Yochanan 12:29

29 Therefore, the multitude that was standing there and heard, said, That was ra’am (thunder)! Others were saying, A malach (angel) has spoken to him! [Job 37:5; Gn 21:17]

Yochanan 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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Yochanan 12:29 In-Context

27 Now my neshamah has been troubled, and what may I say? Save me from this sha’ah? No, it is for this tachlis that I came to this sha’ah. [TEHILLIM 6:3,4f; 42:5,11]

28 Avi, bring kavod to Your Name. A bat kol came out of Shomayim, saying, I have both brought kavod to it and I will bring kavod to it again.

29 Therefore, the multitude that was standing there and heard, said, That was ra’am (thunder)! Others were saying, A malach (angel) has spoken to him! [Job 37:5; Gn 21:17]

30 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Not for my sake has this bat kol come, but for yours. [SHEMOT 19:9]

31 Now is the Mishpat HaOlam Hazeh. Now the Sar HaOlam Hazeh will be cast out!