John 7:4
New International Version
No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”

New Living Translation
You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!”

English Standard Version
For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”

Berean Standard Bible
For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.”

Berean Literal Bible
For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be in public. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."

King James Bible
For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

New King James Version
For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

New American Standard Bible
For no one does anything in secret when he himself is striving to be known publicly. If You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.”

NASB 1995
“For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

NASB 1977
“For no one does anything in secret, when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

Legacy Standard Bible
For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself publicly to the world.”

Amplified Bible
No one does anything in secret when he wants to be known publicly. If You [must] do these things, show Yourself openly to the world and make Yourself known!”

Christian Standard Bible
For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

American Standard Version
For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world.

Contemporary English Version
No one does anything in secret, if they want others to know about them. So let the world know what you are doing!"

English Revised Version
For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
No one does things secretly when he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, you should let the world see you."

Good News Translation
People don't hide what they are doing if they want to be well known. Since you are doing these things, let the whole world know about you!" (

International Standard Version
since no one acts in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you're going to do these things, you should reveal yourself to the world!"

Majority Standard Bible
For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.”

NET Bible
For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself does anything in secret. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."

New Heart English Bible
For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world."

Webster's Bible Translation
For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, show thyself to the world.

Weymouth New Testament
For no one acts in secret, desiring all the while to be himself known publicly. Since you are doing these things, show yourself openly to the world."

World English Bible
For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be in public; if you do these things—reveal Yourself to the world”;

Berean Literal Bible
For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be in public. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."

Young's Literal Translation
for no one in secret doth anything, and himself seeketh to be in public; if thou dost these things -- manifest thyself to the world;'

Smith's Literal Translation
For none does any thing in secret, and seeks himself to be in freedom of speech. If thou do these, make thyself manifest to the world.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For there is no man that doth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, manifest thyself to the world.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Of course, no one does anything in secret, but he himself seeks to be in the public view. Since you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.”

New American Bible
No one works in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.”

New Revised Standard Version
for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For there is no man, who does anything in secret and yet wants it to become known. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the people.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For no man does anything in secret and wants it done openly. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
for no one does any thing in secret, while he himself seeks to be before the public. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.

Godbey New Testament
If thou doest these things, show thyself to the world.

Haweis New Testament
For no man doeth any thing in secret, yet seeketh himself to appear publicly: if thou doest these things, exhibit thyself to the world.

Mace New Testament
for no body acts in private, that designs to distinguish himself: since you do such things, shew yourself to the world.

Weymouth New Testament
For no one acts in secret, desiring all the while to be himself known publicly. Since you are doing these things, show yourself openly to the world."

Worrell New Testament
for no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to he known openly. If Thou doest these things, manifest Thyself to the world."

Worsley New Testament
For no man doth any thing in secret, who is himself desirous to be known in public. As thou dost these wonderful things, make thyself known to the world.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Teaches at the Feast
3So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. 4For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 3:20-21
Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

John 18:20
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

Matthew 6:1
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

John 12:42-43
Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. / For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Mark 4:21-22
Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand? / For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

Luke 8:16-17
No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light. / For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.

Luke 11:33
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

John 5:41-44
I do not accept glory from men, / but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. / I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him. ...

1 John 1:5-7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Proverbs 4:18
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Psalm 37:6
He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.

Proverbs 25:27
It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.

1 Samuel 16:7
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.”


Treasury of Scripture

For there is no man that does any thing in secret, and he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.

there.

Proverbs 18:1,2
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom…

Matthew 6:1,2,5,16
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven…

Matthew 23:5
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

shew.

John 18:20
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

1 Kings 22:13
And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.

Matthew 4:6
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

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John 7
1. Jesus reproves the ambition and boldness of his kinsmen;
10. goes up from Galilee to the feast of tabernacles;
14. teaches in the temple.
40. Various opinions of him among the people.
45. The Pharisees are angry that their officers took him not,
50. and chide with Nicodemus for taking his side.














For no one who wants to be known publicly
This phrase addresses the human desire for recognition and fame. The Greek word for "known" here is "φανερός" (phaneros), which means to be visible or manifest. In the context of Jesus' ministry, this reflects the expectation that someone with a significant message or mission would naturally seek public acknowledgment. Historically, leaders and teachers in Jewish culture often sought public platforms to gain followers and influence. This phrase sets the stage for understanding the tension between Jesus' divine mission and human expectations.

acts in secret
The Greek word for "secret" is "κρυπτῷ" (krypto), meaning hidden or concealed. This highlights the contrast between public ministry and private actions. In the context of Jesus' life, His miracles and teachings were often done openly, yet His ultimate purpose and identity were not fully revealed until His crucifixion and resurrection. This phrase challenges the notion that true impact requires public display, suggesting instead that divine purposes often unfold in ways that defy human logic.

