The Meaning of John 12:18 Explained

John 12:18

KJV: For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

YLT: because of this also did the multitude meet him, because they heard of his having done this sign,

Darby: Therefore also the crowd met him because they had heard that he had done this sign.

ASV: For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For this  cause  the people  also  met  him,  for that  they heard  that  he had done  this  miracle. 

What does John 12:18 Mean?

Context Summary

John 12:12-19 - The Tribute Of The Multitude
This multitude of enthusiastic lovers of Christ were principally from Galilee. They had already reached the city, but hearing of His approach they went forth to meet and accompany Him. They were proud to own Him as their prophet, and were profoundly touched by the wonderful miracles He had wrought among them. It was a foretaste and glimpse of that yet gladder outburst when He shall be recognized as the King of men. The lowliness of Jesus' estate should have allayed the suspicion and hatred of His foes. What had they to fear from such a King! But the gladness of His followers maddened His adversaries, who saw with unconcealed vexation the spontaneous loyalty given by the crowds to Jesus, as contrasted with the strained obedience which, was yielded to their prescriptions and exactions. Another element in the crowd was contributed by those who had witnessed the raising of Lazarus.
Religious jealousy is deplorable. It leads to murder, if not by the Cross, yet by the lips. It embitters the heart, separates and divides those who ought to love, and hinders the coming of the Kingdom. The cure of hatred and jealousy is the admission of Christ to the heart-citadel as king. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 12

1  Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet
9  The people flock to see Lazarus
10  The chief priests consult to kill him
12  Jesus rides into Jerusalem
20  Greeks desire to see Jesus
23  He foretells his death
37  The people are generally blinded;
42  yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him;
44  therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith

Greek Commentary for John 12:18

The multitude [ο οχλος]
The multitude of John 12:13, not the crowd just mentioned that had been with Jesus at the raising of Lazarus. There were two crowds (one following Jesus, one meeting Jesus as here). Went and met him First aorist active indicative of υπανταω — hupantaō old compound verb Perfect active infinitive in indirect discourse after ακουω — ēkousan (first aorist active indicative of οτι — akouō to hear) (instead of a αυτον — hoti clause) with the accusative of general reference σημειον — auton (as to him) and another accusative (sēmeion sign) the object of the infinitive. Clearly there was much talk about the raising of Lazarus as the final proof that Jesus in truth is the Messiah of Jewish hope. [source]
Went and met him [υπηντησεν αυτωι]
First aorist active indicative of υπανταω — hupantaō old compound verb Perfect active infinitive in indirect discourse after ακουω — ēkousan (first aorist active indicative of οτι — akouō to hear) (instead of a αυτον — hoti clause) with the accusative of general reference σημειον — auton (as to him) and another accusative (sēmeion sign) the object of the infinitive. Clearly there was much talk about the raising of Lazarus as the final proof that Jesus in truth is the Messiah of Jewish hope. [source]
Met [ὑπήντησεν]
The verb means to go to meet. Hence Rev., went and met. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 12:18

1 John 4:17 Herein [ἐν τούτῳ]
To what does this refer? Two explanations are given. (1.) To the following that we may have boldness. So Huther, who argues thus on the ground that 1 John 4:18shows that the drift of the writer's thought is toward the fearlessness of love. According to this, therefore, love has its fulfillment in freeing us from fear, and inspiring us with boldness even in view of the final judgment. (2.) To what precedes, viz., our dwelling in God and He in us. So Westcott: “The fellowship of God with man and of man with God, carries with it the consummation of love.” I prefer the latter, principally on the ground that in such phrases as ἐν τούτῳ inthis, διὰ τοῦτο onthis account, therefore, the pronoun usually refers to something preceding, though more fully developed in what follows. See John 5:16, John 5:18; John 6:65; John 8:47; John 10:17; John 12:18; John 16:15. [source]

What do the individual words in John 12:18 mean?

On account of this also met Him the crowd because they heard of His having done the sign
διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὄχλος ὅτι ἤκουσαν αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον

διὰ  On  account  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ὑπήντησεν  met 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὑπαντάω  
Sense: to go to meet, to meet.
ὄχλος  crowd 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἤκουσαν  they  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
αὐτὸν  of  His 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
πεποιηκέναι  having  done 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Infinitive Active
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
σημεῖον  sign 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: σημεῖον  
Sense: a sign, mark, token.

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