John 12:20 (KJV)

What does John 12:20 mean?

John 12:20 describes how some Greeks were present among those who came to Jerusalem to worship during a Jewish feast. This verse notes that non-Jewish people were also seeking to participate in the worship at this important religious event.

The setting is Jerusalem during one of the major Jewish festivals, likely Passover, when many people traveled to the city to worship. The "Greeks" mentioned here refers to Gentiles—people who were not ethnically Jewish but were interested in the God of Israel and came to worship at the feast. This detail sets the stage for the following verses, where these Greeks seek to meet Jesus, highlighting the growing interest in Jesus beyond the Jewish community.

The Greek behind John 12:20

• Ἕλληνες (Hellēnes, "Greeks"): This word often refers to non-Jewish people, specifically Gentiles who spoke Greek and were part of the wider Greek-speaking world. Their presence at the feast shows that Jesus' message was reaching beyond the Jewish population.
• ἵνα (hina, "to"): This word signals purpose or intent. Here, it shows that the Greeks came with the specific purpose of worshiping, not just as tourists or observers.
• προσκυνήσωσιν (proskynēsōsin, "worship"): This word means to bow down or show reverence, often in a religious sense. The use of this word indicates that these Greeks were not just curious but were sincerely participating in Jewish worship practices.

Why John 12:20 matters

• John 12:20 highlights that Jesus was attracting attention from people outside the Jewish faith, showing the early signs of the gospel's reach to all nations.
• This verse prepares the reader for the following conversation, where these Greeks express a desire to see Jesus, signaling a turning point in the narrative as Jesus' mission becomes more openly universal.
• The mention of Greeks at the feast challenges the idea that worship of the God of Israel was limited to ethnic Jews, showing that the temple and its worship were drawing people from many backgrounds.