John 12:13

They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The great crowd that came to the feast (v.12) goes out to meet Jesus as He enters Jerusalem. They are the speakers; Jesus is the object of their acclamation.

The words — φοινίκων (phoinikōn), "palm trees," is the same ritual object used at the Feast of Tabernacles, which the crowd has just attended (v.12). They have taken the feast's symbol and redirected it toward Jesus.

The thread — "Hosanna" and "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" are drawn from Psalm 118:25-26; Matthew 21:9 records the same cry with the addition "Son of David."

Why it lands — The crowd calls Jesus "King of Israel," a title that demands a political answer, yet the very next verse shows Him on a donkey. The reader is forced to ask what kind of kingship is actually on offer.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Cross-references

Psalms 118:25 O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper!
Revelation 15:3 and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
Matthew 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
Luke 19:35 Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.
Mark 11:8 Many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut from the fields.
Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Psalms 72:17 May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.
Hosea 3:5 Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
Matthew 23:39 For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
John 1:49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”