> John 7:24 <a href="/john/7-25.htm" title="John 7:25">►</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"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/john/7.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/john/7.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/7.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/7.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Do not judge according to appearance, but judge the righteous judgment."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/7.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/7.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/7.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly <i>and</i> righteously.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/7.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Don't judge by appearances. Judge by what is right. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/7.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/7.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Stop judging by external standards, and judge by true standards." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/7.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Stop judging by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/7.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Do not form superficial judgements, but form the judgements that are just."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/7.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Do not judge according to appearance, but the righteous judgment judge.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Do not judge according to appearance, but judge the righteous judgment."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> judge not according to appearance, but the righteous judgment judge.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Judge not according to sight, but judge just judgment.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Judge not according to the appearance, but judge just judgment. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Do not judge according to appearances, but instead judge a just judgment.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/7.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Do not judge by partiality, but judge a just judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />“Do not judge with partiality, but judge just judgment.”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>Judge not according to sight, but judge righteous judgment.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />Judge not by appearance, but judge righteous judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />judge not according to appearances, but judge according to equity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Do not form superficial judgements, but form the judgements that are just."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/7-24.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=2458" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/7.htm">Jesus Teaches at the Feast</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">23</span>If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath? <span class="reftext">24</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.">Stop</a> <a href="/greek/2919.htm" title="2919: krinete (V-PMA-2P) -- Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.">judging</a> <a href="/greek/2596.htm" title="2596: kat’ (Prep) -- A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).">by</a> <a href="/greek/3799.htm" title="3799: opsin (N-AFS) -- From optanomai; properly, sight, i.e. the visage, an external show.">outward appearances,</a> <a href="/greek/235.htm" title="235: alla (Conj) -- But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.">and start</a> <a href="/greek/2919.htm" title="2919: krinete (V-PMA-2P) -- Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.">judging</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1342.htm" title="1342: dikaian (Adj-AFS) -- From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.">justly.” </a> <a href="/greek/2920.htm" title="2920: krisin (N-AFS) -- Decision; by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice."></a> </span> <span class="reftext">25</span>Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to say, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-1.htm">Matthew 7:1-2</a></span><br />“Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-1.htm">James 2:1-4</a></span><br />My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. / Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. / If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/16-7.htm">1 Samuel 16:7</a></span><br />But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-1.htm">Romans 2:1-3</a></span><br />You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. / And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. / So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/31-9.htm">Proverbs 31:9</a></span><br />Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-37.htm">Luke 6:37</a></span><br />Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/11-3.htm">Isaiah 11:3-4</a></span><br />And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, / but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/4-5.htm">1 Corinthians 4:5</a></span><br />Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-16.htm">Deuteronomy 1:16-17</a></span><br />At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. / Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Matthew 23:23</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/19-15.htm">Leviticus 19:15</a></span><br />You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-11.htm">James 4:11-12</a></span><br />Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. / There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/7-9.htm">Zechariah 7:9</a></span><br />“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/14-10.htm">Romans 14:10-13</a></span><br />Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. / It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” / So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/24-23.htm">Proverbs 24:23</a></span><br />These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/8-15.htm">John 8:15</a></b></br> Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/1-16.htm">Deuteronomy 1:16,17</a></b></br> And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear <i>the causes</i> between your brethren, and judge righteously between <i>every</i> man and his brother, and the stranger <i>that is</i> with him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/16-18.htm">Deuteronomy 16:18,19</a></b></br> Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/5-37.htm">Appearance</a> <a href="/malachi/1-9.htm">Appearances</a> <a href="/matthew/22-40.htm">Based</a> <a href="/john/5-22.htm">Decisions</a> <a href="/john/5-37.htm">Form</a> <a href="/john/5-30.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/4-5.htm">Judgements</a> <a href="/luke/22-30.htm">Judging</a> <a href="/john/5-30.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/luke/11-35.htm">Mere</a> <a href="/john/7-8.htm">Right</a> <a href="/john/5-30.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/luke/18-9.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/luke/24-31.htm">Sight</a> <a href="/john/6-43.htm">Stop</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/5-12.htm">Superficial</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_corinthians/5-12.htm">Appearance</a> <a href="/john/8-15.htm">Appearances</a> <a href="/romans/2-2.htm">Based</a> <a href="/john/8-16.htm">Decisions</a> <a href="/john/10-6.htm">Form</a> <a href="/john/7-51.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Judgements</a> <a href="/john/8-15.htm">Judging</a> <a href="/john/8-15.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/john/7-46.htm">Mere</a> <a href="/john/8-16.htm">Right</a> <a href="/john/17-25.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/john/16-8.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/john/9-11.htm">Sight</a> <a href="/john/20-17.htm">Stop</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/5-12.htm">Superficial</a><div class="vheading2">John 7</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/7-1.htm">Jesus reproves the ambition and boldness of his kinsmen;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/7-10.htm">goes up from Galilee to the feast of tabernacles;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/7-14.htm">teaches in the temple.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">40. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/7-40.htm">Various opinions of him among the people.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">45. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/7-45.htm">The Pharisees are angry that their officers took him not, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">50. