A.T. Robertson Commentary John 7:11

"The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?" — John 7:11 (ASV)

The Jews (ο Ιουδαιο). The hostile leaders in Jerusalem, not the Galilean crowds (7:12) nor the populace in Jerusalem (7:25).

Sought (εζητουν). Imperfect active of ζητεω, "were seeking," picture of the attitude of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus who had not yet appeared in public at the feast. In fact he had avoided Jerusalem since the collision in chapter 5. The leaders clearly wished to attack him.

Where is he? (που εστιν εκεινοσ; ). "Where is that one? (emphatic use of εκεινος as in 1:8; 9:12). Jesus had been at two feasts during his ministry (passover in 2:12ff.; possibly another passover in 5:1), but he had avoided the preceding passover (6:4; 7:1). The leaders in Jerusalem had kept in touch with Christ's work in Galilee. They anticipate a crisis in Jerusalem.