John 12:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

Complete Jewish Bible:

After finding a donkey colt, Yeshua mounted it, just as the Tanakh says —

Berean Standard Bible:

Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:

American Standard Version:

And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} Jesus^{G2424}, when he had found^{G2147} a young ass^{G3678}, sat^{G2523} thereon^{{G1909}{G846}}; as^{G2531} it is^{G2076} written^{G1125},

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for John 12:14

John 12:14 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus Christ as depicted in the New Testament of the Bible. This verse is part of the account of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event celebrated in Christian tradition as Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. The verse specifically references Jesus finding and riding a young donkey, an act that fulfills the prophecy from the Old Testament, specifically Zechariah 9:9, which foretold the coming of the Messiah in such a manner.

The theme of fulfillment of prophecy is central to this verse, underscoring the Christian belief in the continuity and unity of the Old and New Testaments. By riding on a donkey, Jesus was symbolically presenting himself as the promised Messiah, an act of humility and peace in stark contrast to the conquering kings of the time who rode on horses. This act also signifies the nature of Jesus' kingship—not one of earthly power but of spiritual authority, inaugurating a kingdom that is not of this world.

Historically, this event would have occurred during the Passover festival, a time when Jerusalem was crowded with pilgrims. Jesus' entry into the city, therefore, was a public declaration of his messianic identity in a highly visible and symbolic way, which contributed to the growing tension between him and the religious authorities of the day. The donkey, an animal of peace, also contrasts with the impending suffering and death that Jesus would face in Jerusalem, highlighting the paradox of his mission as both the suffering servant and the triumphant king.

In summary, John 12:14 encapsulates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the humility and peacefulness of Jesus' messianic entry into Jerusalem, and the symbolic enactment of his unique kingship, setting the stage for the climactic events of his passion, death, and resurrection that are central to Christian faith and theology.

*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: dé
   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: G2424
   There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
   Transliteration: Iēsoûs
   Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
   Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.
   
3. Strong's Number: G2147
   There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εὑρίσκω
   Transliteration: heurískō
   Pronunciation: hyoo-reh'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary , which (together with another cognate form) is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect; to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.
   
4. Strong's Number: G3678
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὀνάριον
   Transliteration: onárion
   Pronunciation: on-ar'-ee-on
   Description: neuter of a presumed derivative of ὄνος; a little ass:--young ass.
   
5. Strong's Number: G2523
   There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καθίζω
   Transliteration: kathízō
   Pronunciation: kath-id'-zo
   Description: another (active) form for καθέζομαι; to seat down, i.e. set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell):--continue, set, sit (down), tarry.
   
6. Strong's Number: G1909
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐπί
   Transliteration: epí
   Pronunciation: ep-ee'
   Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
   
7. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
8. Strong's Number: G2531
   There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καθώς
   Transliteration: kathṓs
   Pronunciation: kath-oce'
   Description: from κατά and ὡς; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.
   
9. Strong's Number: G2076
   There are 812 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐστί
   Transliteration: estí
   Pronunciation: es-tee'
   Description: third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
   
10. Strong's Number: G1125
    There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: γράφω
    Transliteration: gráphō
    Pronunciation: graf'-o
    Description: a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:--describe, write(-ing, -ten).