John 12:29

29 The crowd standing there, who heard the voice, said it was thunder. But others said, "An angel has spoken to him."

John 12:29 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:29

The people therefore that stood by and heard [it]
Some more confusedly, who were farthest off; others more distinctly, who were nearer: the first of these,

said that it thundered;
as it used to do when "Bath Kol" was heard, which, as the Jews say ^F1,

``is a voice that comes out of heaven proceeding from the midst of another voice,''

as thunder; wherefore some took this for thunder, and others for the voice of an angel out of the thunder:

others said, an angel spoke to him;
these being nearer, perceived it was an articulate voice, which expressed certain distinct words, which they thought were delivered by an angel; for the Jews had a mighty notion of the discourse and conversation of angels with men, which their doctors pretended to understand; particularly R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a Rabbi, who was living at this time, had learned their speech, and was well versed in it ^F2.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Piske Tosephot in T. Bab. Sanhedrin, art. 30.
F2 T. Bab. Succa, fol. 28. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 134. 1.

John 12:29 In-Context

27 "Now I am very troubled. Should I say, 'Father, save me from this time'? No, I came to this time so I could suffer.

28 Father, bring glory to your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have brought glory to it, and I will do it again."

29 The crowd standing there, who heard the voice, said it was thunder. But others said, "An angel has spoken to him."

30 Jesus said, "That voice was for your sake, not mine.

31 Now is the time for the world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be thrown down.