Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 12:38
That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
38. That ] Or, in order that, indicating the Divine purpose. Comp. Joh 13:18, Joh 15:25, Joh 17:12, Joh 18:9; Joh 18:32, Joh 19:24; Joh 19:36. It is the two specially Hebraistic Gospels that most frequently remind us that Christ’s life was a fulfilment of Hebrew prophecy. Comp. Mat 1:22; Mat 2:15; Mat 2:17; Mat 4:14; Mat 8:17; Mat 12:17; Mat 13:35; Mat 21:4; Mat 26:54; Mat 26:56; Mat 27:9. See on Mat 1:22.
Lord, who hath believed ] The quotation closely follows the LXX.
our report ] Literally, that which they hear from us; comp. Rom 10:16.
the arm of the Lord ] His power. There seems to be no sufficient authority for interpreting this expression of the Messiah, although it is the power of God as manifested in the Messiah that is here specially meant. Comp. Luk 1:51; Act 13:17.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The saying – The word of Isaiah, or that which Isaiah predicted. This occurs in Isa 53:1.
Might be fulfilled – That the same effect should occur which occurred in the time of Isaiah. This does not mean that the Pharisees rejected Christ in order that the prophecy of Isaiah should be fulfilled, but that by their rejection of him the same thing had occurred which took place in the time of Isaiah. His message was despised by the nation, and he himself put to death. And it was also true – by the same causes, by the same nation that the same gospel message was rejected by the Jews in the time of Christ. The same language of the prophet would express both events, and no doubt it was intended by the Holy Spirit to mark both events. In this way it was completely fulfilled. See the notes at Isa 53:1.
Our report – Literally, by report is meant what is heard. Our speech, our message. That is, few or none have received the message. The form of the question is an emphatic way of saying that it was rejected.
The arm of the Lord – The arm is a symbol of power, as it is the instrument by which we execute our purposes. It is put for the power of God, Isa 51:9; Isa 52:10. Thus, he is said to have brought out the children of Israel from Egypt with a high arm that is, with great power. It hence means Gods power in defending his people, in overcoming his enemies, and in saving the soul. In this place it clearly denotes the power displayed by the miracles of Christ.
Revealed – Made known, seen, understood. Though the power of God was displayed, yet the people did not see and understand it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 38. That the saying of Esaias] Or, Thus the word of Isaiah was fulfilled. So I think (commonly rendered that) should be translated. For it certainly does not mean the end the Pharisees had in view by not believing; nor the end which the prophet had in view in predicting the incredulity of the Jews; but simply, such a thing was spoken by the prophet, concerning the Jews of his own time, and it had its literal fulfilment in those of our Lord’s time.
Our report] The testimony of the prophets, concerning the person, office, sufferings, death, and sacrifice of the Messiah. See Isa 53:1, &c.
The arm of the Lord] The power, strength, and miracles of Christ.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
So as that which Isaiah prophesied, Isa 53:1, appeared to be fulfilled in them; for the term , which we translate that, doth not in Scripture always denote the final cause, with respect to the counsel and intention of God, but oft times the event. So Joh 5:20; Rom 5:20; 2Co 1:17.
The arm of the Lord may either signify the gospel, which is called the power of God to salvation. Rom 1:16; 1Co 1:18; or else the Messiah, who is thought to be mentioned under this notion by Isaiah, Isa 51:5; Isa 52:10; 59:16; 63:12, because the Father worketh by him, as a man worketh by his arm, Isa 1:3,14.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
38. That the saying of Esaias . . .might be fulfilledThis unbelief did not at all set aside thepurposes of God, but, on the contrary, fulfilled them.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled,…. For though this was not the end of these men in disbelieving Christ, that the words of Isaiah might be fulfilled, yet hereby they were eventually fulfilled; and though the predictions of the prophet had no such influence on the wills of these men, as to lay upon them a coactive necessity, or force them to do, or to answer to the things foretold; yet they were to have, and had an infallible event or completion, otherwise the foreknowledge of God, and the authority of the prophetic writings, could not be maintained:
which he spake in Isa 53:1;
Lord, who hath believed our report? which words the prophet delivered by way of complaint to God the Father; not so much with respect to his own time, and the men of it, as to the times of Christ, and his apostles, whom he represents; for the whole chapter is a prophecy of the Messiah, and suggests, that in those times there would be but few that would believe the report made in the ministry of the Gospel, concerning the Messiah, his person, office, and grace; though so true in itself, and so much confirmed by miracles, and mighty deeds; the reason of which, he intimates, would be his outward mean appearance in the world; and which, it is certain, was the true reason, God denying the influence of his powerful and special grace, as follows:
