Charles Ellicott Commentary John 12:13

"took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel." — John 12:13 (ASV)

Took branches of palm trees.—Better, took branches of the palm trees. Literally, the Greek means “the palm branches of the palm trees.” They were branches of the palms growing on the spot, or possibly such as were generally used at festivities. For the word rendered “branches,” compare 1 Maccabees 13:51 (“branches of palm trees”), and for that rendered “palm trees,” compare Revelation 7:9. Neither word occurs elsewhere in the New Testament. Again, the fuller Synoptic narrative includes but does not state this particular.

Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.—The better reading is, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, and the King of Israel. These words of their cry are peculiar to St. John. The fullest report is St. Matthew’s (see Note on John 12:9). That all the accounts differ is natural, and they have all preserved for us some distinctive acclamation with which the crowds welcomed Him whom they received as the Messiah. Psalms 118, from which these acclamations are taken , was currently interpreted as Messianic, and formed part of the Hallel chanted at Tabernacles and Passover. (Compare Note on John 7:37.)

It is important to observe that St. John, like St. Matthew, does not follow the Greek of the LXX in translating the Hebrew word “Hosanna,” but preserves the Hebrew sound in Greek letters. Compare Revelation 19:6, where the word “Alleluia” is transliterated in the same way.