Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 12:33
This he said, signifying what death he should die.
33. what death ] Literally, by what manner of death: comp. Joh 10:32, Joh 18:32, Joh 21:9.
should die ] The word translated ‘should’ is the same as that used of the traitor, Joh 12:4 and Joh 6:71. It is used (1) of what is about to happen, (2) of what (seeing that it has happened) may be regarded as necessary and fore-ordained.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
33. This he said, signifying whatdeath he should diethat is, “by being lifted up from theearth” on “the accursed tree” (Joh 3:14;Joh 8:28).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
This he said,…. These are the words of the evangelist, interpreting the design of Christ in the above words, thereby
signifying what death he should die; the phrase of being lifted up from the earth, not only signified his death, but the kind, or manner of it, that it should be by crucifixion; a person crucified being stretched forth upon a cross, and that erected, was lifted up between earth and heaven.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Signifying (). Present active participle of , old verb to give a sign () as in Ac 25:27, and the whole phrase repeated in 18:32 and nearly so in 21:19. The indirect question here and in 18:32 has the imperfect with present infinitive rather than the usual present retained while in 21:19 the future indicative occurs according to rule. The point in (qualitative relative in the instrumental case with ) is the Cross (lifted up) as the kind of death before Christ.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1 ) “This he said, signifying,” (touto de elegen) “Yet this he said,” (semainon) “Signifying or identifying,” through the phrase “lifted up from the earth,” Joh 12:32; Joh 3:14-15; Joh 8:28.
2) “What death,” (poio thanato) “By what kind of death,” that was by crucifixion, the nailing of the human body upon a cross and fastening it up in an upright position as an object of abject shame before the world, accursed, Deu 21:23; Gal 3:13.
3) “He should die.” (emellen apothenskein) “He was about to die,” Joh 18:32; Jos 8:29; Joh 19:31. This death of the Christ on the cross would give to Jesus the power-right to have dominion over and eventually cast Satan into the bottomless pit.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(33) By what death he should die.Better, by what manner of death . . . (Comp. Joh. 18:32.) The words are the Apostles interpretation of the saying of our Lord. He remembers it as he has recorded it twice before (Joh. 3:14; Joh. 8:28), but he adds here words (from the earth) which supply another thought, though the two thoughts are not inconsistent. The words bear the double sense, and looking back upon the fact of the Crucifixion, he sees in that a lifting up which was part of the great moral victory over the world, and in the very cross of shame he sees the throne of glory.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
33. What death he should die The words lifted up signified the exaltation upon the cross. But the Evangelist also means that our Lord’s wonderful words signify the stupendous import contained in the very nature of his death.
Here clearly terminates the address of our Lord before the Greeks. At its beginning they are evidently included in the them of Joh 12:23, with the disciples; in Joh 12:29, when the people speak, they fall into the background; and at the present verse all reference to them in the topic disappears, and the people are all. What impression was made upon these Greeks by the solemn language and manner of the mysterious being before them, we are vainly curious to know. But it is a remarkable point of contact between the Jew and the Greek, being the offer of salvation from one to the other. Japhet is here invited into the tents of Shem. Perhaps he comes not now, but our Lord’s very discourse predicts that he yet will come, in fulfilment of ancient prophecy, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Ver. 33. Signifying what death, &c. ] Be lifted up between heaven and earth, as Absalom was, Absolon Marte furens pensilis arbore obit, who therein, saith Gretser the Jesuit, became a lively figure of Christ crucified. Sed o mirum et delirum figurativae crucis fabrum!
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
33. ] . can hardly mean more than by what manner of death. Lampe (“non nude significat quo genere mortis , sed in sensu latiori qualitatem mortis , etiam internam involvit, adeoque ad fructus etiam hujus mortis respicit”) and Stier find in the word the whole consequences and character of His Death: but see ch. Joh 18:32 .
John does not say that this was all that meant, but that it was its first and obvious reference.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
what death = what kind of death.
should die = was about to die.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
33.] . can hardly mean more than by what manner of death. Lampe (non nude significat quo genere mortis, sed in sensu latiori qualitatem mortis, etiam internam involvit, adeoque ad fructus etiam hujus mortis respicit) and Stier find in the word the whole consequences and character of His Death: but see ch. Joh 18:32.
John does not say that this was all that meant, but that it was its first and obvious reference.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 12:33
Joh 12:33
But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.-His lifting up referred to his death upon the cross. [This passage in which Jesus, after having shuddered in view of the cross, strengthened himself by tracing in broad outlines the picture of the immense revolution which it will effect, may be compared with that of Paul (Col 2:14-15), where he represents Jesus as making a spectacle of the infernal powers, despoiling them of their power, and triumphing over them on the cross.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
signifying: Joh 18:32, Joh 21:19
Reciprocal: Mar 9:10 – what Luk 23:33 – they crucified Joh 8:21 – I go Joh 12:24 – if
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
This verse is added to indicate that the lifting up mentioned in the preceding one was to be a literal action upon his body.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Ver. 33. Now this he said, signifying by what death he should die.
This explanation of John is declared to be false by some modern interpreters (Meyer, Reuss, etc.), Jesus having spoken, according to them, of the Ascension, not of the cross. But we have seen that the idea of the cross was necessarily implied in the preceding words, and it must, indeed, be remarked that the apostle does not say , declaring, plainly, but only , indicating, giving to understand. John means simply to say that in giving this form to His thought, Jesus gives an anticipatory hint of the kind of death which He must undergo. Reuss would indeed draw from this false explanation of the Evangelist a proof in favor of the authenticity of the words of Joh 12:32. We think we have better reasons for holding the authenticity. This striking passage in which Jesus, after having shuddered in view of the cross, strengthened Himself by tracing in broad outlines the picture of the immense revolution which it will effect, may be compared with that of St. Paul, Col 2:14-15, where that apostle represents Jesus as making a spectacle of the infernal powers, despoiling them of their power and triumphing over them on the cross. Comp. also the passage, 2Co 5:14-17, according to which the death of Christ is virtually a principle of death for the whole human race, but thereby the means of universal renewal. According to the Jewish programme, the Messianic kingdom was to be the glorification of the earth, and the Messiah the visible sovereign of this new Eden; how could the Messianic character of Jesus, therefore, accord with the idea of leaving the earth? Hence the following question of the Jews, Joh 12:34.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
John explained that Jesus was speaking of His death by crucifixion so his readers would not think only of His exaltation to heaven.