John 11:56

56 So they were looking for Jesus, and were speaking with one another [while] standing in the temple [courts], "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"

John 11:56 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:56

Then sought they for Jesus
That is, the country people; some on one account, and some on another; some out of curiosity to see his person, others to see his miracles, and others to hear his doctrine; and some, it may be, to take him, and deliver him up to the sanhedrim, who had issued out a proclamation to that purpose, and doubtless offered a reward:

and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple;
whither they came to purify themselves, according to the law of the sanctuary:

what think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
it was a matter of dispute with them, whether Christ would come or not, to the feast; some might be of opinion that he would not, at least they very much questioned it, since the sanhedrim had published such an order for the discovery of him; and since upon it he was gone from Bethany, farther into the country; though others might be differently minded, and believe he would come, since all the males of Israel were obliged to appear at that feast, and it was his duty; and they could not persuade themselves that he would neglect his duty, for fear of the Jews.

John 11:56 In-Context

54 So Jesus was no longer walking openly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the [surrounding] country before the Passover, so that they could purify themselves.

56 So they were looking for Jesus, and were speaking with one another [while] standing in the temple [courts], "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?"

57 (Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, they should report [it], in order that they could arrest him.)

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("standing") which is understood as temporal
• [b]. *Here "[courts]" is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself