John 12:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

Complete Jewish Bible:

The head cohanim then decided to do away with El‘azar too,

Berean Standard Bible:

So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,

American Standard Version:

But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But{G1161} the chief priests{G749} consulted{G1011} that{G2443} they might put{G615} Lazarus{G2976} also{G2532} to death{G615};

Cross-References (KJV):

Luke 16:31

  • And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Matthew 2:16

  • ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Genesis 4:4

  • And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Genesis 4:10

  • And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

John 11:47

  • Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

John 11:53

  • Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Daniel 5:21

  • And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

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Commentary for John 12:10

John 12:10 is a verse set within the broader context of the Gospel of John, which recounts the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This particular verse is part of the narrative leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and reflects the growing hostility towards Jesus and His followers by the Jewish religious leaders of the time, particularly the chief priests.

The historical context of the verse is the period just after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in the town of Bethany. This miraculous event is recorded in John 11 and is a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, as it demonstrates Jesus' power over life and death and significantly intensifies both the faith of some and the opposition of others. Lazarus' resurrection attracted much attention, causing many to believe in Jesus, while also provoking the chief priests and Pharisees, who saw their authority and the status quo being threatened.

In John 12:9-11, we see a large crowd gathering not only to see Jesus but also Lazarus, who had become a living testimony to Jesus' divine authority. The chief priests, already plotting to kill Jesus, extend their murderous intent to Lazarus as well. Their rationale is not explicitly detailed in the text, but it can be inferred that Lazarus' very existence posed a significant challenge to their power and influence. By eliminating Lazarus, they likely hoped to dispel the belief in Jesus' messianic claims and to quell the growing messianic fervor among the people that could lead to unrest or intervention by the Roman authorities.

The themes present in this verse include the tension between faith and unbelief, the rejection of Jesus by the religious establishment, and the lengths to which those in power will go to maintain their position. It also highlights the cost of discipleship, as being associated with Jesus carried the risk of persecution and death. Furthermore, it underscores the reality of spiritual blindness, where those who should have recognized God's work were instead hardened and sought to extinguish it.

In summary, John 12:10 captures a moment of escalation in the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, revealing their desperate measures to suppress the truth and the danger faced by those who dared to stand with Jesus. It is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of following Christ and the radical nature of His message and actions.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: G1161
    There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: δέ
    Transliteration:
    Pronunciation: deh
    Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
  2. Strong's Number: G749
    There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀρχιερεύς
    Transliteration: archiereús
    Pronunciation: ar-khee-er-yuce'
    Description: from ἀρχή and ἱερεύς; the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest:--chief (high) priest, chief of the priests.
  3. Strong's Number: G1011
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: βουλεύω
    Transliteration: bouleúō
    Pronunciation: bool-yoo'-o
    Description: from βουλή; to advise, i.e. (reflexively) deliberate, or (by implication) resolve:--consult, take counsel, determine, be minded, purpose.
  4. Strong's Number: G2443
    There are 535 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἵνα
    Transliteration: hína
    Pronunciation: hin'-ah
    Description: probably from the same as the former part of ἑαυτοῦ (through the demonstrative idea; compare ὁ); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare ἵνα μή.
  5. Strong's Number: G615
    There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀποκτείνω
    Transliteration: apokteínō
    Pronunciation: ap-ok-ti'-no
    Description: from ἀπό and (to slay); to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy:--put to death, kill, slay.
  6. Strong's Number: G2976
    There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Λάζαρος
    Transliteration: Lázaros
    Pronunciation: lad'-zar-os
    Description: probably of Hebrew origin (אֶלְעָזָר); Lazarus (i.e. Elazar), the name of two Israelites (one imaginary):--Lazarus.
  7. Strong's Number: G2532
    There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καί
    Transliteration: kaí
    Pronunciation: kahee
    Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.