John 12:21
New International Version
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

New Living Translation
paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”

English Standard Version
So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Berean Standard Bible
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they were asking him, saying, "Sir, we desire to see Jesus."

King James Bible
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

New King James Version
Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

New American Standard Bible
these people then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were making a request of him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

NASB 1995
these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

NASB 1977
these therefore came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Legacy Standard Bible
these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Amplified Bible
these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Christian Standard Bible
So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

American Standard Version
these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Contemporary English Version
Philip from Bethsaida in Galilee was there too. So they went to him and said, "Sir, we would like to meet Jesus."

English Revised Version
these therefore came to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to meet Jesus."

Good News Translation
They went to Philip (he was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and said, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."

International Standard Version
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

Majority Standard Bible
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

NET Bible
So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

New Heart English Bible
These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."

Webster's Bible Translation
The same came therefore to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Weymouth New Testament
They came to Philip, of Bethsaida in Galilee, with the request, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

World English Bible
Therefore, these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
these then came near to Philip, who [is] from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were asking him, saying, “Lord, we wish to see Jesus”;

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they were asking him, saying, "Sir, we desire to see Jesus."

Young's Literal Translation
these then came near to Philip, who is from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were asking him, saying, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus;'

Smith's Literal Translation
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
These therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying: Sir, we would see Jesus.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they petitioned him, saying: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

New American Bible
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”

New Revised Standard Version
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They came and approached Philip of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, My lord, we would like to see Jesus.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
These came and approached Philippus, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and they asked him and were saying to him, “My lord, we wish to see Yeshua.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
These then came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying: Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Godbey New Testament
then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and requested him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Haweis New Testament
these then came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida, of Galilee, and they asked him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Mace New Testament
there were certain Greeks, who address'd themselves to Philip, who was of Bethsaida in Galilee, saying, sir, we would fain see Jesus.

Weymouth New Testament
They came to Philip, of Bethsaida in Galilee, with the request, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

Worrell New Testament
These, therefore, came to Philip—who was from Bethsaida of Galilee—and were asking Him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

Worsley New Testament
that came to Philip who was of Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we have a desire to see Jesus.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Predicts His Death
20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.…

Cross References
John 1:38-39
Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?” / “Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.

John 6:44
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 7:35-36
At this, the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? / What does He mean by saying, ‘You will look for Me, but you will not find Me,’ and, ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 1:43-46
The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.” / Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. / Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ...

John 3:14-15
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, / that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

John 10:16
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

John 17:3
Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

Acts 8:27-31
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, / and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. / The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.” ...

Acts 17:4
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.

Acts 17:12
As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.

Romans 15:9-12
so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.” / Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” / And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.” ...

Isaiah 2:2-3
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 11:10
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

Isaiah 42:1-4
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. / He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets. / A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. ...


Treasury of Scripture

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Philip.

John 1:43-47
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me…

John 6:5-7
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? …

John 14:8,9
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us…

we would.

John 1:36-39
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! …

John 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Matthew 2:2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

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Bethsaida Beth-Saida Beth-Sa'ida Desired Galilee Jesus Philip Request Sir Want Wish
John 12
1. Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.
9. The people flock to see Lazarus.
10. The chief priests consult to kill him.
12. Jesus rides into Jerusalem.
20. Greeks desire to see Jesus.
23. He foretells his death.
37. The people are generally blinded;
42. yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him;
44. therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith.














So they came to Philip
The phrase indicates a deliberate action by the individuals seeking Jesus. The Greek word for "came" (ἔρχομαι, erchomai) suggests an intentional approach, highlighting the earnestness of their desire. Philip, one of the twelve apostles, is specifically mentioned, which may indicate his role as a mediator or someone approachable. Historically, Philip's Greek name might have made him more accessible to the Greek-speaking individuals who approached him.

who was from Bethsaida in Galilee
Bethsaida, a town in Galilee, is significant as it was a place where Jesus performed miracles (e.g., healing the blind man in Mark 8:22-26). The mention of Bethsaida roots Philip in a specific cultural and geographical context, emphasizing the diverse backgrounds of Jesus' followers. Galilee was a region known for its mixed population, including Jews and Gentiles, which may have made Philip a suitable intermediary for the Greeks.

and requested of him
The act of requesting (αἰτέω, aiteo) implies a respectful and earnest petition. This reflects the seekers' recognition of Philip's potential influence or connection to Jesus. In a broader scriptural context, this request mirrors the human longing for divine encounter and understanding, a theme prevalent throughout the Gospels.

