John 12:13

13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD ! Hail to the King of Israel!”

John 12:13 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:13

Took branches of palm trees
The Ethiopic version adds, "and young shoots from Jerusalem"; these grew in great plenty, on one part of the Mount of Olives, that next to Bethany, from whence that town had its name; for it signifies the house of dates, the fruit of the palm tree; (See Gill on Matthew 21:17). And as that tree was a sign of joy and victory, they carried branches of it in their hands, as they met the King Messiah, who was about to make his public entrance into Jerusalem, in triumph; and where by his sufferings and death, he should gain the victory over sin, Satan, the world, and death; and lay a solid foundation for joy and peace, to all that believe in him: the Jews say ^F14,

``if a man takes (Nyyab) , (the very Greek word here used,) palm tree branches in his hands, we know that he is victorious.''

The Persic version reads, "branches of olives".

And went forth to meet him, and cried;
when they came up to him, and as he passed by them:

Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel, that cometh in the name of
the Lord; (See Gill on Matthew 21:9).

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Vajikra Rabba, sect. 30. fol. 170. 3.

John 12:13 In-Context

11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors

13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD ! Hail to the King of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”

Footnotes

• [a]. Greek Hosanna, an exclamation of praise adapted from a Hebrew expression that means “save now.”
• [b]. Ps 118:25-26 ; Zeph 3:15 .