John · Majority Standard Bible
John 12 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus who had died, whom He had raised from the dead.
1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.
3 Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
3 Therefore Mary took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, who was going to betray Him, asked,
4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,
5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
5 “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
8 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
9 A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
10 But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also,
11 for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
12 The next day a great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
12 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, crying out: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
13 they took the branches of the 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!”
14 Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:
14 Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,
15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”
15 “Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
16 At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.
16 His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.
17 Meanwhile, many people who had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.
17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead was testifying about it.
18 That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
21 Therefore, these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
22 Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.
22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.
23 But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
23 Jesus answered them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
24 Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.
27 “Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? But I came to this time for this cause.
28 Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
29 Therefore the multitude who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
30 In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.
30 Jesus answered, “This voice hasn’t come for my sake, but for your sakes.
31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
33 He said this to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
34 The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
34 The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be with you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
35 Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.
36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
37 Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,
38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
39 For this cause they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again:
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
40 “He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said these things when he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.
41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
42 Nevertheless, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t confess it, so that they wouldn’t be put out of the synagogue,
43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
43 for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.
44 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.
45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
45 He who sees me sees him who sent me.
46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.
47 As for anyone who hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
47 If anyone listens to my sayings and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
48 He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke will judge him in the last day.
49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.
49 For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.
50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”
50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Lazarus
A man of Bethany, brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus loved and raised from the dead and who was later at table with Him.
Cited in the guide: John 11:1; John 11:5; John 12:1
Places
Bethany
Bethany was Jesus' lodging near Jerusalem during Passion week and the home of Lazarus. Luke sets the Ascension close by.
Cited in the guide: John 11:1; John 12:1; Luke 24:50
Cross references (50)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Mark 14:3–8; Luke 24:50; John 11:1; Matthew 21:17; John 11:55
- 2 Luke 22:27; Revelation 3:20; Luke 10:38–42; John 12:9–10; Mark 14:3
- 3 Mark 14:3–9; John 11:2; Luke 10:38–39; Luke 7:37–38; Matthew 26:6–13
- 4 Matthew 10:4; 1 Samuel 17:28–29; John 18:2–5; John 13:2; Luke 6:16
- 5 Luke 12:33; Luke 18:22; Mark 14:4–5; Matthew 26:8–9; Luke 6:41
- 6 John 13:29; Psalm 50:16–20; James 2:6; James 2:2; 2 Kings 5:20–27
- 7 Matthew 26:12; Mark 14:6; Matthew 27:57–60; Matthew 26:10; Mark 15:42–47
- 8 Deuteronomy 15:11; Mark 14:7; Matthew 26:11; John 12:35; John 13:33
- 9 Acts 4:14; John 11:43–45; Acts 3:10–11
- 10 Luke 16:31; Genesis 4:4–10; Matthew 2:16; John 11:47–53; Job 40:8–9
- 11 John 11:45; Acts 13:45; James 3:14–16; John 12:18; John 15:18–25
- 12 Mark 11:7–10; Luke 19:35–38; Matthew 21:4–9; John 11:55–56
- 13 Psalm 118:25–26; Revelation 15:3; Luke 19:35–38; Matthew 21:9–11; Revelation 7:9
- 14 Zechariah 9:9; Mark 11:1–7; Matthew 21:1–7; Luke 19:29–35
- 15 Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 62:11; Zephaniah 3:16–17; Isaiah 35:4–5; 2 Samuel 16:2
- 16 John 2:22; John 14:26; John 7:39; John 12:23; Acts 2:36
- 17 1 John 5:9–12; Revelation 1:2; Acts 1:22; John 12:9; Acts 5:32
- 18 John 12:11
- 19 Acts 17:6; Psalm 22:27; Acts 4:16–17; 1 John 2:2; John 3:26
- 20 John 7:35; Isaiah 11:10; Acts 17:4; 1 Kings 8:41–43; Mark 7:26
- 21 Matthew 2:2; Luke 19:2–4; John 14:8–9; John 6:40; Matthew 11:21
- 22 Luke 9:49–50; John 1:40–41; Mark 10:13–14; John 6:8; Matthew 10:5
- 23 John 13:31–32; John 17:1–5; Mark 14:41; 1 Peter 2:9–10; Isaiah 49:5–6
- 24 1 Corinthians 15:36–38; Hebrews 2:9–10; Isaiah 53:10–12; John 12:32–33; Psalm 72:16
- 25 Matthew 10:39; Luke 9:23–24; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33; Matthew 16:25
- 26 Colossians 3:24; Galatians 1:10; 1 Samuel 2:30; John 10:27; John 17:24
- 27 John 12:23; Isaiah 38:15; Hebrews 5:7; Mark 14:33–36; Matthew 26:42
- 28 John 13:31–32; Matthew 26:42; Revelation 5:9–14; John 11:40–44; Isaiah 49:3–7
- 29 Job 37:2–5; Revelation 6:1; Revelation 14:2; Exodus 19:16; Ezekiel 10:5
- 30 John 11:42; 2 Corinthians 8:9; John 11:15; John 5:34
- 31 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 5:19; John 14:30; Ephesians 6:12
- 32 John 3:14; John 8:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; John 1:7
- 33 John 18:32; John 21:19
- 34 Ezekiel 37:24–25; Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 7:14; Psalm 110:4; Daniel 2:44
- 35 John 12:46; John 16:16; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:6–7; John 8:12
- 36 Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; John 8:59; Luke 16:8; John 1:7
- 37 Luke 16:31; John 1:11; John 15:24; Matthew 11:20; John 11:42
- 38 Isaiah 53:1; Romans 10:16; Romans 10:20; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 4:3–6
- 39 John 5:44; Isaiah 6:9–10; 2 Peter 2:14; John 10:38; John 6:44
- 40 Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:13–15; Luke 8:10; Mark 4:12; Isaiah 57:18–19
- 41 Isaiah 6:1–5; John 1:14; Isaiah 6:9–10; John 1:18; John 5:39
- 42 John 7:13; Isaiah 51:7; John 9:22; Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 10:32
- 43 John 5:44; Matthew 23:5–7; John 5:41; Luke 16:15; 2 Corinthians 10:18
- 44 Matthew 10:40; John 5:24; John 13:20; Mark 9:37; John 7:28
- 45 John 14:9–10; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; John 12:41
- 46 John 8:12; Psalm 36:9; John 9:5; Isaiah 42:7; John 12:35–36
- 47 John 3:17; John 12:48; John 8:15–16; 1 Timothy 1:15–16; 1 John 4:14
- 48 Luke 10:16; Hebrews 9:27–28; Romans 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; John 3:17–20
- 49 John 14:10; John 8:26; John 5:30; John 17:8; Deuteronomy 18:18
- 50 John 17:3; John 6:68; 1 John 5:20; John 6:63; 1 Timothy 1:16
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
What is it, Brethren, which we have heard the Lord saying, "He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me"?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
After our Lord's raising of one to life, who had been four days dead, to the utter amazement of the Jews, some of whom believed on seeing it, and others perished in their envy, because of that sweet savor which is unto life to some, and to others unto death; after He had sat down to meat with Lazarus--the one …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
As wealth is wont to hurl into destruction those who are not heedful, so also is power; the first leads into covetousness, the second into pride.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… again, was indicated when He said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death;" her fear by the words, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me;" and her perplexity, too, when He said, "And what I shall say, I know not."
For there is yet a little light in men; let them walk--let them "walk," that the "darkness" seize them not.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)