{They sought therefore for Jesus} (ez(8874)oun oun ton
I(8873)oun). Imperfect active of z(8874)e(935c) and common oun of which
John is so fond. They were seeking Jesus six months before at the
feast of tabernacles ( 7:11 ), but now they really mean to kill
him. {As they stood in the temple} (en t(9369) hier(9369) hest(886b)otes).
Perfect active participle (intransitive) of hist(886d)i, a graphic
picture of the various groups of leaders in Jerusalem and from
other lands, "the knots of people in the Temple precincts"
(Bernard). They had done this at the tabernacles ( 7:11-13 ), but
now there is new excitement due to the recent raising of Lazarus
and to the public order for the arrest of Jesus. {That he will
not come to the feast?} (hoti ou m(8820)elth(8869) eis t(886e) heort(886e);).
The form of the question (indirect discourse after dokeite)
assumes strongly that Jesus will not (ou m(885c), double negative
with second aorist active elth(8869) from erchomai) dare to come
this time for the reason given in verse  57 .