Teks -- John 12:16 (NET)

12:16 (His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened to him.)

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Joh 12:16 - Understood not

Understood not ( ouk egnōsan ).

Second aorist active indicative of ginōskō . Another comment by John concerning the failure of the disciples to know what was happening (cf. Joh 2:22; Joh 7:39).

Robertson: Joh 12:16 - At the first

At the first ( to prōton ).

Adverbial accusative, as in Joh 10:40; Joh 19:39.

Robertson: Joh 12:16 - Was glorified

Was glorified ( edoxasthē ).

First aorist passive indicative of doxazō , to glorify, used of his death already in Joh 7:39 and by Jesus himself of his death, resurrection, and ascension in Joh 12:23; Joh 13:31.

Robertson: Joh 12:16 - Then remembered they

Then remembered they ( tote emnēsthēsan ).

First aorist passive indicative of mimnēskō . It was easier to understand then and they had the Holy Spirit to help them (Joh 16:13-15).

Robertson: Joh 12:16 - Were written of him

Were written of him ( ēn ep' autōi gegrammena ).

Periphrastic past perfect passive of graphō with neuter plural participle agreeing with tauta (these things) and singular verb, though the plural ēsan could have been used. Note the threefold repetition of tauta in this verse, "clumsy"Bernard calls it, but making for clarity. The use of ep' autōi for "of him"rather than peri autou is unusual, but occurs in Rev 10:11; Rev 22:16.

Robertson: Joh 12:16 - They had done

They had done ( epoiēsan ).

First aorist active indicative of poieō , simply, "they did."

Wesley: Joh 12:16 - These things his disciples understood not at first

The design of God's providential dispensations is seldom understood at first. We ought therefore to believe, though we understand not, and to give ourselves up to the Divine disposal. The great work of faith is, to embrace those things which we knew not now, but shall know hereafter.

Wesley: Joh 12:16 - When he had been glorified

At his ascension.

JFB: Joh 12:16 - when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, &c.

The Spirit, descending on them from the glorified Saviour at Pentecost, opened their eyes suddenly to the true sense of the Old Testament, brought vividly to their recollection this and other Messianic predictions, and to their unspeakable astonishment showed them that they, and all the actors in these scenes, had been unconsciously fulfilling those predictions.

Clarke: Joh 12:16 - Then remembered they, etc.

Then remembered they, etc. - After the ascension of Christ, the disciples saw the meaning of many prophecies which referred to Christ, and applied them to him, which they had not fully comprehended before. Indeed it is only in the light of the new covenant, that the old is to be fully understood.

Calvin: Joh 12:16 - These things his disciples did not understand at first // That these things had been written concerning him, and that they had done these things to him

16.These things his disciples did not understand at first As the seed does not spring up as soon as it is thrown into the earth, so the result of the works of God is not immediately seen. The Apostles are the servants of God to fulfill the prophecy, but they do not understand what they are doing. They hear the shout of the multitude, which was no confused noise, but a distinct salutation of Christ as King; but they do not perceive what is the object of it, or what it means. To them, therefore, it is an unmeaning exhibition, until the Lord, after his glorious resurrection, opens their eyes.

When it is said, that they at length remembered that these things had been written concerning him, the Evangelist points out the cause of such gross ignorance, by which their knowledge was preceded. It was because they had not the Scripture at that time as their guide and instructor, to direct their minds to just and accurate views; for we are blind, unless the word of God go before,, our steps, and it is not even enough that the word of God shine on us, if the Spirit do not also enlighten our eyes, which otherwise would be blind amidst the clearest light. This grace Christ bestowed on his disciples after his resurrection, because the full time, when the Spirit should bestow his riches in great abundance, was not come, until he was received into the heavenly glory, as we have seen under Joh 7:39 ¹⁷

Taught by this example, let us learn to form our judgment of every thing that relates to Christ, not by our own carnal feelings, but by the Scripture. Besides, let us remember that it is a special favor of the Holy Spirit to instruct us in a gradual manner, that we may not be stupid in considering the works of God.

That these things had been written concerning him, and that they had done these things to him I interpret that clause in this manner: “ Then, for the first time, did it occur to the disciples that Christ did not do these things rashly, and that those men were not employed in idle amusement; but that the whole of this transaction had been regulated by the providence of God, because those things which had been written must necessarily be fulfilled;” so that the words may be thus arranged: “They did these things to him, as they had been written concerning him.”

TSK: Joh 12:16 - understood // when // then

understood : Luk 9:45, Luk 18:34, Luk 24:25, Luk 24:45

when : Joh 12:23, Joh 7:39, Joh 13:31, Joh 13:32, Joh 17:5; Mar 16:19; Act 2:33, Act 2:36, Act 3:13; Heb 8:1, Heb 12:2

then : Joh 2:22, Joh 14:26, Joh 16:4; Luk 24:6-8

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Joh 12:16

The evangelist, amongst others, confesseth his own ignorance also. The disciples saw the thing done, Christ riding into the city upon the foal of an ass, the people strewing of boughs, and throwing their clothes in the way; but to what purpose these things were done, or what fulfilling of prophecies was in this thing, that they understood not, so long as Christ was alive: their eyes were upon the Messiah a temporal prince, that should come in great state and majesty, so as they were wholly blinded from seeing any thing of the truth and faithfulness of God fulfilled in this little triumph of their Lord’ s. But after that Christ had died, and was risen again from the dead, and ascended up to heaven, so declaring himself with power to be the Son of God; then they began to remember these things, so as to confirm their faith in him as the true Messiah, whom God had sent into the world. The word of the Lord which we hear, and the works of God which we see, though oft times they do not profit us, nor are improved by us at the present, yet afterward become of use and profit to us: it is therefore good to hear, and see, and observe God’ s words and works, and to lay them up in our hearts, as it is said Mary pondered the sayings of the angel; expecting fruit afterwards of what at present we see no fruit and effect.

Gill: Joh 12:16 - These things understood not his disciples at the first // but when Jesus was glorified // then remembered they that these things were written of him // and that they had done these things unto him

These things understood not his disciples at the first,.... Or "at that time", as the Syriac and Persic versions render it; or "on that day", as the Ethiopic version; they did not then know the sense of that prophecy, nor that the things which were now doing were a fulfilling of it:

but when Jesus was glorified; was raised front the dead, and ascended to heaven, and was set down at the right hand of God, crowned with glory and honour; and when having received the promise of the Father, the Holy Ghost, and his gifts, he poured them forth in a very plenteous and extraordinary manner upon them; whereby their minds were greatly illuminated, and they had a very distinct knowledge of the Scriptures of the Old Testament; and saw clearly how they severally had their accomplishment in Christ:

then remembered they that these things were written of him; in the prophecies of the Old Testament;

and that they had done these things unto him; both the disciples and the multitude, or that these things were done to him; such as bringing the ass to him, laying their clothes on it, and setting him upon it, attending him with shoutings and hosannas to the city of Jerusalem, &c.