Discovery BoxJohn 4:12 
Context4:12 Surely you’re not greater than our ancestor 1 Jacob, are you? For he gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock.” 2
John 12:38
Context12:38 so that the word 3 of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled. He said, 4 “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord 5 been revealed?” 6
1 tn Or “our forefather”; Grk “our father.”
2 tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end. In this instance all of v. 12 is one question. It has been broken into two sentences for the sake of English style (instead of “for he” the Greek reads “who”).
3 tn Or “message.”
4 tn Grk “who said.”
5 tn “The arm of the Lord” is an idiom for “God’s great power” (as exemplified through Jesus’ miraculous signs). This response of unbelief is interpreted by the author as a fulfillment of the prophetic words of Isaiah (Isa 53:1). The phrase ὁ βραχίων κυρίου (Jo braciwn kuriou) is a figurative reference to God’s activity and power which has been revealed in the sign-miracles which Jesus has performed (compare the previous verse).
