2:2 The kings of the earth 3 form a united front; 4
the rulers collaborate 5
against the Lord and his anointed king. 6
31:13 For I hear what so many are saying, 7
the terrifying news that comes from every direction. 8
When they plot together against me,
they figure out how they can take my life.
71:10 For my enemies talk about me;
those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise. 9
5:33 Now when they heard this, they became furious 14 and wanted to execute them. 15
9:23 Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted 16 together to kill him,
1 tn The phrase “chief priests and Pharisees” is a comprehensive name for the groups represented in the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) as in John 7:45; 18:3; Acts 5:22, 26.
2 tn Or “Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews). The συνέδριον (sunedrion) which they gathered was probably an informal meeting rather than the official Sanhedrin. This is the only occurrence of the word συνέδριον in the Gospel of John, and the only anarthrous singular use in the NT. There are other plural anarthrous uses which have the general meaning “councils.” The fact that Caiaphas in 11:49 is referred to as “one of them” supports the unofficial nature of the meeting; in the official Sanhedrin he, being high priest that year, would have presided over the assembly. Thus it appears that an informal council was called to discuss what to do about Jesus and his activities.
3 sn The expression kings of the earth refers somewhat hyperbolically to the kings who had been conquered by and were subject to the Davidic king.
4 tn Or “take their stand.” The Hebrew imperfect verbal form describes their action as underway.
5 tn Or “conspire together.” The verbal form is a Niphal from יָסַד (yasad). BDB 413-14 s.v. יָסַד defines the verb as “establish, found,” but HALOT 417 s.v. II יסד proposes a homonym meaning “get together, conspire” (an alternate form of סוּד, sud).
6 tn Heb “and against his anointed one.” The Davidic king is the referent (see vv. 6-7).
7 tn Heb “the report of many.”
8 tn Heb “the terror from all around.”
9 tn Heb “those who watch for my life consult together.”
10 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
11 sn See the note on Pharisees in 2:16.
12 tn Grk inserts “against him” after “Herodians.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has not been translated.
13 tn Grk “destroy.”
14 sn The only other use of this verb for anger (furious) is Acts 7:54 after Stephen’s speech.
15 sn Wanted to execute them. The charge would surely be capital insubordination (Exod 22:28).
16 sn Fitting the pattern emphasized earlier with Stephen and his speech in Acts 7, some Jews plotted to kill God’s messenger (cf. Luke 11:53-54).