Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

JOHN 12:13KJV
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John 12:13 (KJV)

What does John 12:13 mean?

John 12:13 describes how a crowd welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem by taking palm branches, going out to meet him, and shouting, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” The people are publicly celebrating Jesus as a royal figure sent by God.

This event takes place as Jesus enters Jerusalem before Passover, with many people gathered for the festival. The crowd’s actions—waving palm branches and calling out “Hosanna”—reflect Jewish hopes for deliverance and recognize Jesus as someone special, possibly the Messiah. Their words echo Old Testament language used for welcoming a king or a deliverer.

The Greek behind John 12:13

  • Ὡσαννά (Hōsanna): This word is a transliteration of a Hebrew phrase meaning “save, please” or “save now.” By the time of Jesus, it had become a shout of praise or acclamation, showing both hope for rescue and honor for Jesus.
  • Βασιλεὺς (Basileus): This is the Greek word for “king.” The crowd is not just calling Jesus a teacher or prophet, but openly recognizing him as the King of Israel, a significant and bold claim in the context of Roman rule.
  • ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου (en onomati Kyriou): This phrase means “in the name of the Lord.” It signals that the crowd sees Jesus as coming with God’s authority and approval, not just on his own.

Why John 12:13 matters

  • John 12:13 shows the crowd’s expectation that Jesus is a deliverer, connecting their actions to Old Testament hopes for a coming king who would save Israel.
  • The use of palm branches and the word “Hosanna” reveal the people’s longing for salvation and their belief that Jesus could fulfill those hopes.
  • This verse sets the stage for the tension that follows in the Gospel, as the public recognition of Jesus as king challenges both religious leaders and Roman authorities.

Where else these words appear

“trees” Greek G5404 · used in 2 verses

  • Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

“Hosanna” Greek G5614 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
  • Matthew 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
  • Mark 11:9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

“Blessed” Greek G2127 · used in 41 verses

  • Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
  • Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
  • Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

“cried” Greek G2896 · used in 58 verses

  • Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
  • Mark 11:9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
  • Acts 19:34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.