11:56a

They kept looking for Jesus: The Jews who traveled to Jerusalem wanted to see Jesus. They watched to see if he would come.

11:56b

and asking one another: This phrase indicates that these people were talking among themselves. They were discussing Jesus and wondering what he would do.

as they stood in the temple courts: This clause indicates where these people were while they discussed Jesus. They were in the temple area, probably the temple courtyard. They had gathered there to do their purification ceremony.

What do you think?: This is a question that introduces a topic for discussion. The people in the temple wondered whether Jesus would come to the festival. They asked one another whether they thought that he would come.

11:56c

Will He come to the feast at all?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses doubt. The Jewish people doubted that they would see Jesus at the festival. The question suggests that it was not probable.

There are two ways of translating this doubt.

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

He won’t come for Passover, will he? (New Living Translation (2004))

• Use a statement. For example:

Perhaps he is not coming to the festival. (Revised English Bible)

Translate this doubt in a way that is most natural in your language. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as a possible answer to the question in 11:56b. For example:

What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all? (English Standard Version)
-or-
What do you think? That he won’t come to the feast? (NET Bible Bible)

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