Since You are doing these things
The phrase "these things" refers to the miracles and teachings of Jesus. The Greek word "ποιεῖς" (poieis) implies ongoing action, indicating that Jesus' works were continuous and evident. This reflects the historical reality of Jesus' ministry, which was marked by consistent acts of compassion and power. The phrase underscores the expectation that such significant works should naturally lead to public recognition, yet it also foreshadows the misunderstanding of Jesus' true mission.

show Yourself to the world
The Greek word for "world" is "κόσμος" (kosmos), which can mean the physical world or the realm of human society. This phrase captures the disciples' and the public's expectation that Jesus should reveal His identity and mission to a broader audience. In a historical context, the Jewish people anticipated a Messiah who would assert His authority and establish a visible kingdom. However, Jesus' mission was to transform the world through spiritual means, challenging the conventional understanding of power and influence.

(4) For there is no man.--His course of action seems to them to contradict His personal claim. It is opposed, they think, to the common-sense conduct of mankind.

If thou do these things.--The emphasis is on these things. There is no doubt that He does them; but if the acts themselves are such as they seem to be, and establish the claim which He bases on them, they should be done in Jerusalem, not in the villages of Galilee. They are for the world, and not for the retirement of home.

Verse 4. - For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. Vulgate, in palam esse. Lucke translates in Latin, "idemque cupit celeber ease." The αὐτός answers to the subject of the verb "doeth," who yet is denied to exist by the οὐδείς. The ἐν παῥῤησίᾳ εϊναι says Meyer, is "to be the opposite of a shy and timid nature," which is very unmeaning. Grimm says of the phrase ἐν παῥῤησίᾳ, "Is se gerendi modus quo aliquis omnibus conspicuus est," and justifies it by this passage and by John 11:54; Coss. 2:15 (cf. Wisd. 5:1, Τότε στήσεται ἐν παῥῤησίᾳ πολλῇ ὁ δίκαιος). So Luthardt: "It denotes that which is open, in contrast to that which is concealed." Westcott settles the meaning of the word by the remark that "the phrase (בפרהסיא) is commonly used by the rabbinical writers for 'in public,' as opposed to 'in secret.'" The man who persists in quiet, secret ways of acting, and strenuously avoids publicity, is not the man who seeketh to be illustrious and conspicuous. The brethren see a palpable contradiction between the claims which Jesus is making and the comparative retirement to which he is confining himself. The crowds of the Galilaean lake are blank retirement when compared with the metropolis in the great climacteric festival of the year. The brethren call on Christ to solve the contradiction. It cannot be concealed that Jesus had (Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33; Luke 12:2) repeatedly said, "No man lighteth a lamp and putteth it under a bushel, but on a candlestick," etc.; and so the brothers use Christ's words against himself. But the Lord's idea of needful manifestation, both as to degree, time, and place, was accurately realized and represented in both narratives. If thou doest these things. The αἰ is simply the logical premise, without necessarily throwing doubt on the facts. It is not equal, however, to the particle ἐπει, "since." Admitting these works to be real, and these mighty deeds to be correctly reported, there, is from the standpoint of the brethren no other course than that which they suggest: Manifest thyself to the world; i.e. "proceed to the widest arena at once;" "thou art compromising thyself by thy retirement;" "what thou art doing with one hand thou art undoing with the other." "All the Israel world from all lands is crowding to the great feast, thy disciples amongst them; make thyself known; claim the place that belongs to thee." It must be remembered that the disciples (Judas, not Iscariot, especially) said on the very night of the Passion, "How is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not unto the world?" This slight note of resemblance with the form of the present admonition of the brothers, is more coincident in the letter than the spirit, and received from the Lord a profoundly different reply (see John 14:22, 23, notes).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γάρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

no one
οὐδεὶς (oudeis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

[who]
αὐτὸς (autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

wants
ζητεῖ (zētei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.

to be [known]
εἶναι (einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

publicly
παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3954: From pas and a derivative of rheo; all out-spokenness, i.e. Frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance.

acts
ποιεῖ (poiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

secret.
κρυπτῷ (kryptō)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2927: From krupto; concealed, i.e. Private.

Since
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

You are doing
ποιεῖς (poieis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

these things,
ταῦτα (tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

show
φανέρωσον (phanerōson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5319: To make clear (visible, manifest), make known. From phaneros; to render apparent.

Yourself
σεαυτὸν (seauton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4572: Of yourself.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world.”
κόσμῳ (kosmō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).


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NT Gospels: John 7:4 For no one does anything in secret (Jhn Jo Jn)
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