John 12 11

John 12:11 kjv

Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

John 12:11 nkjv

because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

John 12:11 niv

for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

John 12:11 esv

because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

John 12:11 nlt

for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

John 12 verses

John 12 11 Meaning

This verse succinctly explains why the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus. His resurrection was an undeniable sign of Jesus's power and divine authority. As a result of Lazarus being alive and a visible testament to this miracle, many individuals within Judea, especially from Jerusalem, were departing from the prevailing skepticism or allegiance to the hostile religious authorities and placing their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

John 12 11 Context

John 12:11 follows Jesus's miraculous resurrection of Lazarus from the dead in John chapter 11. This specific verse reveals the motive behind the chief priests' murderous plot against Lazarus (mentioned in John 12:10). The resurrection was such a public and undeniable event, especially considering Lazarus had been dead for four days, that it dramatically swayed public opinion in Jerusalem just before the Passover. Many who witnessed or heard of the miracle were drawn to believe in Jesus, undermining the authority and influence of the Jewish religious leaders. The overall context of John 12 depicts Jesus's triumphant, yet ultimately condemned, entry into Jerusalem, leading to His final week, contrasting His growing public appeal with the escalating hatred of the religious establishment. Historically, during Passover, Jerusalem was overflowing with pilgrims, amplifying the ripple effect of Jesus's miracles and the consequent fear among the Jewish leadership of a Roman intervention due to public unrest if Jesus's following grew too large. This created direct polemic against those religious leaders who preferred their established power over the evident truth of God's work.

John 12 11 Word analysis

• because (ὅτι - hoti): A conjunction introducing the reason or cause for the action described in the preceding verse (the chief priests' plot to kill Lazarus). It emphasizes a direct causal link.
• on account of him (δι' αὐτὸν - di' auton): This refers specifically to Lazarus. The Greek preposition dia (διά) with the accusative auton (αὐτόν) signifies "on account of" or "because of." Lazarus's continued existence as a living, breathing testament to Jesus's power was the catalyst for the multitude turning to Christ. His mere presence was a powerful, silent sermon, impossible for the leaders to deny.
• many (πολλοὶ - polloi): Not "all," but a significant number, indicating a widespread movement. It implies a substantial portion of the population was affected, signifying a visible shift in allegiance.
• of the Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων - tōn Ioudaiōn): In John's Gospel, "the Jews" often refers not to all Israelites universally, but specifically to the Jewish authorities and those who were hostile to Jesus's claims and ministry in Judea, particularly in Jerusalem. Here, it denotes many individuals who were part of this wider Judean populace, but not necessarily of the opposition leadership. It indicates their departure from the dominant skeptical or antagonistic views.
• were going away (ὑπῆγον - hypēgon): Imperfect indicative tense of hypagō (ὑπάγω). This verb suggests a continuous or repeated action, indicating a steady, ongoing departure. They "kept going away" from the influence or belief system promoted by the Jewish authorities, aligning themselves instead with Jesus. This implies a gradual but persistent shift.
• and (καὶ - kai): Connects two continuous actions, indicating that "going away" and "believing" were happening simultaneously or as consequences of one another.
• believing (ἐπίστευον - episteuon): Imperfect indicative tense of pisteuō (πιστεύω), meaning "to believe," "to have faith," "to trust." Like "were going away," the imperfect tense shows a continuous or developing process. They "kept on believing" or "were coming to believe" in Jesus, signifying a genuine and persistent commitment rather than a fleeting moment of admiration.
• in Jesus (εἰς τὸν Ἰησοῦν - eis ton Iēsoun): The Greek preposition eis (εἰς) with pisteuō expresses directing one's faith "into" or "onto" someone, denoting a complete trust and reliance upon Him, not just an intellectual assent to facts about Him. This phrase clarifies the object of their newfound faith.

Words-group analysis:

• "because on account of him": This phrase underlines the immense evidential weight of Lazarus's resurrection. It was the direct, undeniable cause for a significant spiritual movement. The very physical presence of a once-dead man walking was the ultimate testimony.
• "many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus": This group of phrases highlights the impact on the audience. It signifies a defection from established norms or influences (the "going away") and a corresponding redirection of faith and loyalty ("believing in Jesus"). It's a statement about a profound, personal conversion process for many who witnessed or heard of the sign. It contrasts the widespread positive reception among the populace with the increasing, hardened animosity of the leadership.

John 12 11 Bonus section

The significance of Lazarus in this verse extends beyond his personal miracle; he becomes a tangible "signpost" (Greek: semeion) for Jesus's claim as the Resurrection and the Life (Jn 11:25). The continuous tense verbs "were going away" (hypēgon) and "believing" (episteuon) underscore that this was not a fleeting emotional reaction but an ongoing, developing commitment. Lazarus was a silent, living martyr of sorts, simply by existing. His resurrected life served as a direct challenge to the unbelief of the religious authorities, acting as a stumbling block to some while guiding others to faith. This plot against Lazarus is unparalleled; no other individual raised from the dead in the Bible is targeted for execution merely for being alive. It profoundly demonstrates the depths of the opposition's fear and hardened hearts against the Light of the World and any manifestation of His divine power.

John 12 11 Commentary

John 12:11 stands as a powerful testament to the evangelistic potency of a life supernaturally touched by God. Lazarus, now alive, was a living embodiment of Jesus's power over death, a miracle so undeniable that it caused a substantial movement of people towards belief in Jesus. The "many of the Jews" here indicates not just casual onlookers, but individuals from within the very population sphere the religious authorities sought to control, who were actively disassociating from traditional views or leadership resistance and committing to Christ. This verse reveals the deep spiritual blindness and hardening of heart among the chief priests. Instead of glorifying God for such an incredible display of life-giving power, they perceived Lazarus as a threat to their religious and political dominion. His existence, for them, necessitated a conspiracy, ironically bringing Jesus closer to the Cross, which would become the ultimate testament to His victory over death. The verse thus captures the growing divide: genuine faith ignited by divine manifestation versus entrenched power fiercely resistant to God's truth, illustrating how evidence of God's power can either draw hearts to faith or provoke deeper spiritual animosity.