and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? meaning either the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, and which was bid from the wise and prudent; or the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who is the power of God, by whom he made the heavens and the earth, and upholds them in their being, and by whom he has redeemed and saved his people; and who was not revealed neither to them in the ministry of the word, nor in them the hope of glory: or the Holy Spirit is meant, the finger of God, by whom these surprising miracles were done; and yet he did not exert himself in these persons, in the special operations of his grace; or the powerful and efficacious grace of God itself is designed, which was not put forth, and did not attend the report of the Gospel, and therefore it was not believed.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
That might be fulfilled ( ). It is usually assumed that here with the first aorist passive subjunctive of has its full telic force. That is probable as God’s design, but it is by no means certain since is used in the N.T. with the idea of result, just as ut in Latin is either purpose or result, as in John 6:7; John 9:2; 1Thess 5:4; Gal 5:17; Rom 11:11 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 998). Paul in Ro 10:16 quotes Isa 53:1 as John does here but without . See Ro 10:16 for discussion of the quotation. The next verse adds strength to the idea of design.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “That the word of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled,” (hina ho logos Esaiou tou prophetou plerothe) “in order that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled,” affirming the truthfulness, accuracy, or trustworthiness of the Scriptures, Psa 119:160. For the Scriptures “cannot be broken,” Joh 10:35, because they would not believe, Isaiah foretold this rejection.
2) “Which he spake, Lord,” (hon eipen kurie) “In which he said, Lord,” or Jehovah, meaning the one who is to come.
3) “Who hath believed our report?” (tis episteusen te akoe hemon) “Who believed our report?” or trusted our testimony, Isa 53:1.
4) “And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (kai ho brachion kuriou tini apekaluphthe) “And to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?” The term “arm of the Lord” refers to the miracles Jesus did to show His power, when it was spoken. Isaiah appears to have been in human despond, disappointment, at his prophetic message from God. Isaiah did not stop there, however. He proceeded to give the most vivid description of the coming sacrifice of Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God, contained in the Old Testament, Isa 53:2-12; Rom 10:16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
38. That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled. John does not mean that the prediction laid a necessity on the Jews; for Isaiah (Isa 53:1; Rom 10:16) uttered nothing but what the Lord revealed to him from the secret treasures of his purpose. Indeed, it must have happened, though the prophet had not spoken of it; but as men would not have known what should take place, if God had not testified by the mouth of the prophet, the Evangelist places before our eyes in the prediction, as in a mirror, what would otherwise have appeared to men obscure and almost incredible.
Lord, who hath believed? This sentence contains two clauses. In the former, Isaiah, having begun to speak of Christ, fore-seeing that all that he proclaims concerning Christ, and all that shall afterwards be made known by the Apostles, will be generally rejected by the Jews, exclaims, as if in astonishment at something strange and monstrous, Lord, who shall believe our report, or, our speech ? (29)
To whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? In this second clause he assigns the reason why they are few; and that reason is, that men do not attain it by their own strength, and God does not illuminate all without distinction, but bestows the grace of his Holy Spirit on very few, (30) And if among the Jews the obstinate unbelief of many ought not to have been an obstacle to believers, though they were few in number, the same argument ought to persuade us, at the present day, not to be ashamed of the Gospel, though it has few disciples. But we ought first to observe the reason which is added, that what makes men believers is not their own sagacity, but the revelation of God. The word arm, it is well known, denotes power. The prophet declares that the arm of God, which is contained in the doctrine of the Gospel, lies hid until it is revealed, and at the same time testifies that all are not indiscriminately partakers of this revelation. Hence it follows, that many are left in their blindness destitute of inward light, because hearing they do not hear, (Mat 13:13.)
(29) “ Qui eroira a nostre ouye, ou, a nostre parole ?”
(30) “ A bien peu ae gens.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(38) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled.This is the first instance in this Gospel of a phrase familiar to us already from its frequent occurrence in St. Matthew. We shall find it again in Joh. 13:18; Joh. 15:25; Joh. 17:12; Joh. 18:9; Joh. 18:32; Joh. 19:24; Joh. 19:36. Its frequency is one of the characteristics of the two Gospels which are most allied to Hebrew modes of thought. St. Matthew and St. John both regard the events of our Lords life as fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament Scriptures. These prophecies foretold what in the divine plan was destined to occur, and therefore the events are regarded as occurring, in order that the will of God, as expressed in the prophecy, may be fulfilled. (Comp. Note on Mat. 1:22.)
