John Chapter 12 verse 29 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(29) The people . . . . said that it thundered.--Better, the multitude. Nothing could be stronger testimony to the fact that this narrative was written by one who was present at the events of which he tells, than the way in which these thoughts of the people at the time are preserved to us. Their insertion by a later hand is all but impossible; and they are, moreover, opposed to what must be assumed as the object of a later writer. In a treatise to prove the divinity of Christ there could be no place for them. In a Gospel which assumes the truth that He is divine, and does not seek to prove it, but to bear witness to the life which carries its own proof (comp. Notes on John 1:7; John 20:30-31), they are evidence that the witness is true. The fact that St. John clearly means us to understand (John 12:28) that a distinct voice spake from heaven does not forbid our understanding also that this voice was heard more or less distinctly, or was as a voice not heard at all, in proportion as the hearts of the hearers were or were not receptive of the voice of God. To some it seemed but as natural thunder, but their own Scripture had taught again and again "God thundereth marvellously with His voice: great things doeth He which we cannot comprehend," and the religious interpretation of nature hears everywhere the voice of God. Others, and these must have been Pharisees (comp. Acts 23:8-9), recognise a voice which is more than that of nature or of man, and think that an angel hath spoken. (Comp. Note on John 5:4.)Parallel Commentaries ...GreekTheὉ (Ho)Article - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.crowdὄχλος (ochlos)Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.standing [there]ἑστὼς (hestōs)Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.heard [it]ἀκούσας (akousas)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.[and] said thatἔλεγεν (elegen)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.it hadγεγονέναι (gegonenai)Verb - Perfect Infinitive ActiveStrong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.thundered.Βροντὴν (Brontēn)Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 1027: Thunder. Akin to bremo; thunder.Othersἄλλοι (alloi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different.said thatἔλεγον (elegon)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralStrong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.an angelἌγγελος (Angelos)Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.had spokenλελάληκεν (lelalēken)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.to Him.αὐτῷ (autō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularStrong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.Jump to PreviousAngel Crowd Heard Hearing Messenger Multitude Others Sound Standing Stood Talking Thunder Thundered