John 12:24

12:24 I tell you the solemn truth,¹ unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone.² But if it dies, it produces³ much grain.⁴

John 12:31-33

12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world⁵ will be driven out.⁶ 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people⁷ to myself.” 12:33 (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.)⁸

¹tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”

²tn Or “it remains only a single kernel.”

³tn Or “bears.”

⁴tn Grk “much fruit.”

⁵sn The ruler of this world is a reference to Satan.

⁶tn Or “will be thrown out.” This translation regards the future passive ἐκβληθήσεται (ekblhqhsetai) as referring to an event future to the time of speaking.

sn The phrase driven out must refer to Satan’s loss of authority over this world. This must be in principle rather than in immediate fact, since 1 John 5:19 states that the whole world (still) lies in the power of the evil one (a reference to Satan). In an absolute sense the reference is proleptic. The coming of Jesus’ hour (his crucifixion, death, resurrection, and exaltation to the Father) marks the end of Satan’s domain and brings about his defeat, even though that defeat has not been ultimately worked out in history yet and awaits the consummation of the age.

⁷tn Grk “all.” The word “people” is not in the Greek text but is supplied for stylistic reasons and for clarity (cf. KJV “all men”).

⁸sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.