John 12:15

““Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion; look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.””

John 12:15 · direct translation from the Greek
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15

Quotation · Isaiah 40:9

Go to Isaiah 40:9

“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion” recalls Isaiah 40:9 and Zephaniah 3:16; the rest of the quotation is Zechariah 9:9.

Formula: καθώς ἐστιν γεγραμμένον “as it is written” (John 12:14)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: Μὴ φοβοῦ θυγάτηρ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου

Hebrew (Masoretic text): עַל הַר גָּבֹהַ עֲלִי לָךְ מְבַשֶּׂרֶת צִיּוֹן הָרִימִי בַכֹּחַ קוֹלֵךְ מְבַשֶּׂרֶת יְרוּשָׁלִָם הָרִימִי אַל תִּירָאִי אִמְרִי לְעָרֵי יְהוּדָה הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

Septuagint (Isaiah 40:9-10 in the Septuagint numbering): Ἐπ ὄρος ὑψηλὸν ἀνάβηθι, ὁ εὐαγγελιζόμενος Σιών· ὕψωσον τῇ ἰσχύι τὴν φωνήν σου, ὃ εὐαγγελιζόμενος Ἰερουσαλήμ· ὑψώσατε, μὴ φοιδον. .ιδοσαν] βεῖσθε· εἶπόν ταῖς πόλεσιν Ἰούδα Ἰδοὺ ὃ θεὸς ὑμῶν. Ἰδοὺ Κύριος μετὰ. ἰσχύος ἔρχεται, καὶ ὅ βραχίων αὐτοῦ μετὰ κυρίας· ἰδοὺ ὃ μισθὸς αὐτοῦ μετ’ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ ἔργον ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ.

In the Septuagint verse that most resembles it, at most 2 consecutive words match the Greek of the NT. The transcription has reading errors, so a match may not show.

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Quotation · Zechariah 9:9

Go to Zechariah 9:9

John quotes Zechariah 9:9 in shortened form: “your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Formula: γεγραμμένον “what was written” (John 12:14)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: Μὴ φοβοῦ θυγάτηρ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου

Hebrew (Masoretic text): גִּילִי מְאֹד בַּת צִיּוֹן הָרִיעִי בַּת יְרוּשָׁלִַם הִנֵּה מַלְכֵּךְ יָבוֹא לָךְ צַדִּיק וְנוֹשָׁע הוּא עָנִי וְרֹכֵב עַל חֲמוֹר וְעַל עַיִר בֶּן אֲתֹנוֹת

Septuagint (Zechariah 9:9 in the Septuagint numbering): Χαῖρε σφόδρα, θύγατερ Σειών· κήρυσσε, θύγατερ Ἰερουσαλήμ· ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεταί σοι δίκαιος καὶ σώζων, αὐτὸς πρᾳὺς καὶ ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ ὑποζύγιον καὶ πῶλον νέον.

The Greek of the NT matches the Septuagint word for word in 5 consecutive words: “ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται.”

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Quotation · Zephaniah 3:16

Go to Zephaniah 3:16

“Do not be afraid, Zion” recalls Zephaniah 3:16 (and also Isaiah 40:9); the rest is Zechariah 9:9.

Formula: γεγραμμένον “what was written” (John 12:14)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: Μὴ φοβοῦ θυγάτηρ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου

Hebrew (Masoretic text): בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יֵאָמֵר לִירוּשָׁלִַם אַל תִּירָאִי צִיּוֹן אַל יִרְפּוּ יָדָיִךְ

Septuagint (Zephaniah 3:15 in the Septuagint numbering): περιεῖλεν Κύριος τὰ ἀδικήματά σου, λελύτρωταί σε ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν σου· βασιλεὺς Ἰσραὴλ Κύριος ἐν μέσῳ σου, οὐκ ὄψῃ κακὰ οὐκέτι.

In the Septuagint verse that most resembles it, no two consecutive words match the Greek of the NT. The transcription has reading errors, so a match may not show.

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

John 12:15, word by word

be afraidφοβοῦphobou

be afraid

To be afraid: "do not fear".

