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Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” <a href="/esv/john/12.htm">English Standard Version</a> “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” <a href="/bsb/john/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.” <a href="/blb/john/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> "Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a colt of a donkey." <a href="/kjv/john/12.htm">King James Bible</a> Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. <a href="/nkjv/john/12.htm">New King James Version</a> “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” <a href="/nasb_/john/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “DO NOT FEAR, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” <a href="/nasb/john/12.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY&#8217S COLT.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” <a href="/lsb/john/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” <a href="/amp/john/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “DO NOT FEAR, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” <a href="/csb/john/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt. <a href="/hcsb/john/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Fear no more, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey&#8217s colt. <a href="/asv/john/12.htm">American Standard Version</a> Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. <a href="/cev/john/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> "People of Jerusalem, don't be afraid! Your King is now coming, and he is riding on a donkey." <a href="/erv/john/12.htm">English Revised Version</a> Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. <a href="/gwt/john/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "Don't be afraid, people of Zion! Your king is coming. He is riding on a donkey's colt." <a href="/gnt/john/12.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Here comes your king, riding on a young donkey." <a href="/isv/john/12.htm">International Standard Version</a> "Stop being afraid, people of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting upon a donkey's colt!" <a href="/msb/john/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.? <a href="/net/john/12.htm">NET Bible</a> "Do not be afraid, people of Zion; look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey' s colt!" <a href="/nheb/john/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt." <a href="/wbt/john/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. <a href="/wey/john/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Fear not, Daughter of Zion! See, thy King is coming riding on an ass's colt." <a href="/web/john/12.htm">World English Bible</a> “Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> “Do not fear, daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes, sitting on a colt of a donkey.” <a href="/blb/john/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> "Fear not, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a colt of a donkey." <a href="/ylt/john/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Fear not, daughter of Sion, lo, thy king doth come, sitting on an ass' colt.' <a href="/slt/john/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Fear not, O daughter of Sion: behold, thy King comes, sitting upon the foal of an ass.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy king cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. <a href="/cpdv/john/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your king arrives, sitting on the colt of a donkey.” <a href="/nabre/john/12.htm">New American Bible</a> “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.” <a href="/nrsvce/john/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Fear not, O daughter of Zion; behold, your king cometh to you, riding on the colt of an ass. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/12.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold your King comes to you and rides on a foal, a colt of a donkey.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/12.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king comes, sitting on the colt of an ass. <a href="/godbey/john/12.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting upon the colt of a donkey. <a href="/haweis/john/12.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> ?Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on the foal of an ass.? <a href="/mace/john/12.htm">Mace New Testament</a> "fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy king comes sitting on an ass's colt." <a href="/wey/john/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Fear not, Daughter of Zion! See, thy King is coming riding on an ass's colt." <a href="/worrell/john/12.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming upon an ass colt." <a href="/worsley/john/12.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> as it is written, "Fear not, O daughter of Sion, behold thy king cometh sitting on an ass's colt." <a href="/parallel/john/12-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=4442" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/12.htm">The Triumphal Entry</a> …14Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: 15<a href="/greek/5399.htm" title="5399: phobou (V-PMM/P-2S) -- From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere.">“Do not be afraid,</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: Mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether."