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

19Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!” 20Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. 23Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

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 1:43On the next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
• John 6:5Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?”
• John 14:8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.”
• John 1:36Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
• John 6:40For this is the will of my Father – for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
• Matthew 2:2saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
• Matthew 8:9For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this’ and he does it.”
• Matthew 12:19He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
• Matthew 15:22A Canaanite woman from that area came and cried out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!”
• Luke 19:2Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.
• Romans 15:8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

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