Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
To Philip which was of Bethsaida of Galilee (Filippw tw apo Bhqsaida thv Galilaiav). He had a Greek name and the Greeks may have seen Philip in Galilee where there were many Greeks, probably (Mark 6:45) the Western Bethsaida in Galilee, not Bethsaida Julias on the Eastern side (Luke 9:10).
Asked (hrwtwn). Imperfect active, probably inchoative, "began to ask," in contrast with the aorist tense just before (proshlqan, came to).
Sir (Kurie). Most respectfully and courteously.
We would see Jesus (qelomen ton Ihsoun idein). "We desire to see Jesus." This is not abrupt like our "we wish" or "we want," but perfectly polite. However, they could easily "see" Jesus, had already done so, no doubt. They wish an interview with Jesus.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing John 12:21:
John 1:44
John 6:8
John 12:2
Acts 9:5
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