John 12:24

John 12:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
• New International Version (NIV)Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Context of John 12:24

22Philip told Andrew, and they told Jesus. 23Jesus replied to them, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I can guarantee this truth: A single grain of wheat doesn’t produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain. 25Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life. 26Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.

John 12:24 word by word

ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· ἐὰν μὴ ὁ κόκκος τοῦ σίτου πεσὼν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἀποθάνῃ, αὐτὸς μόνος μένει· ἐὰν δὲ ἀποθάνῃ, πολὺν καρπὸν φέρει.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• Exceptἐάνean · ifG1437
• a cornὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a cornκόκκοςkokkos · seedG2848
• of wheatσῖτοςsitos · grainG4621
• fallπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the groundγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• dieἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• abidethμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• aloneμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
• butδέde · thenG1161
• it bringeth forthφέρωpherō̄ · to bear/leadG5342
• muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• fruitκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
• ·μήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for John 12:24

• Psalms 72:16May there be plenty of grain in the land. May it wave ⌞in the breeze⌟ on the mountaintops, its fruit like ⌞the treetops of⌟ Lebanon. May those from the city flourish like the grass on the ground.
• 1 Corinthians 15:36You fool! The seed you plant doesn’t come to life unless it dies first.
• John 12:32When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me.”
• Psalms 22:15My strength is dried up like pieces of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me down in the dust of death.
• Isaiah 53:10Yet, it was the Lord’s will to crush him with suffering. When the Lord has made his life a sacrifice for our wrongdoings, he will see his descendants for many days. The will of the Lord will succeed through him.
• Hebrews 2:9Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, but we see him crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. Through God’s kindness he died on behalf of everyone.
• Revelation 7:9After these things I saw a large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb. They were wearing white robes, holding palm branches in their hands,

Commentaries on John 12:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die - Our Lord compares himself to a grain of wheat; his death, to a grain sown and decomposed in the ground; his resurrection, to the blade which springs up from the dead grain; which grain, thus dying, brings forth an abundance of fruit. I must die to be glorified; and, unless I am glorified, I can not establish a glorious Church of Jews and Gentiles upon earth. In comparing himself thus to a grain of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Verily, verily - An expression denoting the great importance of what he was about to say. We cannot but admire the wisdom by which he introduces the subject of his death. They had seen his triumph. They supposed that he was about to establish his kingdom. He told them that the time had come in which he was to be glorified, but not in the manner in which they expected. It was to be by his death. But as they would not at once see how this could be, as it…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. 24The central event of the glorification of Jesus was the cross (12:23). Like a kernel of wheat planted in the soil, the death of Jesus would bring abundant life.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2623-26. Jesus answered them, The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified--that is, They would see Jesus, would they? Yet a little moment, and they shall see Him so as now they dream not of. The middle wall of partition that keeps them out from the commonwealth of Israel is on the eve of breaking down, "and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, shall draw all men unto Me"; I see them "flying as a cloud, and as doves to their cotes"--a glorious…Read the comment

Topics related to John 12:24

• Corn
• Jesus, the Christ
• Wheat

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Consult
• Corn
• Costly
• Grain
• Prince
• Andrew
• Christ, Offices of
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of

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