></a> <a href="/greek/2364.htm" title="2364: thygatēr (N-NFS) -- Apparently a primary word; a female child, or descendant.">O Daughter</a> <a href="/greek/4622.htm" title="4622: Siōn (N-GFS) -- Zion, the hill; used for Jerusalem or heaven. Of Hebrew origin; Sion, a hill of Jerusalem; figuratively, the Church.">of Zion.</a> <a href="/greek/2400.htm" title="2400: idou (V-AMA-2S) -- See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!">See,</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: sou (PPro-G2S) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/935.htm" title="935: Basileus (N-NMS) -- A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.">King</a> <a href="/greek/2064.htm" title="2064: erchetai (V-PIM/P-3S) -- To come, go. ">is coming,</a> <a href="/greek/2521.htm" title="2521: kathēmenos (V-PPM/P-NMS) -- To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.">seated</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">on</a> <a href="/greek/4454.htm" title="4454: pōlon (N-AMS) -- A colt, young ass, foal. Apparently a primary word; a foal or filly, i.e., a young ass.">the colt</a> <a href="/greek/3688.htm" title="3688: onou (N-GFS) -- A donkey. Apparently a primary word; a donkey.">of a donkey.”</a> 16At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Zechariah 9:9</a> Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. <a href="/matthew/21-5.htm">Matthew 21:5</a> “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” <a href="/mark/11-7.htm">Mark 11:7-10</a> Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it. / Many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut from the fields. / The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” ... <a href="/luke/19-35.htm">Luke 19:35-38</a> Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it. / As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road. / And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: ... <a href="/john/19-15.htm">John 19:15</a> At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests. <a href="/john/1-49.htm">John 1:49</a> “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” <a href="/john/6-15.htm">John 6:15</a> Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself. <a href="/john/18-36.htm">John 18:36</a> Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” <a href="/revelation/19-11.htm">Revelation 19:11-16</a> Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ... <a href="/isaiah/62-11.htm">Isaiah 62:11</a> Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.” <a href="/genesis/49-10.htm">Genesis 49:10-11</a> The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. / He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. <a href="/psalms/118-25.htm">Psalm 118:25-26</a> O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper! / Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. <a href="/isaiah/9-6.htm">Isaiah 9:6-7</a> For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. <a href="/jeremiah/23-5.htm">Jeremiah 23:5</a> Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. <a href="/daniel/9-25.htm">Daniel 9:25</a> Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, your King comes, sitting on an ass's colt.Fear.<a href="/isaiah/35-4.htm">Isaiah 35:4,5</a> Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you… <a href="/isaiah/40-9.htm">Isaiah 40:9,10</a> O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! … <a href="/isaiah/41-14.htm">Isaiah 41:14</a> Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.sitting.<a href="/deuteronomy/17-16.htm">Deuteronomy 17:16</a> But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.<a href="/judges/5-10.htm">Judges 5:10</a> Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.<a href="/judges/12-14.htm">Judges 12:14</a> And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/9-22.htm">Afraid</a> <a href="/john/12-14.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/luke/19-30.htm">Ass's</a> <a href="/luke/19-35.htm">Colt</a> <a href="/luke/13-16.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-19.htm">Donkey's</a> <a href="/john/9-22.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/matthew/21-5.htm">Riding</a> <a href="/john/12-2.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/matthew/21-5.htm">Sion</a> <a href="/john/11-20.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/john/12-14.htm">Young</a> <a href="/matthew/21-5.htm">Zion</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/14-27.htm">Afraid</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-16.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/genesis/49-11.htm">Ass's</a> <a href="/genesis/49-11.htm">Colt</a> <a href="/acts/7-21.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/genesis/49-11.htm">Donkey's</a> <a href="/john/12-35.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/revelation/19-14.htm">Riding</a> <a href="/john/20-12.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/romans/2-29.htm">Sion</a> <a href="/john/20-11.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/john/21-18.htm">Young</a> <a href="/romans/9-33.htm">Zion</a><div class="vheading2">John 12</div>1. <a href="/john/12-1.htm">Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.</a> 9. <a href="/john/12-9.htm">The people flock to see Lazarus.</a> 10. <a href="/john/12-10.htm">The chief priests consult to kill him.