John 2:20

Translations

Modern

“This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?”

Traditional

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

Literal

Therefore the Jews said, “This temple was built in forty and six years, and You will raise it up in three days?”

Latin

Dixerunt ergo Judæi: Quadraginta et sex annis ædificatum est templum hoc, et tu in tribus diebus excitabis illud?

Interlinear

Greek

English

“This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?”

Notes

John 2:19–21

Destroy this temple: Herod the Great started rebuilding the temple's grand structure in 20 BC. The work continued until AD 64. This is why Jesus amazed his audience when he claimed he could destroy and rebuild it in a few days.

However, Jesus was speaking figuratively (using a word picture) about his own body. He described his body as the true temple, the place where God was present (see 1:14, 51).

His body would be destroyed. Three days later, God would raise him from the dead. Through his resurrection, Jesus showed that he himself was now the true place where people meet God. Because of this, the Jerusalem Temple and its sacrifices were no longer necessary.

Later, during the trial of Jesus, some people misunderstood his words. They used his statement about destroying the temple as evidence against him. They accused him of blasphemy (Mark 14:58).

John 2:1–25

In this section, Jesus appeared at two symbolic Jewish ceremonies. At a wedding in Cana (2:1–12), he replaced the ritual cleansing water with his own superior wine. Later, around Passover, he cleansed the temple (2:13–25).

Theme notes and profiles

Jewish Leaders Temple Worship The Central Sanctuary The Church as God’s Temple The Resurrection of Jesus