Keraia
John 12

John 12:13

The Triumphal Entry · John 12:12–19
Read John 12

Translations

Modern
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
Traditional
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Literal
…took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and they were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is the One coming in the name of the Lord!” “And the King of Israel!”
Latin
…acceperunt ramos palmarum, et processerunt obviam ei, et clamabant: Hosanna, benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, rex Israël.

Interlinear

Greek
English
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Notes

John 12:13

  • Palm branches: The date palm symbolized pride in the Jewish nation and celebration.

  • meet Him: The Greek word often describes crowds welcoming a king returning in triumph from a war.

  • Blessed is He: The crowd quoted Psalm 118:25–26, with a greeting for those who came to Jerusalem.

    The phrase "Blessed is the King of Israel!" is not in the psalm (but see Zephaniah 3:15). Although the people saw Jesus as a national political liberator, he rejected this role (John 6:15).

John 12:1–50

  • In 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 Passover (12:1–11, 12–19, 20–36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and describes the final public message spoken by Jesus (12:37–50).

Events

Parallels

Zechariah 9:9–13 Matthew 21:1–11 Mark 11:1–11 Luke 19:28–40

People

Hosanna: A Hebrew expression meaning "save now" or "save, please" Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Branch Feasts and Festivals of Israel Food and Food Preparation Hosanna Jesus Christ John, Gospel of Palm, Date Palm Travel

Topics

Hosanna: A Form of Jewish Acclamation Jesus Jesus, the Christ: King Jesus, the Christ: Received Jesus, the Christ: Worship of Palm Reading Palm Sunday Palm Tree: Branches of, Thrown in the Path when Jesus Made his Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem Praise: Offered to Christ the King Christ is King of Zion the King Christ: Acknowledged by His Followers The Palm-Tree: The Branches of, Were: Spread Before Christ