John 12:13 kjv
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
John 12:13 nkjv
took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!"
John 12:13 niv
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!"
John 12:13 esv
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
John 12:13 nlt
took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, "Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!
Hail to the King of Israel!"
John 12 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 118:26 | Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord... | The direct source of the crowd's acclamation. |
| Zech 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!... behold, your King is coming to you... humble and mounted on a donkey. | Prophecy of the Messiah's humble, kingly entry, fulfilled in John 12:14-15. |
| Mat 21:9 | And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” | Parallel account in Matthew, linking Jesus to the "Son of David" lineage. |
| Mark 11:9 | And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” | Parallel account in Mark, similar phrasing. |
| Mark 11:10 | “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” | Mark's unique addition, highlighting kingdom expectations. |
| Luke 19:38 | Saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” | Parallel account in Luke, explicitly calling Him "the King." |
| John 1:49 | Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” | Early recognition of Jesus' kingship, echoed by the crowd. |
| John 6:15 | Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. | Earlier instance of the crowd wanting to make Jesus king, Jesus avoids it until His chosen timing and manner. |
| Ps 118:25 | Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! | The immediate preceding verse to Ps 118:26, from which "Hosanna" derives its meaning of "save us now!" |
| Deut 33:29 | Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord... | Refers to the unique blessedness and salvation associated with Israel, reflecting their hope for a king/savior. |
| Mal 3:1 | Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple... | Prophecy of the Lord's sudden coming to His temple, echoing the unexpected and triumphant entry. |
| Isa 9:6 | 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. | Messianic prophecy foretelling a king of immense power and peace. |
| Isa 62:11 | Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’ | Prophecy of Zion's salvation coming, reinforcing the crowd's hopeful acclamation. |
| 1 Sam 10:24 | And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” | Similar popular acclamation for an earthly king, providing an Old Testament precedent for public acclaim. |
| John 12:12 | The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. | Immediate preceding verse, providing the setting for the event. |
| John 12:17-18 | The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness... That was why the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had done this sign. | Explains the immediate catalyst for the crowd's excitement and actions. |
| Rev 7:9 | After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” | Echoes the use of palm branches and joyful acclamation in an eschatological setting, foreshadowing future praise. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things... | Reinforces Jesus' unique divine status as God's ultimate messenger and King. |
| Rev 19:16 | On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. | Ultimate fulfillment of Jesus' kingship, surpassing the expectations of the crowd. |
| Luke 2:10-11 | And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” | The initial angelic proclamation of Jesus as Savior and Lord, setting the stage for later public recognition. |
| John 18:37 | Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” | Jesus confirms His kingship to Pilate, but clarifies its nature is spiritual and truth-based, not earthly. |
| Matt 21:4-5 | This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” | Matthew directly states the fulfillment of Zech 9:9 in this event. |
John 12 verses
John 12 13 Meaning
John 12:13 describes the fervent acclamation of a large crowd during Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Carrying palm branches, they greeted Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna!" and "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" This verse encapsulates their ecstatic recognition of Jesus as a Messianic figure, arriving to fulfill prophecies, particularly following the widely known miracle of Lazarus' resurrection. It expresses both a plea for deliverance (inherent in "Hosanna") and joyous praise, acknowledging His divine commission and royal claim.
John 12 13 Context
John chapter 12 details the events immediately preceding the final Passover in Jerusalem, specifically the Triumphal Entry. Days earlier, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11), a monumental miracle that drew significant attention and stirred widespread belief in Jesus as the Messiah among the Jewish populace. News of this event, combined with the approach of Passover when large crowds gathered in Jerusalem, amplified the fervor. The crowd, largely Galilean pilgrims and locals aware of Lazarus' resurrection, rushed out to meet Jesus, perceiving Him as the long-awaited Messianic King who would liberate Israel. Jesus' deliberate entry on a donkey (John 12:14) further signals His intentional fulfillment of prophecy. This scene dramatically contrasts with the escalating opposition from the religious authorities, particularly the chief priests and Pharisees, who viewed Jesus and the accompanying enthusiasm as a threat to their authority and to the established order under Roman rule (John 11:47-48, 12:19). The crowd's expectations were largely earthly and political, desiring a king to overthrow Roman occupation, whereas Jesus' kingship was spiritual and eternal.
John 12 13 Word analysis
- Took (ἔλαβον - elabon): Implies an active taking or grasping of something readily available. Here, palm branches were likely common in the area or specifically acquired for this celebratory greeting, echoing traditional festive practices.
- Branches (τὰ βάϊα - ta baia): Specifically "palm branches." Palm trees were symbolic of victory, triumph, prosperity, and joy in ancient Judaism (e.g., in the Feast of Booths, Lev 23:40). Their use here underscores the crowd's recognition of Jesus as a triumphant figure, similar to how victorious generals or kings were welcomed. In Rev 7:9, palm branches are seen in the hands of the redeemed worshipping God and the Lamb, signifying eternal victory.