Sir, we want to see Jesus
The address "Sir" (κύριε, kyrie) denotes respect and acknowledges Philip's authority or position. The phrase "we want to see Jesus" reveals a deep desire not just for a physical sighting but for an encounter with the Messiah. The Greek word for "see" (ὁράω, horao) can imply understanding or perceiving, suggesting that the seekers were looking for more than a mere visual experience; they sought insight into Jesus' teachings and personhood. This request encapsulates the universal human quest for truth and connection with the divine, a central theme in Christian theology.

(21) The same came therefore to Philip.--We have no indication of the time when, or of the place where, these words were spoken. St. John alone gives us this incident, and he gives us this incident only, of all that occurred, as we know from the earlier I Gospels, between the entry into Jerusalem and the Last Supper; and he relates this coming of the Greeks not for the sake of the fact itself, but for that of the discourse which followed upon it. He is careful, therefore, only to mention it, and is not concerned, for the purpose he has in view, with any of the historic details. The last words of the discourse (John 12:36) do, however, intimate that they were followed by a retirement from public teaching, and from public appearance in Jerusalem. They would, then,-be among the last words spoken in the Temple before the retirement to-Bethany, on the evening of what we call Wednesday. (Comp. Luke 21:37.) They were uttered, probably, in the Court of the Gentiles, as He passed from the Court of the Women, which, as the most public place for Jewish assemblies, was the frequent scene of His teaching. On the previous day, the Court of the Gentiles had been cleansed from the traffic and merchandise which had been customary in it, and the temple had been declared to be "a house of prayer for all nations." The court of the Gentiles was divided from the inner square of the Temple by a stone fence, bearing upon pillars, placed at regular distances, the following words in Greek and Latin:--"No alien must pass within the fence round the Temple and the court. If any one be caught doing so, he must blame himself for the death that will follow." This prohibition was known before, from Josephus (Ant. xv. 11, 5); but in our own day one of the very slabs, bearing the exact words, has been discovered by M. Ganneau during the excavations of the Palestine Exploration Fund. (Comp. Note on Acts 22:28-29, and especially the Note on Mark 11:17.) The events and the words of these days must have brought strange thoughts to the minds of proselytes, men who were worshippers of the one God by personal conviction, and not because of the faith of their ancestors; and with hearts filled with wonder as to what these things meant--half-grasping, it may be, the truth that this middle wall of partition should be broken down--they ask for a special interview with Jesus. (Comp. Ephesians 2:12 et seq.)

Which was of Bethsaida of Galilee.--The mention of this place again here seems to intend that it should be told as explaining why these Greeks came to Philip. They may have themselves come from the neighbourhood of Bethsaida, or from one of the Greek cities of Decapolis. . . .

Verse 21. - These therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. The first expression of that great yearning which, swollen by multitudes without number, is loud as the voice of many waters and mighty thunderings. It is the wail of every penitent; it is the birth-cry of every renewed soul; it is the raptured burst of joy as each son of God passes behind the veil The "therefore" implies some kind of previous relation with Philip, whose somewhat timid, cautious, speculative mind, as hinted in the earlier portions of the Gospel, made him accessible to them. Personal acquaintance is, of course, possible. Was Philip identical with the Aristion of Papias (see Introduction, p. 34, and Archdeacon Farrar, Expositor, November, 1881)? The mention of Bethsaida of Galilee confirms the suggestion that they were inhabitants of one of the Greek cities of Decapolis, or of the slopes of the Lebanon. Many commentators refer to Philip's Greek name as indicating proclivities or sympathies on his part which would make him peculiarly accessible.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
They
οὗτοι (houtoi)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

came
προσῆλθον (prosēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4334: From pros and erchomai; to approach, i.e. come near, visit, or worship, assent to.

to Philip,
Φιλίππῳ (Philippō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5376: From philos and hippos; fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites.

who was
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

Bethsaida
Βηθσαϊδὰ (Bēthsaida)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 966: Of Chaldee origin; fishing-house; Bethsaida, a place in Palestine.

in Galilee,
Γαλιλαίας (Galilaias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1056: Of Hebrew origin; Galiloea, a region of Palestine.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

requested
ἠρώτων (ērōtōn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2065: Apparently from ereo; to interrogate; by implication, to request.

of him,
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Sir,
Κύριε (Kyrie)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

we want
θέλομεν (thelomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to see
ἰδεῖν (idein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

Jesus.”
Ἰησοῦν (Iēsoun)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.


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