UYohane 12:20

Izhibhalo Ezingcwele

20 Ke kaloku, kwakukho amaGrike athile kwababenyukile, beze kunqula emthendelekweni.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Greeks: John 7:35, Mark 7:26, Acts 14:1, Acts 16:1, Acts 17:4, Acts 20:21, Acts 21:28, Romans 1:16, Romans 10:12, Galatians 2:3, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11

to worship: 1 Kings 8:41-43, Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 60:2-14, Isaiah 66:19-21, Acts 8:27

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 6:32 - the stranger Isaiah 56:7 - them will Isaiah 60:3 - the Gentiles Malachi 3:16 - spake Acts 2:5 - were Acts 16:14 - worshipped

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And there were certain Greeks,.... "Hellenes", so called, from Hellen, a king of that name, as Pliny says r These were not Graecizing Jews, or Jews that dwelt in Greece, and spoke the Greek language; for they were called not Hellenes, but Hellenists; but these were, as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions render it, Gentiles; and were either mere Gentiles, and yet devout and religious men, who were allowed to offer sacrifice, and to worship, in the court of the Gentiles; or they were proselytes, either of righteousness, and so were circumcised, and had a right to eat of the passover, as well as to worship at it; or of the gate, and so being uncircumcised, might not eat of the passover, yet might worship at it; which latter seems to be the case, by what follows: for these were

among them, that came up to worship at the feast; of the passover, which was near at hand: these were among those, that went forth to meet Jesus, and that attended him to Jerusalem, who were come up out of the country to this feast; and these came along with them to worship at it, to offer their sacrifices, and join in prayer, though they might not eat of the passover.

r Nat. His. l. 4. c. 7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Certain Greeks - In the original, “some Hellenists” - -the name commonly given to the Greeks. The same name was commonly used by the Jews to denote all the pagan nations, because most of those whom they knew spoke the Greek language, John 7:34; Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9-10; Romans 3:9. “Jews and Greeks.” The Syriac translates this place, “Some of the Gentiles.” There are three opinions in regard to these persons:

1.That they were Jews who spoke the Greek language, and dwelt in some of the Greek cities. It is known that Jews were scattered in Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia, Egypt, etc., in all which places they had synagogues. See the notes at John 7:35,

2.That they were proselytes from the Greeks.

3.That they were still Gentiles and idolaters, who came to bring offerings to Yahweh to be deposited in the temple. Lightfoot has shown that the surrounding pagans were accustomed not only to send presents, sacrifices, and offerings to the temple, but that they also frequently attended the great feasts of the Jews. Hence, the outer court of the temple was called the court of the Gentiles. Which of these opinions is the correct one cannot be determined.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 12:20. Certain Greeks — There are three opinions concerning these:

1. That they were proselytes of the gate or covenant, who came up to worship the true God at this feast.

2. That they were real Jews, who lived in Grecian provinces, and spoke the Greek language.

3. That they were mere Gentiles, who never knew the true God: and hearing of the fame of the temple, or the miracles of our Lord, came to offer sacrifices to Jehovah, and to worship him according to the manner of the people of that land. This was not an unfrequent case: many of the Gentiles, Romans, and others, were in the habit of sending sacrifices to the temple at Jerusalem. Of these opinions the reader may choose; but the first seems best founded.