John 12 · Verse 16

John 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.
John 12:16, King James Version

John 12:16 in other translations

BSBAt first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.
WEBHis disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.
ASVThese 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.
YLTAnd these things his disciples did not know at the first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were having been written about him, and these things they did to him.
DARBYNow his disciples knew not these things at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things to him.
BBE(These things were not clear to his disciples at first: but when Jesus had been lifted up into his glory, then it came to their minds that these things in the Writings were about him and that they had been done to him.)
WebsterThese things his disciples understood not at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written concerning him, and that they had done these things to him.

What does John 12:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Was glorified. Was raised from the dead, and had ascended to heaven.

(n) "These things" Lk 18:34

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 12:12-19

Christ's riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by all the evangelists. Many excellent things, both in the word and providence of God, disciples do not understand at their first acquaintance with the things of God. The right understanding of spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, prevents our misapplying the Scriptures which speak of it.

Read the full comment on John 12:12-19 →

John 12:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ταῦταtautaThese thingsG3778
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔγνωσανegnōsanknewG1097
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
τὸtofrom theG3588
πρῶτον,prōtonfirst,G4413
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ὅτεhotewhenG3753
ἐδοξάσθηedoxasthēwas glorifiedG1392
Ἰησοῦς,IēsousJesus,G2424
τότεtotethenG5119
ἐμνήσθησανemnēsthēsanthey rememberedG3403
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
ἦνēnwereG1510
ἐπ᾽ep᾽aboutG1909
αὐτῷautōHimG846
γεγραμμέναgegrammenawrittenG1125
καὶkaiandG2532
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
ἐποίησανepoiēsanthey had doneG4160
αὐτῷ.¶autōto Him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 12:16

  • John 2:22

    When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

  • John 14:26

    But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

  • John 7:39

    (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

  • John 12:23

    And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

  • Acts 2:36

    Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

  • Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Luke 9:45

    But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

  • Luke 24:45

    Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

  • Acts 3:13

    The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

  • Luke 18:34

    And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

  • Luke 24:6-8

    He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words,

  • John 16:4

    But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
understood.
Lu 9:45; 18:34; 24:25,45
when.
23; 7:39; 13:31,32; 17:5; Mr 16:19; Ac 2:33,36; 3:13; Heb 8:1; 12:2
then.
2:22; 14:26; 16:4; Lu 24:6-8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 12:15

    Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

  • John 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.

  • John 12:17

    The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

Read all of John 12

John 12:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Estas cosas no las entendieron sus discípulos de primero: empero cuando Jesús fué glorificado, entonces se acordaron de que estas cosas estaban escritas de él, y que le hicieron estas cosas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Or ses disciples ne comprirent pas d’abord ces choses; mais quand Jésus eut été glorifié, alors ils se souvinrent que ces choses étaient écrites de lui et qu’ils avaient fait ces choses à son égard.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Dies aber verstanden seine Jünger zuerst nicht; jedoch als Jesus verherrlicht war, dann erinnerten sie sich, daß dies von ihm geschrieben war und sie ihm dies getan hatten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Hæc non cognoverunt discipuli ejus primum: sed quando glorificatus est Jesus, tunc recordati sunt quia hæc erant scripta de eo, et hæc fecerunt ei.