John 12 34

John 12:34 kjv

The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

John 12:34 nkjv

The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?"

John 12:34 niv

The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"

John 12:34 esv

So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"

John 12:34 nlt

The crowd responded, "We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?"

John 12 verses

John 12 34 Meaning

John 12:34 records the Jewish crowd's incredulous response to Jesus' statement about the Son of Man being "lifted up." Their confusion stems from a fundamental expectation based on their understanding of the Law (the Old Testament), which taught that the Messiah would reign perpetually, establishing an eternal kingdom. This seemed to directly contradict Jesus' implication of suffering and death by being "lifted up." The crowd therefore challenged Jesus, demanding clarification on how His teaching could reconcile with their prophecies and seeking to know the true identity of this "Son of Man" who spoke of such an end. It highlights a critical clash between popular messianic hopes and the true nature of Christ's mission, involving both suffering and ultimate glory.

John 12 34 Context

John 12:34 is a pivotal moment following Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His private teaching to His disciples and some Greeks. After announcing that "the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified," Jesus illustrates this by speaking of a grain of wheat dying to produce much fruit and, more directly, that He "must be lifted up" to draw all people to Himself. John clarifies this "lifting up" signifies His crucifixion (John 12:32-33). The crowd's response in verse 34 reveals a profound theological tension. Historically, Jewish messianic expectations, shaped by interpretations of Old Testament prophecies like Daniel 7 and Psalms 110, centered on a victorious, everlasting, earthly king who would liberate Israel from Roman rule. The idea of a suffering, dying Messiah was largely alien to their popular understanding, often overlooked despite prophecies in Isaiah 53 or Psalm 22. This verse exposes the direct clash between their long-held, politically-tinged hopes and Jesus' radical redefinition of Messiahship involving sacrifice and spiritual deliverance. It's a direct polemic against a one-dimensional, earthly-focused messianism.

John 12 34 Word analysis

• The crowd (ὁ ὄχλος - ho ochlos): Refers to the common people, those present after the Triumphal Entry, representing prevailing popular Jewish opinion and its expectations of the Messiah.
• responded (ἀπεκρίθη - apekrithē): Indicates a direct, sometimes challenging, counter-argument, showing their confusion and intellectual disagreement with Jesus.
• We (Ἡμεῖς - Hēmeis): Emphatic pronoun, highlighting their collective assertion based on communal tradition and scriptural interpretation.
• have heard (ἠκούσαμεν - ēkousamen): Denotes a belief established through repeated instruction and tradition.
• from the Law (ἐκ τοῦ νόμου - ek tou nomou): "The Law" (ho nomos) here refers not exclusively to the Pentateuch, but broadly to the entire Old Testament scriptures, the divinely inspired body of their accepted tradition.
• that the Messiah (ὅτι ὁ χριστὸς - hoti ho Christos): "Christos" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Mashiach," meaning "Anointed One." They recognize Jesus' implicit claim to this title and apply their scriptural understanding to it.
• will remain (μένει - menei): Signifies staying, abiding, enduring. Implies a continuous, unbroken presence and rule.
• forever (εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα - eis ton aiōna): "Into the age," emphasizing an eternal, unending duration. This term reinforces the crowd's belief in an indestructible Messianic kingdom.
• So how (καὶ πῶς - kai pōs): Expresses profound questioning, demanding an explanation for an apparent contradiction.
• can You say (σὺ λέγεις - sy legeis): "You" (σὺ) is emphatic, personalizing the challenge directly to Jesus and contrasting His words with their revered scriptural tradition.
• that the Son of Man (τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - ton hyion tou anthrōpou): Jesus' most frequent self-designation, combining elements of humble humanity with divine authority (as in Dan 7:13). The crowd here explicitly quotes Jesus' own term.
• must be (δεῖ - dei): Signifies divine necessity, imperative, or destiny. Jesus' words carried this weight, which further baffled the crowd.
• lifted up (ὑψωθῆναι - hypsōthēnai): This verb has a double meaning: literally "to be lifted up" on a cross, and "to be exalted" or glorified. For the crowd, it lacked the full spiritual implication of crucifixion.
• Who is this (Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος - Tis estin houtos): A question expressing utter confusion and bewilderment about the identity of the person (the Son of Man) whose words seemed to contradict core messianic tenets.
• Son of Man?: Repetition of the title underscores their focus on His identity and His seemingly contradictory message.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
• "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever.": This phrase establishes the crowd's firmly held theological premise. Their understanding of the Messiah's role was rooted in selected prophecies highlighting eternal kingship (e.g., Dan 7, Psa 110), forming a conviction that made a suffering Messiah unthinkable.
• "So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?": This captures the direct conflict. Their logical framework, based on a partial reading of Scripture, could not reconcile eternal reign with a violent, shameful "lifting up" (death). It's a challenge to Jesus' authority and consistency.
• "Who is this Son of Man?": This final question encapsulates their total bewilderment and doubt regarding Jesus' identity and claims. If He is the Messiah, why does He speak of death? If He speaks of death, can He truly be the Messiah prophesied to reign forever? It shows a deep misunderstanding of the suffering servant prophecies and the ultimate glorification through resurrection.

John 12 34 Bonus section

The crowd's statement ironically contains a partial truth: the Messiah does remain forever, but only after His death, resurrection, and ascension. Their theological blind spot was failing to grasp the necessity of the former (the lifting up unto death) to achieve the latter (eternal reign and glory). They also demonstrate a limited grasp of the title "Son of Man," which, while associated with eternal dominion in Daniel 7, was also deeply intertwined with Jesus' humanity, suffering, and ultimately, His role as Judge. Their question isn't just about the contradiction; it's a test of Jesus' claims against their rigid, incomplete messianic blueprint. This also reflects a common human tendency to cherry-pick scriptures that fit comfortable beliefs, rather than integrating the full, complex narrative of God's redemptive plan.

John 12 34 Commentary

This verse illustrates a profound clash between popular human expectations and divine revelation. The crowd, though sincerely citing "the Law" (Old Testament), possessed a partial and selective understanding of messianic prophecy, emphasizing the triumphant, everlasting king while overlooking the crucial prophecies of a suffering servant (Isa 53, Psa 22) or the Son of Man's humble advent. Their perception of "remaining forever" for the Messiah excluded any period of vulnerability or death. Jesus' reference to being "lifted up" referred primarily to His crucifixion, which would appear as weakness and defeat to them, directly contradicting their vision of eternal triumph. Yet, Jesus' "lifting up" also encompassed His resurrection and ascension, leading to His ultimate and everlasting reign. The crowd's question "Who is this Son of Man?" exposes their inability to reconcile the two aspects of the Messiah—His suffering humanity and His eternal divinity—thereby questioning Jesus' identity as the Christ. It serves as a stark reminder that true understanding of Christ often requires transcending our preconceived notions and embracing the whole counsel of God's Word, recognizing the divine necessity for both suffering and glory.