What are the Pharisees saying to search in John 7:52?

Question

The Pharisees say to Nicodemus in John 7:52:

ἐραύνησον καὶ ἴδε ὅτι ἐκ τῆς Γαλιλαίας προφήτης οὐκ ἐγείρεται

Or

Search and see that a prophet has not arisen from Galilee

Is there any way to ascertain what they were instructing Nicodemus to search? Was this an idiomatic usage that meant search the Scriptures, or might they have been using it to refer to rabbinical writings or even other historical documents? It is interesting that a few verses before (49) they said, "The crowds don't know the law; they are accursed." This would lend weight to understanding it as search the law or Scriptures, but is there reason for thinking that it may refer to a broader category of writings?

Answer 1

I would suggest two reasons to think they are referring to simply the Scriptures.

First, there is only one other use of the word search (ἐραυνάω) in the Fourth Gospel, which is in John 5:39. There Jesus says:

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Since there are no other uses in John's gospel, this inclines me to believe they intend Nicodemus to search the Scriptures.

There are few other uses of the same word in the New Testament as a whole. Romans 8:27, 1 Cor. 2:19, and Rev. 2:23 all deal with the Spirit searching minds/hearts. The only other verse similar at all is 1 Peter 1:10-11, which is difficult in its own right. There the prophets searching intently with great care, inquiring as to the time and person of the Christ. What they are searching there is unclear and may also have to do with the Spirit and so is of little help in our context.

Second, just before this verse in chapter 7, the people are discussing the same thing:

Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

Since the discussion among the crowds regarding the Christ's hometown revolves around the Scripture, there is no reason to think John means anything different here in verse 52. The leaders are simply (and with great irony) putting their weight behind the interpretation that no prophet arises from Galilee, but that the Christ is from Bethlehem.

Answer 2

I agree with Soldarnal but I think we can get even closer to the scripture John intends for us to "search and see." John is, in fact, working with many ironies in this passage. The Pharisees as teachers of the scriptures should know Isaiah 9:1-7.

The issue 7:40-43 and then extending through verse 52 is whether or not Jesus' coming from Galilee prevents him from being the Christ, the Son of David and or (the) Prophet. The people ask, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?" and

"has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was."

The Pharisees also believe that "no prophet arises from Galilee" and challenge Nicodemus to prove them wrong by searching the scriptures. But what if we did, in fact, search the scripture as the Pharisees challenge? Galilee is only mentioned a few times in the Old Testament. The most prominent being Isaiah 9:1-7. And it's here that Isaiah prophesies,

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time, he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined... For to us, a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

It needs to be noted that the very next verse after John 7:52 is not 7:53 or any verse through 8:11. The earliest manuscripts do not contain this section. The very next verse is 8:12 and here Jesus says,

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

Both the allusion and irony are biting. It is those who truly "know the law" who recognize Jesus (John 5:39) for who he is. For John, the Pharisees, who claim to know the scriptures, don't really know it at all.

Answer 3

As with almost all biblical texts, it is almost impossible to discern the one true meaning. But the passage could mean that the Pharisees are saying that because he, for some inexplicable reason, supported the prophet, they asked if he was from the Galilee as well. Because that would explain why he would support him out of, what we would call today, "hometown pride". And when they say in the passage you cite: "Search and see that a prophet has not risen from Galilee." I think they are being a bit more literal than you say. I think they are saying that Nicodemus should go see for himself, that he can go look in the Galilee area (one of the more poverty-stricken areas at the time) and see that no one with God's blessing could possible end up there. For one chosen by God would obviously be of the upper class, not the poor folk in the Galilee.