JHN 12:12-19

The Triumphal Entry

12On the next day, the large crowd that had come to the feast, having heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, [12:13] took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and were crying out: "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!" [12:14] And Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat upon it, just as it is written: [12:15] "Do not fear, Daughter of Zion; look, your King is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." [12:16] His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. [12:17] The crowd therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. [12:18] Because of this also the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had performed this sign. [12:19] The Pharisees therefore said to one another: "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look — the world has gone after him."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, palm branches were deeply symbolic in Jewish culture, often associated with victory, celebration, and national deliverance. During the Feast of Tabernacles, palm branches were waved as part of the ritual, evoking themes of God’s provision and Messianic hope. The crowd’s use of palm branches in this context signaled their expectation of Jesus as a political liberator who would overthrow Roman rule. The cry 'Hosanna' , drawn from Psalm 118:25-26, was both a plea for salvation and an acclamation of praise, reflecting the crowd’s Messianic fervor. By riding a young donkey , Jesus fulfilled Zechariah 9:9, a prophecy of a humble, peaceful king, contrasting with the Roman practice of triumphant leaders entering cities on warhorses. The disciples’ initial misunderstanding reflects the tension between popular Messianic expectations and Jesus’ mission. The Roman authorities, ever vigilant for signs of insurrection, would have viewed this event as potentially subversive, given its royal overtones.

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How other translations render this

JHN 12:12

KJV: On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
BSB: The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
Koinōnos: On the next day, the large crowd that had come to the feast, having heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

JHN 12:13

KJV: 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.
BSB: 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!”
Koinōnos: took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and were crying out: "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord — the King of Israel!

JHN 12:14

KJV: And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
BSB: Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:
Koinōnos: And Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat upon it, just as it is written:

JHN 12:15

KJV: Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
BSB: “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”
Koinōnos: Do not fear, Daughter of Zion; look, your King is coming, seated on a donkey's colt.

JHN 12:16

KJV: These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
BSB: At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.
Koinōnos: His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

JHN 12:17

KJV: The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
BSB: Meanwhile, many people who had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.
Koinōnos: The crowd therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.

JHN 12:18

KJV: For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
BSB: That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
Koinōnos: Because of this also the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had performed this sign.

JHN 12:19

KJV: The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
BSB: Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”
Koinōnos: The Pharisees therefore said to one another: "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look — the world has gone after him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 12:13

branches:The word translated 'branches' specifically refers to palm branches, which were symbols of victory and triumph in ancient Jewish culture.
Hosanna!:The exclamation 'Hosanna!' is a transliteration of a Hebrew phrase meaning 'save now!' or 'save, we pray!' It was a cry for deliverance and salvation, often directed to God or a messianic figure.

JHN 12:14

a young donkey:The term used here for 'a young donkey' is a diminutive form, emphasizing the smallness or youth of the animal, perhaps highlighting its humble nature.

JHN 12:15

do fear:The phrase 'do fear' uses a word that can mean to be afraid, but also to show reverence or awe. In this context, it carries the sense of reverential respect rather than terror.