- Palm trees (τῶν φοινίκων - tōn phoinikōn): Refers to the type of tree from which the branches came. The association with palm trees deepens the symbolism of national pride and victory for Israel.
- Went out (ἐξῆλθον - exēlthon): Denotes an intentional movement of the crowd to meet Jesus, rather than a chance encounter. This signifies their anticipation and enthusiasm for His arrival.
- To meet (εἰς ὑπάντησιν - eis hypantēsin): A phrase used for a formal, honorary welcoming, often extended to dignitaries, kings, or military leaders. It conveys a sense of great respect and anticipation.
- Him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers to Jesus, highlighting Him as the sole object of their acclamation.
- Crying out (ἐκραύγαζον - ekrauǵazon): Imperfect tense, suggesting continuous, loud shouting. This depicts the passionate, overwhelming nature of the crowd's vocal welcome.
- Hosanna (Ὡσαννά - Hōsanna): A transliteration of the Aramaic/Hebrew הוֹשִׁיעָה־נָּא (hoshiana), literally meaning "save, please!" or "save now!" Originally a plea for deliverance (Ps 118:25), it had evolved into an exclamation of praise and joy by this period, similar to "Hallelujah!" but with the underlying nuance of "Deliver us!" or "Long live!" It implies their desire for Jesus to act as a liberator.
- Blessed (Εὐλογημένος - Eulogēmenos): Means "praised," "honored," or "spoken well of." It carries a divine blessing, signifying divine approval or an acknowledgement of someone acting with God's authority. This directly quotes Psalm 118:26.
- He who comes (ὁ ἐρχόμενος - ho erchomenos): A definitive Messianic title, often used in Judaism to refer to the Messiah (e.g., Mt 11:3, Luke 7:19-20). By using this phrase, the crowd implicitly (and explicitly in other Gospels) acknowledges Jesus as the prophesied deliverer.
- In the name of the Lord (ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου - en onomati Kyriou): Signifies that one comes with the authority, commission, and power of God (Yahweh). It means Jesus acts as God's representative, doing His will.
- Even (ὁ - ho literal translation of "the" but often translated "even"): Connects "He who comes in the name of the Lord" directly to "the King of Israel," solidifying the Messianic identity as explicitly royal.
- King of Israel (ὁ Βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ - ho Basileus tou Israēl): This is a direct political and Messianic title. It expressed the crowd's hope that Jesus would be the long-awaited Davidic King who would restore Israel's sovereignty and bring an end to Roman oppression. While Jesus is King of Israel, His kingship is fundamentally spiritual and heavenly, not earthly or political as they understood it.
John 12 13 Bonus section
The Triumphal Entry is significant for several reasons. It's the only time in the Gospels that Jesus explicitly presents Himself to the public in a kingly manner, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9 by deliberately choosing a donkey over a warhorse. This action also contrasts His humble entrance with the customary arrival of Roman governors or military leaders. The spontaneous demonstration by the crowd underscores the wide impact of Jesus' ministry, particularly the resurrection of Lazarus, which functioned as the immediate catalyst for this surge of faith and enthusiasm. It set the stage for the dramatic events of Passion Week, demonstrating both the depth of public belief and the religious leaders' growing desperation to eliminate Jesus, as "the world has gone after him" (John 12:19). This scene ultimately illustrates that Jesus truly is the King, yet not a king as the world expects, but one whose reign is eternal, spiritual, and inaugurated through sacrifice.
John 12 13 Commentary
John 12:13 marks the pinnacle of public adoration for Jesus, particularly within John's Gospel. The scene vividly depicts a crowd, freshly energized by Lazarus' resurrection, acknowledging Jesus with deep messianic expectation. Their use of palm branches, an ancient symbol of victory and celebration, coupled with direct quotes from Psalm 118:26 and the appellation "King of Israel," signals their belief that Jesus is the prophesied Davidic monarch destined to usher in a new era for the nation.
However, the crowds' understanding of "King" was largely temporal and political, differing significantly from Jesus' own mission. They sought a deliverer from Roman tyranny, whereas Jesus came to deliver humanity from sin and death, establishing a spiritual kingdom. This fundamental misunderstanding, evident later when many of these same people cry "Crucify him!" (John 19:15), underscores the complexity of the Triumphal Entry. It was both an authentic, joyous acclamation of Jesus' true identity by those with burgeoning faith, and simultaneously a demonstration of widespread human longing for an earthly solution to deep-seated problems. John, distinctively, emphasizes the crowd's recognition of Jesus as the King of Israel, directly leading to the Sanhedrin's intensified plotting against Him.
Practical usage:
- Reminds believers that true adoration for Christ is rooted in acknowledging His divine authority and kingship, not merely in His ability to perform miracles for our immediate comfort.
- Encourages continuous praise ("Hosanna") as an expression of dependence and hope in God's saving power.