</a> 12. <a href="/john/12-12.htm">Jesus rides into Jerusalem.</a> 20. <a href="/john/12-20.htm">Greeks desire to see Jesus.</a> 23. <a href="/john/12-23.htm">He foretells his death.</a> 37. <a href="/john/12-37.htm">The people are generally blinded;</a> 42. <a href="/john/12-42.htm">yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him;</a> 44. <a href="/john/12-44.htm">therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. This phrase is a reassurance to the people of Jerusalem, often referred to as the "Daughter of Zion." The term "Daughter of Zion" is a poetic way of personifying the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, emphasizing their special relationship with God. The command "Do not be afraid" is a common biblical exhortation, found throughout Scripture, often used by God or His messengers to calm fears and encourage trust in divine protection and providence. This echoes the words of the prophets, such as <a href="/isaiah/41-10.htm">Isaiah 41:10</a>, where God reassures His people of His presence and support.See, your King is coming, This phrase highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, specifically <a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Zechariah 9:9</a>, which foretells the coming of a humble king to Jerusalem. The anticipation of a king was deeply rooted in Jewish expectation, as they awaited a Messiah who would deliver them. This king is not coming as a conquering warrior but in a manner that signifies peace and humility. The arrival of the king is a pivotal moment, marking the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.seated on the colt of a donkey. The imagery of a king riding on a donkey's colt is significant. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a donkey was a symbol of peace, as opposed to a horse, which was associated with war. By choosing to enter Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus is making a deliberate statement about the nature of His kingship. This act fulfills the prophecy in <a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Zechariah 9:9</a> and contrasts with the expectations of a militant Messiah. It underscores the humility and servanthood of Jesus, aligning with His teachings on the Kingdom of God. This event is also a type of Christ, illustrating His role as the Prince of Peace, who comes to bring salvation not through force, but through sacrifice and love.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/d/daughter_of_zion.htm">Daughter of Zion</a> This term refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, often used in the Old Testament to personify the city and its people. It signifies a close, familial relationship between God and His people. 2. <a href="/topical/k/king.htm">King</a> In this context, the King is Jesus Christ, who is entering Jerusalem. This event is often referred to as the Triumphal Entry, marking the beginning of the Passion Week. 3. <a href="/topical/c/colt_of_a_donkey.htm">Colt of a Donkey</a> The colt symbolizes humility and peace, contrasting with a war horse. Jesus riding a donkey fulfills the prophecy of <a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Zechariah 9:9</a>, emphasizing His role as a peaceful and humble Messiah. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The city where this event takes place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. 5. <a href="/topical/p/prophecy_fulfillment.htm">Prophecy Fulfillment</a> This event fulfills Old Testament prophecy, demonstrating Jesus as the promised Messiah and King.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_prophecy.htm">Understanding Prophecy</a> Recognize the importance of Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment in the New Testament as evidence of God's sovereign plan. <a href="/topical/j/jesus'_humility.htm">Jesus' Humility</a> Reflect on the humility of Christ, who chose to enter Jerusalem on a donkey, and consider how we can emulate His humility in our daily lives. <a href="/topical/f/fear_not.htm">Fear Not</a> The command "Do not be afraid" is a reminder of the peace and assurance we have in Christ, our King, who comes to us in gentleness and love. <a href="/topical/m/messianic_expectation.htm">Messianic Expectation</a> Understand the significance of Jesus as the promised Messiah and how His entry into Jerusalem was a declaration of His kingship. <a href="/topical/p/peaceful_kingdom.htm">Peaceful Kingdom</a> Jesus' choice of a donkey symbolizes a kingdom of peace. As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers in a world often filled with conflict.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 12</a> <a href="/q/what's_palm_sunday's_significance.htm">What is the significance of Palm Sunday?</a> <a href="/q/day_26_insights_on_spiritual_growth.htm">What events define the Triumphal Entry in Volume 23?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_the_crucifixion_in_journey.htm">What events mark the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem?</a> <a href="/q/is_jesus'_donkey_ride_historically_accurate.htm">In John 12:14–15, how historically accurate is the claim of Jesus riding a donkey in a royal procession, given Roman practices of the time? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) Fear not, daughter of Sion.