John 12 · Verse 37

John 12:37

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
John 12:37, King James Version

John 12:37 in other translations

BSBAlthough Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
WEBBut though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,
ASVBut though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him:
YLTyet he having done so many signs before them, they were not believing in him,
DARBYBut though he had done so many signs before them, they believed not on him,
BBEBut though he had done such a number of signs before them, they still had no belief in him:
WebsterBut though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

What does John 12:37 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 12:37-41
37-41. It is the manner of this Evangelist alone to record his own reflections on the scenes he describes; but here, having arrived at what was virtually the close of our Lord's public ministry, he casts an affecting glance over the fruitlessness of His whole ministry on the bulk of the now doomed people. though he had done so many miracles--The word used suggests their nature as well as number.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 37. So many miracles. This does not refer to any miracles wrought on this occasion, but to all his miracles wrought in view of the nation, in healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, raising the dead, &c. John here gives the summary or the result of all his works. Though Jesus had given the most undeniable proof of his being the Messiah, yet the nation did not believe on him.

Before them. Before the Jewish nation. Not in the presence of the people whom he was then addressing, but before the Jewish people.

They believed not. The Jewish nation did not believe as a nation, but rejected him.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 Yet they believed not on him - Though the miracles were wrought for this very purpose, that they might believe in Christ, and escape the coming wrath, and every evidence given that Jesus was the Messiah, yet they did not believe; but they were blinded by their passions, and obstinately hardened their hearts against the truth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 12:37-43
Observe the method of conversion implied here. Sinners are brought to see the reality of Divine things, and to have some knowledge of them. To be converted, and truly turned from sin to Christ, as their Happiness and Portion. God will heal them, will justify and sanctify them; will pardon their sins, which are as bleeding wounds, and mortify their corruptions, which are as lurking diseases. See the power of the world in smothering convictions, from regard to the applause or censure of men. Love of the praise of men, as a by-end in that which is good, will make a man a hypocrite when religion is in fashion, and credit is to be got by it; and love of the praise of men, as a base principle in that which is evil, will make a man an apostate, when religion is in disgrace, and credit is to be lost for it.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 12:37 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.

ΤοσαῦταTosautaSo manyG5118
δὲdehoweverG1161
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
σημεῖαsēmeiasignsG4592
πεποιηκότοςpepoiēkotoshaving been doneG4160
ἔμπροσθενemprosthenbeforeG1715
αὐτῶνautōnthemG846
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐπίστευονepisteuonthey were believingG4100
εἰςeisinG1519
αὐτόν,autonHim,G846

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

Cross references for John 12:37

  • Luke 16:31

    And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

  • John 1:11

    He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

  • John 15:24

    If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • Matthew 11:20

    Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

  • John 11:42

    And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:11; 11:42; 15:24; Mt 11:20; Lu 16:31

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

Context

  • John 12:36

    While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

  • John 12:37

    But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

  • John 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 arm of the Lord been revealed?

Read all of John 12

John 12:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero habiendo hecho delante de ellos tantas señales, no creían en él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quoiqu’il ait fait tant de miracles devant eux, ils ne crurent pas en lui;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wiewohl er aber so viele Zeichen vor ihnen getan hatte, glaubten sie nicht an ihn,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum autem tanta signa fecisset coram eis, non credebant in eum;