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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.
John 12:17 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • 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 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 God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son.
  • Rev 1:2who testified to God’s word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
  • Acts 5:32We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
  • John 12:9A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned 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, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
  • John 19:35He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe.
  • John 5:35–39He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
  • Ps 145:6–7Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness.
  • John 1:19This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
  • John 11:45–46Therefore many of the Jews, who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him.
  • John 8:13–14The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”
  • John 11:31Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
  • John 1:34I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
  • John 11:42I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”
  • John 1:32John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
  • John 21:24This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.
  • John 15:26–27“When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about 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.