John 12 10

John 12:10 kjv

But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

John 12:10 nkjv

But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also,

John 12:10 niv

So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,

John 12:10 esv

So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,

John 12:10 nlt

Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too,

John 12 verses

John 12 10 Meaning

John 12:10 reveals the malicious intent of the Jewish chief priests, who, in addition to plotting to kill Jesus, extended their conspiracy to include Lazarus. Lazarus, recently resurrected by Jesus, served as undeniable proof of Christ's miraculous power and divine authority. His very existence drew many to believe in Jesus, thus threatening the established religious leaders who feared losing their position and control. This verse starkly exposes their deep-seated spiritual blindness and desperate lengths to suppress divine truth, prioritizing their earthly power over acknowledging God's work.

John 12 10 Context

John 12:10 takes place in Jerusalem during the week leading up to Passover, a pivotal time in Jesus' ministry. It follows immediately after Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a public demonstration where crowds hailed Him as king. This fervent popular response was largely fueled by the recent, dramatic resurrection of Lazarus, which solidified Jesus' reputation as a worker of astonishing miracles (John 11). Many Jews had traveled to Bethany, where Jesus was staying, specifically to see Lazarus, who was a living testament to Jesus' power over death. For the chief priests, particularly the Sadducees who denied the resurrection of the dead, Lazarus' continued existence was an existential crisis. He was not merely a miracle recipient; he was a walking, breathing challenge to their theological positions, political stability, and authority, drawing masses away from their influence. The chief priests, already having formally decided to kill Jesus (John 11:53) out of fear that His popularity would provoke Roman intervention and the destruction of their nation and temple, now saw Lazarus as an inconvenient piece of evidence that had to be eliminated to fully suppress the movement centered around Jesus.

John 12 10 Word analysis

• But: (Greek: De, δέ) Indicates a strong contrast or opposition. In this context, it sets the chief priests' dark plotting against the joyous atmosphere of Jesus' arrival and Lazarus' continued existence.
• the chief priests: (Greek: Hoi archiereis, οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς) Refers to the powerful and influential aristocratic priestly families, mainly Sadducees, who controlled the Temple and dominated the Sanhedrin. They were the religious and political establishment of the time, largely invested in maintaining the status quo with Roman authorities.
• plotted: (Greek: Ebouleusanto, ἐβουλεύσαντο) From the verb bouleuomai, meaning "to take counsel," "to deliberate," "to resolve," or "to scheme." This term suggests a formal, intentional decision or conspiracy made through consultation and careful planning, not a sudden impulse. It implies malice aforethought.
• to put Lazarus to death: (Greek: Hina kai ton Lazaros apokteinōsin, ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν)
  • to put... to death: (Apokteinōsin, ἀποκτείνωσιν) A strong verb meaning "to kill," "to murder," or "to destroy." It signifies a cold-blooded intention to take a life.
  • Lazarus: The specific individual resurrected by Jesus (John 11). His name carries the weight of a proven miracle.
  • also: (Kai, καὶ) This small word is profoundly significant. It indicates that Lazarus' murder was not their sole or original plot; it was an addition to their primary conspiracy to kill Jesus. They had already decided on Jesus' death (Jn 11:53), and Lazarus became collateral damage, an inconvenient truth that had to be silenced alongside Jesus.
• to put Lazarus to death also: This entire phrase encapsulates the chief priests' escalating fear and malevolence. They could not deny the miracle of Lazarus' resurrection, as he was alive and visible. His very existence was an inconvenient, undeniable truth that attracted crowds and solidified belief in Jesus. To suppress the truth and retain their authority, they felt compelled to eliminate the evidence itself. This shows their absolute commitment to rejecting divine power in favor of earthly control.

John 12 10 Bonus section

The chief priests' decision to plot Lazarus' death exemplifies the irony and absurdity of human sin. Here were religious leaders, presumably guardians of life and divine law, conspiring to extinguish life, specifically one that God Himself had just restored. Their actions highlight a deep-seated spiritual pathology where fear and self-preservation overshadow righteousness and recognition of divine work. This contrasts sharply with God's nature, who is the giver of life. It also shows a complete misunderstanding or outright rejection of the very God they claimed to serve. By attempting to put Lazarus back in the grave, they were metaphorically, and literally, attempting to nullify God's miraculous intervention, a futile endeavor against God's sovereign will and redemptive plan. Their plan to eliminate Lazarus was ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the spread of the Gospel, demonstrating that human machinations cannot thwart God's ultimate purposes.

John 12 10 Commentary

John 12:10 offers a stark glimpse into the hardened hearts and desperate measures of the chief priests. Their initial conspiracy centered on eliminating Jesus, whom they perceived as a political and religious threat. However, Lazarus, whom Jesus had called forth from the tomb, stood as a living monument to Christ's unparalleled power over death. His miraculous return attracted many to faith in Jesus, undermining the priests' authority and theological positions, especially as Sadducees who denied resurrection. Thus, Lazarus transformed from a beneficiary of Jesus' miracle into an unwelcome testament, becoming a secondary target in their deadly plot.

This verse reveals the tragic extent of their spiritual blindness and malice: rather than marvel at God's miraculous work and acknowledge divine power, they sought to silence the evidence. They were willing to commit another murder—this time of an innocent man resurrected by God—simply to preserve their own power, position, and perceived peace with Rome. Their actions highlight a core human failing: when confronted with undeniable truth that threatens established order or personal comfort, some choose to eliminate the truth-bearer rather than embrace transformation. It stands as a chilling reminder of the lengths to which those who reject divine light will go to suppress its manifestation in the world.