John 12:17 kjv
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
John 12:17 nkjv
Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.
John 12:17 niv
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
John 12:17 esv
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.
John 12:17 nlt
Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it.
John 12 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Witnesses to the Resurrection of Lazarus: | ||
| Jn 11:43-44 | When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The man who had died came out... | Jesus' powerful call to Lazarus and his emergence. |
| Jn 11:47-48 | So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs..." | The Sanhedrin's concern due to Lazarus' resurrection. |
| Jn 12:9 | When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus... | The crowds came specifically because of Lazarus. |
| Jn 12:10-11 | So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. | The radical impact of Lazarus' resurrection on belief. |
| The Act of Bearing Witness (Testimony): | ||
| Jn 1:7 | He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. | John the Baptist's role as a witness for Jesus. |
| Jn 3:11 | Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. | Jesus' own emphasis on truthful witness. |
| Jn 4:39 | Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did." | Testimony leading to belief (Samaritan woman). |
| Jn 5:31-32 | "If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true." | The importance of external witness for validation. |
| Jn 5:36 | But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. | Jesus' works, including miracles, serve as testimony. |
| Jn 19:35 | He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. | The veracity of eyewitness testimony, linked to belief. |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." | The mission of believers to be Christ's witnesses. |
| 1 Pet 3:15 | Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. | Believers are to be ready to give testimony to their faith. |
| Crowds and Miracles as a Basis for Belief/Followership: | ||
| Mt 4:25 | And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. | Large crowds following Jesus. |
| Mt 14:13 | Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. | Crowds actively pursuing Jesus. |
| Lk 5:1 | On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. | Crowds eager to hear Jesus' words. |
| Lk 14:25 | Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them... | Crowds as a constant presence with Jesus. |
| Jn 2:23 | Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. | Signs leading to belief during Passover. |
| Jn 6:2 | For a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on those who were diseased. | Crowds following based on healing miracles. |
| Acts 2:22 | "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know." | Miracles as God's attestation of Jesus. |
| Divine Authority Over Death: | ||
| Deut 32:39 | "'See now that I, I am he! There is no god beside me. I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." | God's unique power over life and death. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. | The Lord's sovereignty over life and death. |
| Isa 26:19 | Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. | Prophecy of future resurrection. |
| Dan 12:2 | And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. | Further prophecy of bodily resurrection. |
John 12 verses
John 12 17 Meaning
John 12:17 explains the fervent excitement of the crowd that welcomed Jesus upon His arrival in Jerusalem. It clarifies that their enthusiastic testimony and welcome stemmed from their direct, eyewitness experience of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This public and persistent affirmation of Jesus' divine power over death served as a powerful catalyst, drawing more people to see and believe in Him, amplifying the scene of the triumphal entry.
John 12 17 Context
John 12:17 is embedded within the dramatic unfolding of Holy Week, specifically just prior to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12-16). This verse serves as a crucial explanation for the unprecedented enthusiasm and large gathering of people greeting Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna." The previous chapter (John 11) recounts the highly public and astonishing miracle of Lazarus' resurrection in Bethany, very near Jerusalem. This event, where Jesus publicly called a man dead for four days out of the tomb, created an immense stir. Many had believed because of it, while the religious authorities solidified their resolve to kill Jesus (John 11:47-53) and even Lazarus (John 12:10) to suppress the truth. Therefore, John 12:17 directly links the crowd's adulation not to political aspiration or simple curiosity, but to their direct experience or vivid knowledge of Jesus' ultimate display of power over death, confirming their testimony to others about this astonishing miracle. It sets the stage for the dramatic, yet ultimately tragic, culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry in the heart of Israel's religious capital.
John 12 17 Word analysis
- The crowd (Greek: ὁ ὄχλος, ho ochlos): Refers to the common people, often depicted as a large, unorganized gathering. The use of the definite article ("the") implies a specific and significant multitude. In biblical context, ochlos often distinguishes from leaders or specific disciples. Here, their sheer number underscores the widespread impact of Lazarus' miracle.
- that had been with Him (Greek: ὁ ὢν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, ho ōn met' autou): This phrase highlights the firsthand, eyewitness nature of their experience. They were present, a critical aspect in Jewish law for establishing credible testimony. Their proximity to Jesus during the event validates their later declarations.
- when He called Lazarus (Greek: ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐξεφώνησεν, hote ton Lazaros exéphōnēsen):
- called (exéphōnēsen): A strong verb, meaning "to cry out," "to proclaim aloud." It emphasizes the authoritative, public, and unmistakable nature of Jesus' command to Lazarus. This was not a subtle incantation but a powerful, divine word, much like God speaking creation into being (Gen 1:3) or calling out His servants (1 Sam 3:4).
- Lazarus (Lazaros): The specific name gives concrete weight to the miracle, moving it from general assertion to undeniable, personal history. Lazarus was a known person, making his resurrection highly verifiable.
- from the tomb (Greek: ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου, ek tou mnēmeiou): Emphasizes the definite, undeniable state of Lazarus' death and burial. The physical removal from a sealed tomb underscored the miraculous nature, confirming he was genuinely dead and not merely unconscious or hidden.
- and raised him from the dead (Greek: καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν, kai ēgeiren auton ek nekrōn):
- raised (ēgeiren): A common verb for "to awaken" or "to raise up," but here it directly signifies resurrection, overcoming death's power. This act is exclusively attributed to God's power in the Old Testament, making Jesus' act a clear demonstration of His divine nature.
- from the dead (ek nekrōn): Further stresses the absolute victory over the state of death. Lazarus wasn't merely revived from a coma but brought back from absolute, certain death, challenging the finality of human mortality.
- continued to testify about it (Greek: ἐμαρτύρει, emartyrei):
- continued to testify (emartyrei): The Greek imperfect tense is crucial here, denoting continuous or repeated action. It was not a single declaration but an ongoing, persistent witnessing. This active, verbal sharing spread the news widely, fueling the excitement and belief that led to the triumphal entry.
- testify (martyrei from martyria): This root is vital, forming words related to "witness" and eventually "martyr." It signifies giving an account of what one has seen or known, often with profound conviction. Here, it is the compelling public sharing of the miraculous event.
- about it: Refers to the whole event of Lazarus' resurrection, highlighting it as the irrefutable evidence for Jesus' power and identity.
John 12 17 Bonus section
The profound impact of the Lazarus miracle was twofold: it attracted a vast number of people to believe in Jesus and concurrently solidified the religious leaders' intent to put Him to death (John 11:53). The testimony of the crowd in John 12:17 thus serves not only as an explanation for popular belief but also as the immediate catalyst for the intensification of opposition that ultimately led to the cross. The very event intended for God's glory (John 11:4) resulted in both great faith and ultimate rejection.
John 12 17 Commentary
John 12:17 offers the foundational reason for the exceptional popular acclaim surrounding Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. It reveals that the excitement wasn't fleeting or based on a misinformed political hope, but was rooted in profound conviction derived from an unparalleled miracle: the resurrection of Lazarus. Those who had seen or heard directly about Lazarus emerging from the grave after four days—a universally recognized state of absolute death—were compelled to share this astounding event. The imperfect tense of "testified" (emartyrei) signifies an ongoing, continuous verbal declaration. This sustained and widespread witness acted as a powerful magnetic force, drawing further multitudes to encounter Jesus, validating His claims and setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation that would soon follow. This testimony underscores the inherent power of the eyewitness account in propagating belief, particularly when it concerns such a radical demonstration of divine authority over death. The public and irrefutable nature of the miracle challenged existing Jewish beliefs about resurrection, particularly those of the Sadducees, and compelled an open response from all who heard.