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John 12:33
ESV He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
NIV He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
NASB Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die.
CSB He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
NLT He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
KJV This he said, signifying what death he should die.

What does John 12:33 mean?

Here, John explains that Jesus' reference in the prior verse was meant to indicate the method of His death. When speaking to Nicodemus in a prior encounter, Jesus mentioned how a bronze serpent was "lifted up" to save the people from a plague (John 3:14; Numbers 21:4–9). This most recent reference to being "lifted up" (John 12:32) is also an allusion to crucifixion, where the victim is suspended off the ground.

As with many of Jesus' statements, few people hearing Him will completely understand. Most of that confusion is based in their misunderstanding of prophecy (John 12:34). Even though Jesus has been clear, at least with His disciples (Luke 9:22; Mark 8:31), most of His followers don't grasp the idea that His death is going to be a literal one. Of course, Scripture and other evidence have been pointing people towards this for some time (Isaiah 53:3–5). The problem is not that most people cannot possibly understand; the problem is they choose not to.
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