Lord, who hath believed our report? . . .The quotation is from the Greek version of Isa. 53:1. That prophecy was by all understood of the Messiah. The prophets lamentation of the neglect of the prophetic message by the people is here placed by the Evangelist, in his interpretation of it, in the lips of the Messiah Himself, as He, in the fuller meaning, addresses the Father with the words, Who hath believed our report? (Comp. the words as quoted by St. Paul in Rom. 10:16.) Here the our report means the truth which we have declared unto them. (So Jer. 10:22, Gal. 3:2.)
And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?Comp. Notes on Luk. 1:51, and Act. 13:17. The phrase was used, as in Isa. 51:9; Isa. 52:10, to express the power of the Lord, and here refers especially to the power of the Lord manifested in the whole life of Christ. The signs which were revelations of this power are, of course, prominent in the thought, and the question strongly expresses the negative of the previous verse.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
38. The saying of Esaias might be fulfilled Isa 6:10. See note on Mat 1:22. Says St. Chrysostom: “It was not because Isaiah said so that they did not believe, but because they would not believe, Isaiah said this.” And then, inasmuch as it was predicted, the Evangelist takes the view as if they so acted in order to make the prediction true. The passage quoted will be found in Isa 53:1.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Joh 12:38. That the saying of Esaias the prophet, &c. So that the sayingwas fulfilled, &c. Heylin, Jeffryes, &c. See the note on Isa 53:1. The phrase Hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? is thought by some to allude to the habit generally worn by the Eastern people, and especially by persons of rank; which was a long robe without sleeves; so that when the arm was stretched out to perform any action which required strength, it would appear uncovered, Isa 52:10. In this connection, it implies, that whenever true faith is produced in the mind, it is always accompanied by a divine energy.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Joh 12:38 . ] in order that , according to divine determination, the prophecy might be fulfilled. This “ in order that ” contains the definite assumption that the prophet Isaiah predicted what, according to divine destiny, was to come to pass; thus, then, the historical fulfilment stood in necessary relation of final cause to the prediction. Comp. on Mat 1:22 .
] similar pleonasms, which, however, as here, may denote an emphatic circumstantiality, are found also in the Greek writers, as in Xen. Cyr . viii. 2. 14, Anab . i. 9. 11. The passage is Isa 53:1 , closely following the LXX. The lament of the prophet over the unbelief of his time towards his preaching (and that of his fellows, ), and towards the mighty working of God announced by him , has, according to the Messianic character of the whole grand oracle, its reference and fulfilment in the unbelief of the Jews towards Jesus; so that in the sense of this fulfilment, the speaking subject (addressing God, , comp. Mat 27:46 ), which Isaiah introduces, is Jesus , not the evangelist and those of like mind with him (Luthardt).
.] to that heard from us, i.e . to the message which they receive from us (comp. on Rom 10:16 ), not: which we receive (comp. Sir 43:24 ), namely, actually in Christ (Luthardt), as Hengstenberg also understands it of that which we have received through revelation (comp. Euth. Zigabenus). Comp. on the genitive, Plat. Phaedr . p. 274 C; Pausan. viii. 41. 6; Pind. Pyth . i. 162. The plural , however, , comprises God and Christ in the fulfilment.
.] Plastic expression for the power of God (comp. Luk 1:51 ; Act 13:17 ; Wis 5:16 ; Wis 11:21 ; Bar 2:11 ; Isa 51:5 ; Isa 52:10 ), and that according to the Messianic signification; in the miraculous signs of Christ in which the unbelieving do not recognise the brachium Dei . “In se exsertum est, sed caeci non viderunt illud,” Bengel. But to understand Christ Himself (Augustine, Photius, Euth. Zigabenus, Beda, Ruperti, Zeger, Jansen, Maldonatus, Calovius, and several others) is required neither by the original text nor here by the connection.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Ver. 38. That the saying of the prophet ] These unbelievers were not such, because the prophet had so foretold it; but the prophet therefore foretold it, because they should be such. Like as Joseph’s foretelling the famine was no cause of it, but an antecedent only.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
38. ] On . see note, Mat 1:22 ; beware of the ‘ ecbatic ’ or ‘eventual’ sense, which has no existence.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
saying. Greek. logos. See note on Mar 9:32. This is quoted from Isa 53:1. See note there.