--The quotation is made freely, and in an abbreviated form. (Comp. the fuller form in <a href="/matthew/21-5.htm" title="Tell you the daughter of Sion, Behold, your King comes to you, meek, and sitting on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.">Matthew 21:5</a>, and Note upon it there.) It is in the two Hebrew Gospels only that the connection of the fact with the prophecy is mentioned.Sitting on an ass's colt.--The Greek (LXX.) has "a young ass." St. John's translation is nearer to the Hebrew. (Comp. Introduction, p. 374).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 15. - John, as well as Matthew, sees here a symbolical fulfillment of what had been declared by one of the latest of the prophets, as the peculiarity of the Messiah (<a href="/zechariah/9-9.htm">Zechariah 9:9</a>): Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. This oracle is admitted by commentators of opposite schools to refer to the Messiah. There was no need, in order to fulfill the spirit of the whole passage, that the King should come to his own literally upon the back of a beast of burden. The prophecy does, however, suggest the modesty, the absence of all pomp or display of worldly wealth and power; nay, the humiliation on the part of the true King. Both Matthew and John omit the characteristics of "righteous and saved," i.e. "delivered" from the hands of his cruel enemies. The suffering Servant of God of the great oracle of <a href="/isaiah/53.htm">Isaiah 53</a>. was in the mind of the Prophet Zechariah, and he adds this feature to the triumphant coming of the true Prince of Peace, that he would "cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem," i.e. so act that even the national pride and power and military prowess should come to an end; "Speak peace to the nations; rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth." As John and Matthew both see the symbolical fulfillment of the prophecy, they doubtless would have us bear in mind the whole passage. John transforms the "Rejoice greatly, shout," etc., of the prophet into "Fear not." He seems to take it at one stage only of fulfillment, when anxiety might momentarily be put to rest. The "Fear not" is a lower form of "great rejoicing." It is something for men to dismiss their doubts and hush their unrest, even when they cannot burst into song. Hengstenberg and Godet urge that the "meekness and lowliness" to which the prophet referred, and which Matthew cited from him, was imaged in the lowly beast on which never man sat. But it must not be forgotten that the ass was used by distinguished personages (<a href="/judges/5-9.htm">Judges 5:9, 10</a>; <a href="/judges/10-4.htm">Judges 10:4</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/17-23.htm">2 Samuel 17:23</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/19-26.htm">2 Samuel 19:26</a>). And all that was really meant by it was the choice of a creature associated rather with daily life than with military display. Meyer and Moulton urge that it was a chosen symbol of peace (καθήμενος ισ substituted for the ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἐπὶ of the LXX. and <a href="/matthew/21-5.htm">Matthew 21:5</a>). Contrary to Keim's animadversion, our Lord and his disciples adopted here the idea of a Jewish Messiah, stripping it of its worldly characteristics. It should be observed that, while John's narrative is in harmony with the synoptists, he greatly abbreviates it. <a href="/commentaries/john/12-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>“Do not be afraid, φοβοῦ (phobou) Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5399.htm">Strong's 5399: </a> From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere. O daughter θυγάτηρ (thygatēr) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2364.htm">Strong's 2364: </a> Apparently a primary word; a female child, or descendant. of Zion. Σιών (Siōn) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4622.htm">Strong's 4622: </a> Zion, the hill; used for Jerusalem or heaven. Of Hebrew origin; Sion, a hill of Jerusalem; figuratively, the Church. See, ἰδοὺ (idou) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2400.htm">Strong's 2400: </a> See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo! your σου (sou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. King Βασιλεύς (Basileus) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign. is coming, ἔρχεται (erchetai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2064.htm">Strong's 2064: </a> To come, go. seated καθήμενος (kathēmenos) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2521.htm">Strong's 2521: </a> To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. the colt πῶλον (pōlon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4454.htm">Strong's 4454: </a> A colt, young ass, foal. Apparently a primary word; a 'foal' or 'filly', i.e., a young ass. of a donkey.” ὄνου (onou) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3688.htm">Strong's 3688: </a> A donkey. Apparently a primary word; a donkey. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/12-15.htm">John 12:15 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/12-15.htm">NT Gospels: John 12:15 Don't be afraid daughter of Zion (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/12-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 12:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 12:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/12-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 12:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 12:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>