John 12 19

John 12:19 kjv

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

John 12:19 nkjv

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"

John 12:19 niv

So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

John 12:19 esv

So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."

John 12:19 nlt

Then the Pharisees said to each other, "There's nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!"

John 12 verses

John 12 19 Meaning

John 12:19 captures the despair and frustration of the Jewish religious leaders, specifically the Pharisees, as they observed the overwhelming public support for Jesus following His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the raising of Lazarus. They openly admitted their inability to stem the tide of people following Jesus, concluding with an exaggerated yet revealing statement that "the whole world has gone after him," reflecting their perception of Jesus' burgeoning universal appeal and their lost authority.

John 12 19 Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Jn 12:12-19), where immense crowds hailed Him as king, an event intensified by His recent, public raising of Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11). The resurrection of Lazarus was a profound sign that garnered widespread attention and solidified popular belief in Jesus. The Pharisees, the influential religious leaders who consistently opposed Jesus, had already plotted to kill Him and Lazarus (Jn 11:47-53; 12:10). The spectacle of the crowds openly celebrating Jesus deeply threatened their authority and precarious relationship with the Roman authorities, whom they feared would intervene violently if Jesus' popular movement became too large (Jn 11:48). Their bitter declaration in John 12:19 thus encapsulates their despair, admitting their failure to suppress Jesus' influence, even while misinterpreting the true spiritual nature of His kingdom. The subsequent mention of Greeks wanting to see Jesus (Jn 12:20-22) adds ironic fulfillment to the Pharisees' "world" comment.

John 12 19 Word analysis

• The Pharisees: (Φαρισαῖοι, Pharisaioi) Derived from Aramaic, meaning "separated ones." They were a prominent Jewish religious sect renowned for meticulous adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. They believed their distinctness upheld national purity and identity, yet Jesus often criticized them for hypocrisy and self-righteousness, focusing on external rituals over inward righteousness. Here, they represent the official religious opposition to Jesus.

• therefore: (οὖν, oun) A strong conjunction indicating a direct consequence or conclusion. Their preceding observations of the massive crowds welcoming Jesus directly lead to this disheartened conversation.

• said among themselves: This denotes a private conversation, a lament shared within their own ranks, revealing their collective frustration and shared strategic impotence. It highlights the internal crisis among them, no longer openly debating but acknowledging a grave, undeniable reality.

• You see: (θεωρεῖτε, theōreite) This imperative, implying "you are observing, perceiving clearly," serves as an appeal to undeniable evidence. They couldn't deny what was before their very eyes—Jesus' immense popularity.

• that you can do nothing: (ὅτι οὐκ ὠφελεῖτε οὐδέν, hoti ouk ōpheleite ouden) Literally, "that you are benefiting nothing" or "you are achieving nothing." This is an admission of utter defeat. All their previous schemes, threats, and efforts to discredit or arrest Jesus had proved ineffective in curbing His following. It reveals their sense of powerlessness against Jesus' rising tide of influence.

• look: (ἴδε, ide) An emphatic interjection, a sudden command to observe. Similar to "Behold!" or "See!" It draws immediate attention to the shocking observation that follows, intensifying the emotional weight of their statement.

• the world: (ὁ κόσμος, ho kosmos) This term, often used in John with theological depth, particularly to denote humanity alienated from God, here refers to the vast multitude of people, representing the broader populace. While hyperbolic, it captures their perception of an uncontrollable, universal movement. It foreshadows the actual expansion of the Gospel beyond Jewish borders, a reality far beyond their immediate comprehension but central to God's plan (e.g., John 3:16).

• has gone after him: (ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθεν, opisō autou apēlthen) This phrase depicts a widespread, committed following. The Greek perfect tense (apēlthen from aperchomai) signifies a completed action with lasting effects; people have gone and are still going after Him. It conveys a sense of irreversible momentum.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The Pharisees therefore said among themselves": Highlights the official opposition to Jesus, now in internal consultation, acknowledging their predicament. Their status and perceived authority are in jeopardy, prompting this private, exasperated confession.
  • "You see that you can do nothing": This expresses their collective and undeniable failure. Despite their legal authority, plots, and attempts to turn people away, Jesus' influence continued to grow unchecked. This powerlessness signifies God's sovereignty overcoming human resistance.
  • "look, the world has gone after him": This is their climactic, lamentable conclusion. "The world" represents the common people, perhaps including those previously deemed 'accursed' or outside their influence. The "world" here hints at Jesus' universal appeal beyond mere Jewish leadership, foreshadowing Gentile inclusion, which would have been deeply troubling to them, suggesting an end to their exclusive religious dominion.

John 12 19 Bonus section

• The phrase "the world has gone after him" highlights the inherent "magnetic" quality of Jesus, as predicted by Jesus Himself in John 12:32: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." The Pharisees' complaint unknowingly echoes this divine intention.
• This verse can be seen as the ultimate acknowledgment by the adversaries of Jesus that His ministry, fueled by signs like raising Lazarus and His compelling teachings, has achieved an irreversible, popular ascendancy.
• The despair of the Pharisees also hints at their blindness. While lamenting the "world" going after Jesus, they remained spiritually unresponsive to the Light of the World, fixated on power and prestige rather than truth. Their inability to "do nothing" was less about lacking strategies and more about resisting divine truth itself.

John 12 19 Commentary

John 12:19 offers a powerful, albeit involuntary, testament to the irresistible allure and divine momentum of Jesus' ministry. Spoken by His most vocal opponents, the Pharisees, this verse is drenched in bitter irony. Their complaint—an admission of their complete failure to control or suppress Jesus' growing influence—becomes an unwitting prophecy of the global impact of the Gospel. "The world has gone after him" is both an overstatement born of frustration and a profound truth in germ, pointing toward Jesus' universal reach, a theme expanded by the arrival of the Greeks seeking Him immediately afterward. It reveals the ultimate futility of human resistance against God's sovereign plan and showcases Jesus' undeniable drawing power, particularly after the powerful miracle of Lazarus' resurrection. It also underscores the human tendency to lament what God is accomplishing when it clashes with one's own established authority or expectations.