Joh 12:9-11 | RWP | e4.org | The common people ( ο οχλος πολυς ). This is the right reading with the article ο , literally, "the people much or in large numbers." One is reminded of the French idiom. Gildersleeve ( Syntax , p. 284) gives a few rare examples of the idiom ο ανηρ αγαθος . Westcott suggests that οχλος πολυς came to be regarded as a compound noun. This is the usual order in the N.T. rather than πολυς οχλος (Robertson, Grammar , p. 774). Mark ( ) has ο πολυς οχλος . Moulton ( Proleg ., p. 84) terms ο οχλος πολυς here and in verse "a curious misplacement of the article." John's use of οχλος is usually the common crowd as "riff-raff." That he was ( οτ εστιν ). Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse after the secondary tense ( εγνω , second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω ). These "Jews" are not all hostile to Jesus as in ; , etc., but included some who were friendly (verse ). But that they might see Lazarus also ( αλλ' ινα κα τον Λαζαρον ιδωσιν ). Purpose clause with ινα and second aorist active subjunctive of οραω . Motive enough to gather a great crowd, to see one raised from the dead (cf. verse for the same phrase, "whom he had raised from the dead"). Some of the very witnesses of the raising of Lazarus will bear witness later (verse ). It was a tense situation.

‏ John 12:9-11

The common people ( ο οχλος πολυς ). This is the right reading with the article ο, literally, "the people much or in large numbers." One is reminded of the French idiom. Gildersleeve (Syntax, p. 284) gives a few rare examples of the idiom ο ανηρ αγαθος. Westcott suggests that οχλος πολυς came to be regarded as a compound noun. This is the usual order in the N.T. rather than πολυς οχλος (Robertson, Grammar, p. 774). Mark (Mr 12:37) has ο πολυς οχλος. Moulton (Proleg., p. 84) terms ο οχλος πολυς here and in verse 12 "a curious misplacement of the article." John's use of οχλος is usually the common crowd as "riff-raff."

That he was ( οτ εστιν ). Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse after the secondary tense ( εγνω, second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω ). These "Jews" are not all hostile to Jesus as in 5:10; 6:41, etc., but included some who were friendly (verse 11).

But that they might see Lazarus also ( αλλ' ινα κα τον Λαζαρον ιδωσιν ). Purpose clause with ινα and second aorist active subjunctive of οραω. Motive enough to gather a great crowd, to see one raised from the dead (cf. verse 1 for the same phrase, "whom he had raised from the dead"). Some of the very witnesses of the raising of Lazarus will bear witness later (verse 17). It was a tense situation.

The chief priests took counsel ( εβουλευσαντο ο αρχιερεις ). First aorist middle indicative of βουλευω, old verb, seen already in 11:53 which see. The whole Sanhedrin (7:32) had decided to put Jesus to death and had asked for information concerning him (11:57) that might lead to his arrest, but the Sadducees were specially active now to accomplish the death of Lazarus also ( ινα with first aorist active subjunctive of αποκτεινω as in 11:53). Perhaps they argued that, if they should kill both Jesus and Lazarus, then Lazarus would remain dead. The raising of Lazarus has brought matters to a crisis. Incidentally, it may be observed that here we may see the reason why the Synoptics do not tell the story of the raising of Lazarus, if he was still living (cf. the case of Malchus's name in Joh 18:10).

Because that ( οτ ). Causal use of οτ.

By reason of him ( δι' αυτον ). "Because of him," regular idiom, accusative case with δια.

Went away ( υπηγον ). Cf. 6:67 for this verb. Inchoative imperfect active of υπαγω, "began to withdraw" as happened at the time of the raising of Lazarus (11:45f.) and the secession was still going on.

And believed on Jesus ( κα επιστευον εις τον Ιησουν ). Imperfect active of πιστευω (note aorist in 11:45). There was danger of a mass movement of the people to Jesus.