Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
- BSB for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
- NKJV because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
- NASB because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
- NLT for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Many were believing in Jesus because of Lazarus. The miracle's effect provokes the leaders' hostility.
Overview
Lazarus's raising leads many Jews to faith in Jesus, which the authorities find intolerable. Their reaction shows that the issue is not lack of evidence but refusal to believe. The verse links the sign's saving power with the deepening opposition that drives toward the cross.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- John 11:45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
- John 12:18For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
- Jas 3:14–16But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
- Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
- John 11:48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
- John 15:18–25If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
- John 7:31And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 12:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.