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/7-50.htm">and chide with Nicodemus for taking his side.</a></span><br></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'; 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In the context of <a href="/john/7.htm">John 7</a>, Jesus is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles. The Jewish leaders were judging Him based on their legalistic interpretations and traditions rather than the truth of His teachings. This echoes <a href="/1_samuel/16-7.htm">1 Samuel 16:7</a>, where God tells Samuel not to consider appearance but to look at the heart. The cultural context of the time placed significant emphasis on external adherence to the Law, often neglecting the deeper spiritual truths. Jesus challenges this by urging a deeper, more discerning approach.<p><b>and start judging justly.</b><br>Here, Jesus calls for righteous judgment, which aligns with God's standards rather than human biases. This directive is consistent with the biblical principle of justice found throughout Scripture, such as in <a href="/deuteronomy/16-18.htm">Deuteronomy 16:18-20</a>, where judges are instructed to judge fairly. The call to judge justly is a call to discernment that goes beyond the surface, seeking truth and righteousness. This reflects the character of God, who is just and righteous in all His ways (<a href="/psalms/89-14.htm">Psalm 89:14</a>). In the broader narrative of the Gospel, Jesus embodies perfect justice and calls His followers to reflect this in their lives.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching in the temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles. He addresses the crowd, challenging their superficial judgments.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_jewish_leaders.htm">The Jewish Leaders</a></b><br>They are present in the crowd, often opposing Jesus and questioning His authority and teachings. Their judgments are often based on appearances and legalistic interpretations of the Law.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_temple_in_jerusalem.htm">The Temple in Jerusalem</a></b><br>The setting for this teaching, the temple is a place of worship and learning, where Jesus often taught and engaged with both followers and skeptics.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_feast_of_tabernacles.htm">The Feast of Tabernacles</a></b><br>A significant Jewish festival during which this event takes place. It is a time of celebration and remembrance of God's provision during the Israelites' wilderness journey.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_crowd.htm">The Crowd</a></b><br>A diverse group of people, including both supporters and skeptics of Jesus, who are listening to His teachings and witnessing His miracles.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/discernment_over_appearance.htm">Discernment Over Appearance</a></b><br>Jesus calls us to look beyond the surface and discern the true nature of situations and people. This requires spiritual insight and wisdom.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/righteous_judgment.htm">Righteous Judgment</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to judge with fairness and integrity, aligning their judgments with God's standards rather than human biases.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/avoiding_hypocrisy.htm">Avoiding Hypocrisy</a></b><br>We must be cautious of judging others while ignoring our own faults. Self-examination and humility are essential in making just judgments.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reflecting_god's_character.htm">Reflecting God's Character</a></b><br>Our judgments should reflect God's character, which is just, merciful, and loving. This involves seeking His guidance and aligning our hearts with His.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a></b><br>In a Christian community, just judgment involves holding one another accountable in love, encouraging growth and righteousness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 7</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_your_judgment_righteous.htm">Are you judging with righteous judgment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_judge_without_full_story.htm">Why judge before knowing the full story?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_greatness,_smallness.htm">Why judge before knowing the full story?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_bathsheba_in_the_bible.htm">Is it right to judge others?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(24) <span class= "bld">Judge not according to the appearance.</span>--He has put the case before them in its true light, I and from their own point of view. There was another Positive Precept of Moses which these judges were forgetting, though it, too, formed part of the first section of the Law read at Tabernacles (<a href="/context/deuteronomy/1-16.htm" title="And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brothers, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.">Deuteronomy 1:16-17</a>). (Comp. Note on <a href="/john/7-19.htm" title="Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why go you about to kill me?">John 7:19</a>.) Let them who profess to judge Him by the Law obey it, and form a just and honest opinion, and not be biased by the appearance of a mere technicality. Even if His work did fall under the condemnation of what they held to be the letter of the Mosaic law (comp. Note on <a href="/john/5-10.htm" title="The Jews therefore said to him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.">John 5:10</a>), they knew perfectly well--and their own practice as to circumcision proved this--that it did so in appearance only.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 24.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Judge not according to appearance</span> ? the superficial aspect of things, the merely formal side, the unexplained letter of the Law. <span class="greek">Οψις</span> <span class="accented">id quod sub visum cadit res in conspicuo posita.</span> According to that, the healing and the bed carrying consequent upon it would be a positive infraction of a certain enactment. <span class="cmt_word">But</span> <span class="cmt_word">judge</span> <span class="cmt_word">righteous</span> <span class="cmt_word">judgment</span>. Consider the case, and see that I have done, in this act of healing, less than you are doing yourselves, notwithstanding all your punctilio, and with a higher justification. The aorist <span class="greek">κρίνατε</span> involves probably "the one true and complete decision which the case admits" (Westcott). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/7-24.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Stop</span><br /><span class="grk">μὴ</span> <span class="translit">(mē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3361.htm">Strong's 3361: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">judging</span><br /><span class="grk">κρίνετε</span> <span class="translit">(krinete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2919.htm">Strong's 2919: </a> </span><span class="str2">Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by</span><br /><span class="grk">κατ’</span> <span class="translit">(kat’)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2596.htm">Strong's 2596: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).</span><br /><br /><span class="word">outward appearances,</span><br /><span class="grk">ὄψιν</span> <span class="translit">(opsin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3799.htm">Strong's 3799: </a> </span><span class="str2">From optanomai; properly, sight, i.e. the visage, an external show.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and start]</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀλλὰ</span> <span class="translit">(alla)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_235.htm">Strong's 235: </a> </span><span class="str2">But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">judging</span><br /><span class="grk">κρίνετε</span> <span class="translit">(krinete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2919.htm">Strong's 2919: </a> </span><span class="str2">Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">justly.”</span><br /><span class="grk">δικαίαν</span> <span class="translit">(dikaian)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1342.htm">Strong's 1342: </a> </span><span class="str2">From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/7-24.htm">NT Gospels: John 7:24 Don't judge according to appearance but judge (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/7-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 7:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 7:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/7-25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 7:25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 7:25" /></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>