John 12:21

John 12:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
• New International Version (NIV)They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Context of John 12:21

19So the Pharisees said to each other, ‘This is not what we wanted. Look! All the people in the world have left us to go with him!’ 20There were some Greek people among the people at the festival. They also had come to worship God. These Greek people came to Philip, who was from a town in Galilee called Bethsaida. They said to him, ‘Please sir, we want to meet Jesus.’ 22Philip went and he told Andrew this. Then Philip and Andrew went to Jesus and they told him. 23Jesus said to them, ‘God will show how great the Son of Man is. It is now time for that to happen.

John 12:21 word by word

οὗτοι οὖν προσῆλθον Φιλίππῳ τῷ ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες· κύριε, θέλομεν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἰδεῖν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• cameπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• to PhilipΦίλιπποςPhilippos · PhilipG5376
• which was ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• BethsaidaΒηθσαϊδάBēthsaida · BethsaidaG966
• of Galileeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of GalileeΓαλιλαίαGalilaia · GalileeG1056
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• desiredἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Sirκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
• we wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424

Cross-references for John 12:21

• John 1:43The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He met Philip, and Jesus said to Philip, ‘Follow me.’
• John 6:5Jesus looked up. He saw a large crowd of people who were coming towards him. He said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy enough bread to feed all these people?’
• John 14:8Philip said, ‘Lord, show the Father to us. That is all that we need.’
• John 1:36He saw Jesus, who was walking past them. John said, ‘Look! Here is the Lamb of God.’
• John 6:40These are the people who will have life for ever with God: everyone who sees the Son and believes in him. I will raise them all up on the last day. That is what my Father wants.’
• Matthew 2:2When they arrived there, they asked people, ‘Where is the baby who has been born as the king of the Jews? We saw his special star when it first appeared in the sky. So now we have come here to worship him.’
• Matthew 8:9In my work, someone has authority over me. I also have authority over other soldiers. I say to one soldier, “Go!” and he goes. I say to another one, “Come!” and he comes. I say to my servant, “Do this!” and he does it.’
• Matthew 12:19He will not argue with people. He will not shout at them. People will not hear his loud voice in the streets.
• Matthew 15:22A woman was living in this part of the country. She was one of the Canaanite people. She came to see Jesus. She was shouting with a loud voice, ‘Son of David, help me, sir! A bad spirit is living inside my daughter. It is giving her much pain.’
• Luke 19:2There was a man there called Zacchaeus. He was a leader of the men who took taxes from people. He had become very rich.
• Romans 15:8Remember this: Christ became a servant of the Jews so that they could understand God's true message. He showed them that God has now done what he promised to their ancestors.

Commentaries on John 12:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The same came therefore to Philip - Some suppose that these Gentiles were of Phoenicia or Syria, or perhaps inhabitants of Decapolis, near to the lake of Gennesareth and Bethsaida; and therefore they addressed themselves to Philip, who was of the latter city, and probably known to them. The later Syriac calls them Arameans or Syrians. The Vulgate, and several copies of the Itala, call them Gentiles. Sir, we would see Jesus - We have heard much concerning…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Bethsaida of Galilee - See the notes at John 1:44. Would see Jesus - It is probable that the word “see,” here, implies also a desire to converse with him, or to hear his doctrine about the nature of his kingdom. They had seen or heard of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and, either by curiosity or a desire to be instructed, they came and interceded with his disciples that they might be permitted to see him. In this there was nothing wrong. Christ made…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-26Verses 20-26 In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the gospel passover, the great desire of our souls should be to see Jesus; to see him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive grace from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the Redeemer. A corn of wheat yields no increase unless it is cast into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly glory alone, without becoming man. Or, after he had taken man's nature, he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21The Greeks approached Philip because he had a Greek name and was most likely also Greek.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-3620-22. Greeks--Not Grecian Jews, but Greek proselytes to the Jewish faith, who were wont to attend the annual festivals, particularly this primary one, the Passover. The same came therefore to Philip ... of Bethsaida--possibly as being from the same quarter. saying, Sir, we would see Jesus--certainly in a far better sense than Zaccheus (Lu 19:3). Perhaps He was then in that part of the temple court to which Gentile proselytes had no access. "These men…Read the comment

Topics related to John 12:21

• Andrew
• Bethsaida
• Curiosity
• Desire
• Greece
• Jesus Continued
• Philip

In the dictionaries

• Galilee
• Jesus
• Galilee, Galilean
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Bethsaida
• Chief
• Consult
• Costly
• Philip
• Prince

Commentaries on John 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings