John 12:10 (KJV)

What does John 12:10 mean?

John 12:10 says that the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well. This means that the religious leaders not only wanted to get rid of Jesus, but also saw Lazarus—whom Jesus had raised from the dead—as a threat to their authority and influence.

In the setting of this verse, Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead, and many people were believing in Jesus because of this miracle. The chief priests, feeling their power and position were in danger, discussed killing Lazarus to stop more people from following Jesus. This verse highlights the growing opposition to Jesus and the lengths the leaders were willing to go to protect their own interests.

The Greek behind John 12:10

• "consulted" (ἐβουλεύσαντο, ebouleusanto): This word means to take counsel together or to plot. The Greek here shows that the chief priests were not acting alone or impulsively, but were making a deliberate plan as a group.
• "put...to death" (ἀποκτείνωσιν, apokteinōsin): This word means to kill or to put to death. The use of this word makes clear that their intention was not just to silence Lazarus, but to end his life completely.

Why John 12:10 matters

• John 12:10 shows that the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection had a major impact, making Lazarus himself a target because his very existence was evidence of Jesus’s power.
• This verse helps explain the intensity of the opposition Jesus faced from the religious leaders, who saw both Jesus and those connected to him as threats.
• Understanding this verse gives context to the events leading up to Jesus’s arrest and crucifixion, showing how the conflict was escalating.