John 12:34

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:34

The Son of man. Perplexity and inquiry mingle in this question which the Jews were prompted to put, when they heard the language in which Jesus claimed authority in his death to gather mankind around himself. I. THE DESIGNATION APPLIED TO JESUS . The expression, "Son of man," was familiar to the Jews. 1. In the Old Testament it was used as equivalent to "man." It is applied in the Book of Ezekiel to that prophet himself, in about eighty passages. There is one passage in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 12:34

We have heard out of the law - Out of the Old Testament; or rather we have been so taught by those who have interpreted the law to us.That Christ - That the Messiah.Abideth for ever - Will remain forever, or will live forever. The doctrine of many of them certainly was that the Messiah would not die; that he would reign as a prince forever over the people. This opinion was founded on such passages of Scripture as these: Psalms 110:4, “Thou art a priest forever;” Daniel 2:44; Daniel 8:13-14. In... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 12:34-36

John 12:34-36. The people answered Understanding the phrase as implying some violent death shortly to come upon him; We have heard out of the law, that Christ abideth for ever On hearing Jesus affirm that he was to be lifted up, or taken off by a violent death, they told him that it was inconsistent with the character of the Messiah, who, according to the law, (so they named the whole of their sacred writings,) was never to die. And how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? How... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 12:27-50

137. Final message to the Jews (John 12:27-50)Jesus trembled as he thought of the suffering that awaited him, but he was determined to finish the work he had come to do. He prayed that through his death he would glorify his Father, and his Father responded in a voice from heaven that the prayer would be answered (John 12:27-29). As the startled onlookers were wondering what they had heard, Jesus told them that the time for Satan’s defeat was approaching. Through Jesus’ crucifixion, people of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 12:34

We have heard = we heard. The Greek tense (aorist, refers to a definite time, and may refer to a portion of the law (compare note on John 10:34 ) read on the Great Sabbath, two days previously. The quotation is usually referred to Psalms 89:29 , but it may rather be Psalms 92:0 (Psalms 92:1 ), which is said to have been read on the Sabbath from the days of Ezra. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 12:34

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?Out of the law ... means out of the Old Testament, rather than being restricted in meaning to the Pentateuch. The passages they might have had in mind are Psalms 110:4; Isaiah 9:7; Ezekiel 37:25; and Daniel 7:14. In all of these, the everlasting dominion of the Messiah is implied or stated.The multitude were also present when Jesus spoke of the Son of man... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 12:34-36

John 12:34-36. The people answered him,— The people, on hearing Jesus affirm that he was to be lifted up, told him, that was inconsistent with the character of the Messiah, who, according to the law, (so they named the whole of their sacred writings,) was never to die. Who then is this Son of man? "What sort of a Messiah must he be, who is to die, in immediate contradiction to the voice of the prophets? (See Psalms 89:29; Psalms 110:4.Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 9:7. Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:14.)—Is he a... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 12:34

34. We have heard out of the law—the scriptures of the Old Testament (referring to such places as Psalms 89:28; Psalms 89:29; Psalms 110:4; Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:13; Daniel 7:14). that Christ—the Christ "endureth for ever." and how sayest thou, The Son of Man must be lifted up, c.—How can that consist with this "uplifting?" They saw very well both that He was holding Himself up as the Christ and a Christ to die a violent death and as that ran counter to all their ideas of the Messianic... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:19-50

II. JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY 1:19-12:50The first part of the body of John’s Gospel records Jesus’ public ministry to the multitudes in Palestine, who were primarily Jewish. Some writers have called this section of the Gospel "the book of signs" because it features seven miracles that signify various things about Jesus."Signs are miraculous works performed or mentioned to illustrate spiritual principles." [Note: Tenney, "The Symphonic . . .," p. 119. See also idem, "Topics from the Gospel of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:20-36

6. Jesus’ announcement of His death 12:20-36One example that Jesus was attracting people from other parts of the world follows. These individuals contrast with the Pharisees."This rather curious incident is rather peculiar to John. I say ’rather curious’ because it is unusual that we encounter Greeks in a narrative of events at Jerusalem, because the other Evangelists do not mention the incident, and because the Greeks simply say, ’Sir, we would like to see Jesus’ and then disappear from the... read more

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