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The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
John 12:17 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
  • BSB Meanwhile, many people continued to testify that they had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.
  • NKJV Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.
  • NASB So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.
  • NLT Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it.

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

The crowd who saw Lazarus raised keeps testifying to it. Eyewitnesses spread word of the miracle.

Overview

Those present at the raising of Lazarus continue bearing witness, fueling the excitement around Jesus. Their testimony explains the size of the welcoming crowd. John emphasizes the role of credible eyewitnesses in drawing people to Jesus.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 17

  • 1 Jn 5:9–12If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
  • Rev 1:2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
  • Acts 5:32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
  • John 12:9Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
  • Acts 1:22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
  • John 19:35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
  • John 5:35–39He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
  • Ps 145:6–7And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
  • John 1:19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
  • John 11:45–46Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
  • John 8:13–14The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
  • John 11:31The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
  • John 1:34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
  • John 11:42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
  • John 1:32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
  • John 21:24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
  • John 15:26–27But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 12:17YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 12:17 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.