Where else “phobou” appears
daughterθυγάτηρthygatēr

dear daughter

"Daughter" as an endearment, or a city's people.

Where else “thygatēr” appears
your kingβασιλεύςbasileus

king

The one who rules a people with the highest authority.

Where else “basileus” appears
is comingἔρχεταιerchetai

come

To move to where someone is or to a place, and be present there.

Where else “erchetai” appears
sittingκαθήμενοςkathēmenos

sit

To be seated somewhere, or riding on an animal.

Where else “kathēmenos” appears
a donkey’sὄνουonou

donkey

Donkey.

Where else “onou” appears
coltπῶλονpōlon

colt

Colt, the foal of a donkey.

Where else “pōlon” appears

Translation note

Zechariah 9:9, quoted freely; “Do not be afraid” recalls Isaiah 40:9 and Zephaniah 3:16.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

The entry into Jerusalem

Matthew 21:1-11Mark 11:1-11Luke 19:28-40

See them side by side

John 12:12-19

12The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and they were crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” 14And Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it, as it is written, 15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion; look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 16His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead kept testifying. 18For this reason also the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had done this sign. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”

Matthew 21:1-11

1And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and at once he will send them.” 4Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, when he says, 5“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Look, your king is coming to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 6And the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8And most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9And the crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were crying out, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10And when he entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, “Who is this?” 11And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Mark 11:1-11

1And when they draw near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sends two of his disciples 2and says to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and at once, as you enter into it, you will find a colt tied, on which no person has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it. 3And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it, and he will send it back here at once.’” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untie it. 5And some of those standing there were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they spoke to them just as Jesus had said; and they let them go. 7And they bring the colt to Jesus and throw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went ahead and those who followed were crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and having looked around at everything, since the hour was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Luke 19:28-40

28And after saying these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29And it happened, as he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the Mount of Olives, that he sent two of the disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, on which no person has ever sat; untie it and bring it. 31And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32So those who had been sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36And as he was going along, they were spreading their cloaks on the road. 37And as he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen, 38saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40And he answered and said, “I tell you that if these are silent, the stones will cry out.”

Quotation · Isaiah 40:9

“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion” recalls Isaiah 40:9 and Zephaniah 3:16; the rest of the quotation is Zechariah 9:9.

See them side by side

John 12:15

15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion; look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Isaiah 40:9

9On a high mountain go up, Zion, you who bring good news; lift up with strength your voice, Jerusalem, you who bring good news; lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Look, your Elohim!”

Quotation · Zechariah 9:9

John quotes Zechariah 9:9 in shortened form: “your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

See them side by side

John 12:15

15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion; look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Zechariah 9:9

9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion; shout, daughter of Jerusalem. Look, your king comes to you; righteous and saved is he, afflicted and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the son of donkeys.

Quotation · Zephaniah 3:16

“Do not be afraid, Zion” recalls Zephaniah 3:16 (and also Isaiah 40:9); the rest is Zechariah 9:9.

See them side by side

John 12:15

15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion; look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Zephaniah 3:16

16On that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands grow slack.

Places in this verse

Zion
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Zion

    Today: Mount Zion hill, Jerusalem

    A hill in Jerusalem; it first named the fortress David captured, and later sometimes the whole city.

    David captured the stronghold of Zion and called it the city of David (2 Sam 5:7). The Psalms and prophets call it the place where God lives among his people (Ps 48:2).

    2 Samuel 5:7Psalms 48:2Hebrews 12:22Romans 9:33

The context

14And Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it, as it is written,

15 · This verse (above)

16His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

Read all of John 12

To study John 12 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does Mary do with the perfume at the dinner in Bethany, and what does Judas object? How does Jesus answer? (vv. 3-8)

  2. 2. What it means

    Jesus says a grain of wheat, if it dies, bears much fruit (v. 24). What connection does he see between losing one's life and serving him? (vv. 24-26)

  3. 3. How I live it

    Mary gave the best she had to Jesus (v. 3). What is the best you have, and how could you offer it with love today?

How to use it