Esaias. Greek form of Isaiah.
fulfilled. Greek pleroo = filled full or accomplished. See Joh 13:18; Joh 15:25; Joh 17:12; Joh 18:9, Joh 18:32, Joh 19:24, Joh 19:36.
believed. App-150.
the arm of the Lord = Messiah, as the executant of His decrees. Isa 51:9; Isa 52:10. Compare “polished shaft”, Isa 49:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
38.] On . see note, Mat 1:22; beware of the ecbatic or eventual sense, which has no existence.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 12:38. , which he spake) Not only are the things prophetical which the Lord spake to the prophets, and they in His words, but also what the prophets spake to the Lord in their very own words.–;) Isa 53:1. So expressly write the LXX. In the Hebrew is not extant. In comparing with this the following verse of the passage, The arm of the Lord may be taken for the Messiah Himself.-) , the faculty of hearing; thence that which is heard, i.e. a report, a testimony: its correlative is faith [taken out of believed].-, our) of us prophets.- ) the arm of the Lord, put forth in miracles and in the work of redemption, and preached in the Gospel; Isa 52:10, The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God; Psa 98:1-2, His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory. The Lord hath made known His salvation.- , to whom hath been revealed?) In itself it has been put forth; but the blind did not see it. Who is a believer? Ans. He is such a one, to whomsoever the arm of the Lord has been revealed.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 12:38
Joh 12:38
that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?-In view of the fact so few would believe in Jesus, notwithstanding his many miracles, Isaiah asked, Lord, who hath believed our report, and who have recognized the power of God in the miracles performed? [This quotation is found in Isa 53:1. The prophet predicted such a condition as we here find existing among the Jews.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
That: Joh 15:25, Joh 17:12, Joh 19:24, Joh 19:36, Joh 19:37, Mat 27:35, Act 13:27-29
Esaias: 2Ch 32:20, Isaiah, Mat 15:7, Act 8:28-30, Rom 10:20
who: Isa 53:1, Rom 10:16
the arm: Psa 44:3, Isa 40:10, Isa 40:11, Isa 51:5, Isa 51:9, 1Co 1:24
revealed: Mat 16:17, 2Co 3:14-18, 2Co 4:3-6, Gal 1:16, Eph 1:17-20
Reciprocal: Deu 29:4 – General 1Ki 2:27 – that he Isa 28:9 – shall he teach Mat 1:22 – that Mat 11:25 – because Mat 12:17 – it Luk 17:25 – rejected Luk 19:42 – but Joh 3:11 – ye Joh 10:35 – the scripture Joh 14:11 – or Act 1:16 – this Act 28:26 – Go
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
God never did force a man to do wrong; but He knows all about the future, and can see the actions of men for centuries before they are born. With such knowledge of the future, God inspired his prophets to write about it. The common phrase “that it might be fulfilled,” means the same as if it said, “and in so doing, it fulfilled,” etc. The prophecy of Esaias (Isaiah) cited is in chapter 53:1 of his book.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 12:38. That the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he said, Lord, who believed our report? and to whom was the arm of the lord revealed. I The quotation is from Isa 53:1; and one or two expressions in it require notice before we endeavour to ascertain its exact force and meaning, either as originally spoken by the prophet or as now applied by the Evangelist. By report we are to understand the burden of the prophets message, the word as heard rather than as spoken (comp. 2Sa 4:4 in the Hebrew; Rom 10:16; 1Th 2:13); and by arm of the Lord, the manifestation of His power alike in the deliverance of His people and in the destruction of His enemies (Deu 5:15; Isa 63:5). The words that it might be fulfilled, so frequently used by Matthew as he points but the harmony of each successive event with the Divine plan and counsel, here meet us for the first time in this Gospel. More is meant than what we commonly understand by the fulfilment of a prediction. That which in its principle and its partial realisation connected itself with the events of which the inspired prophet directly spoke is here declared to be filled up, to have received its complete accomplishment. By whom then, and in what circumstances, were the words of Isaiah originally spoken? We answer, By repentant Israel; by Israel after it has come to faith, and when it looks back sorrowfully upon the fact that the message of Jehovahs love, and the manifestations of His power, had been disregarded by the great body of the nation. In a similar spirit the Evangelist now looks back, seeing in the unbelief which rejected the Messiah Himself the fulfilment of that unbelief which had long before rejected the Messianic message of the prophet. Israel was ever the same: As their fathers did, so did they (Act 7:51); they filled up the measure of their fathers (Mat 23:32). This is the explanation of what caused John so much astonishment and sorrow. But it is not all.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the {h} arm of the Lord been revealed?
(h) The arm of the Lord is the gospel, which is the power of God to salvation to all that believe, and therefore the arm of the Lord is not revealed to those whose hearts the Lord has not opened.