John 12:38

John 12:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
• English Standard Version (ESV)so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”

Context of John 12:38

36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. 37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”

John 12:38 word by word

ἵνα ὁ λόγος Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου πληρωθῇ ὃν εἶπεν· κύριε, τίς ἐπίστευσεν τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν; καὶ ὁ βραχίων κυρίου τίνι ἀπεκαλύφθη;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• the sayingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the sayingλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of EsaiasἩσαΐαςHēsaias · IsaiahG2268
• the prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• might be fulfilledπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he spakeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• whoτίςtis · which?G5101
• hath believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• reportἀκοήakoē · hearingG189
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• hathἀποκαλύπτωapokaluptō · to revealG601
• the armβραχίωνbrachiōn · armG1023

Cross-references for John 12:38

• John 15:25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
• John 17:12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
• John 19:24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did.
• Matthew 27:35When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
• Acts 13:27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
• 2 Chronicles 32:20King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.
• Matthew 15:7You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
• Acts 8:28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.
• Romans 10:20And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
• Isaiah 53:1Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
• Romans 10:16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
• Psalms 44:3It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
• Isaiah 40:10See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
• Isaiah 51:5My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.
• 1 Corinthians 1:24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
• Matthew 16:17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Commentaries on John 12:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38That the saying of Esaias - Or, Thus the word of Isaiah was fulfilled. So I think ̔ (commonly rendered that) should be translated. For it certainly does not mean the end the Pharisees had in view by not believing; nor the end which the prophet had in view in predicting the incredulity of the Jews; but simply, such a thing was spoken by the prophet, concerning the Jews of his own time, and it had its literal fulfillment in those of our Lord's time. Our…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38The saying - The word of Isaiah, or that which Isaiah predicted. This occurs in Isaiah 53:1. Might be fulfilled - That the same effect should occur which occurred in the time of Isaiah. This does not mean that the Pharisees rejected Christ in order that the prophecy of Isaiah should be fulfilled, but that by their rejection of him the same thing had occurred which took place in the time of Isaiah. His message was despised by the nation, and he himself put…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 37-43Verses 37-43 Observe the method of conversion implied here. Sinners are brought to see the reality of Divine things, and to have some knowledge of them. To be converted, and truly turned from sin to Christ, as their Happiness and Portion. God will heal them, will justify and sanctify them; will pardon their sins, which are as bleeding wounds, and mortify their corruptions, which are as lurking diseases. See the power of the world in smothering…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-50In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time. First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13). Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well. John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 37-4137-41. It is the manner of this Evangelist alone to record his own reflections on the scenes he describes; but here, having arrived at what was virtually the close of our Lord's public ministry, he casts an affecting glance over the fruitlessness of His whole ministry on the bulk of the now doomed people. though he had done so many miracles--The word used suggests their nature as well as number.Read the comment

Topics related to John 12:38

• Blindness
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prophecy
• Quotations and Allusions
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Arm
• Chief
• Consult
• Costly
• Isaiah, The Book of
• Prince
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• King, Christ As
• Quotations in the New Testament

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