John 12:23 kjv
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
John 12:23 nkjv
But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
John 12:23 niv
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John 12:23 esv
And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John 12:23 nlt
Jesus replied, "Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.
John 12 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 2:4 | Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have... My hour has not yet come." | Jesus' early ministry; hour not yet ready. |
| Jn 7:6 | Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come..." | Hour is divine timing, not personal choice. |
| Jn 7:30 | So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one... because his hour had not yet come. | God's appointed timing prevents premature action. |
| Jn 8:20 | These words he spoke... but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. | Divine protection until the right moment. |
| Jn 13:1 | Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come... | Jesus acknowledges the "hour" for the cross. |
| Jn 17:1 | When Jesus had said these things, he lifted... "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son..." | Jesus prays at the climax of the "hour". |
| Dan 7:13-14 | I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven... Son of Man. | Prophecy of the Son of Man's glory & dominion. |
| Matt 20:28 | just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom... | Son of Man's mission involves suffering & service. |
| Mk 10:45 | For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom... | Son of Man's ultimate act is sacrificial giving. |
| Lk 19:10 | For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. | Purpose of the Son of Man's earthly ministry. |
| Jn 1:51 | And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels... Son of Man." | Connecting Son of Man to divine access and revelation. |
| Jn 3:13 | No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended... the Son of Man. | Son of Man's unique origin and destination. |
| Jn 5:27 | And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. | Son of Man's role in future judgment. |
| Jn 6:27 | Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man... | Son of Man as provider of true spiritual nourishment. |
| Jn 7:39 | Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had... after Jesus was glorified. | Spirit's outpouring linked to Jesus' glorification. |
| Jn 13:31-32 | When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him." | Glorification begins with Judas' departure, leading to cross. |
| Jn 17:5 | And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. | Jesus desires restoration to pre-existent glory. |
| Phil 2:8-11 | And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death... Therefore God has highly exalted him... | Humiliation to death, then divine exaltation/glorification. |
| Heb 12:2 | looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross... seated at the right hand of the throne of God. | Jesus endured suffering for subsequent joy and glory. |
| Lk 24:26 | Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? | Suffering as the path to glory, necessary for Christ. |
| Isa 49:6 | he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob... light for the nations." | Prophecy of God's servant (Messiah) being a light to Gentiles. |
| Isa 60:3 | And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. | Gentile nations drawn to Jerusalem's (and Messiah's) light. |
| Zech 8:20-23 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities... and take hold of the skirt of a Jew." | Future ingathering of many nations to seek the Lord. |
| Acts 10:45 | And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit... upon the Gentiles also. | Outpouring of Spirit confirms Gentile inclusion. |
| Rom 15:9-12 | to glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name." | Old Testament prophecies affirm Gentile praise to God. |
John 12 verses
John 12 23 Meaning
John 12:23 declares a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry. It signifies the arrival of His predetermined "hour" of suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. This "glorification" for the Son of Man, achieved through ultimate self-sacrifice, simultaneously marks the universalization of salvation, extending it beyond Israel to include all humanity, specifically highlighted by the earlier presence of Gentiles seeking Jesus.
John 12 23 Context
John 12:23 appears immediately after a significant event: certain Greeks, representing Gentile interest, have approached Philip and Andrew, expressing a desire to see Jesus (Jn 12:20-22). This marks a crucial turning point, as it hints at the future global scope of Jesus' mission, transcending His focus on Israel. Up to this point, Jesus had frequently stated, "My hour has not yet come" (e.g., Jn 2:4, 7:6). The arrival of these Gentiles serves as a prophetic signal to Jesus that the time for His ultimate redemptive act—His passion and glorification—has finally arrived. The chapter as a whole depicts Jesus at the peak of public acclaim (the triumphal entry), followed by an anointing at Bethany anticipating His death, leading directly to His solemn declaration about His impending "hour" and its universal implications, contrasted with a stark explanation of the necessity of His death.
John 12 23 Word analysis
- Jesus: The central figure, God Incarnate, whose words carry ultimate authority and reveal divine purpose.
- answered (ἀπεκρίνατο - `apekrinato`): A direct response to the request of the Greeks. It signifies not merely a reply but a profound declaration in light of new circumstances, indicating a divine recognition of the timing.
- them: Refers initially to Andrew and Philip, who brought the request of the Greeks. By extension, it addresses the broader audience of disciples and those present, clarifying the meaning of the Gentile interest.
- saying, (λέγων - `legōn`): Indicates an ongoing speech or a significant declaration.
- The hour (ἡ ὥρα - `hē hōra`): This term, frequently used by John, signifies not just a unit of time but a divinely appointed, predetermined, and crucial moment. It represents the climax of Jesus' earthly mission, marked by His suffering, death, and resurrection.
- is come, (ἐλήλυθεν - `elēlythen`): A perfect active indicative verb, emphasizing that this decisive moment has already arrived and its implications are present and unfolding. The wait is over; the event is now.
- that (ἵνα - `hina`): Introduces a purpose clause, revealing the specific intent or goal of "the hour" that has arrived.
- the Son of man (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - `ho huios tou anthrōpou`): A multifaceted messianic title Jesus frequently used. It connects Him to humanity (human identity), to the suffering servant figure of Isaiah, and to the triumphant, divine figure in Daniel 7:13-14 who receives dominion and glory. It embraces both His humility and His ultimate authority.
- should be glorified. (δοξασθῇ - `doxasthē`): A passive aorist subjunctive, indicating that this glorification will be accomplished through divine action and not by human effort or worldly triumph. For Jesus, "glorification" is profoundly paradoxical; it refers to His crucifixion as the supreme act of obedience and love, leading to His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation at the right hand of God (John 13:31-32; 17:1-5). It is through His abasement that true divine glory is revealed.
- "Jesus answered them, saying,": Highlights the solemn and purposeful nature of Jesus' following declaration, made in direct response to the broader implications of the Gentiles seeking Him.
- "The hour is come,": This phrase encapsulates the fulfillment of divine prophecy and a decisive shift in redemptive history. It signifies the end of preparatory stages and the initiation of the culminating phase of God's plan.
- "that the Son of man should be glorified.": This identifies the ultimate purpose and outcome of "the hour." It links Jesus' divine-human identity to a glorification achieved through suffering and sacrifice, a concept central to Johannine theology.
John 12 23 Bonus section
This verse functions as a transition point within John's Gospel. Prior to this, Jesus often stated that "My hour has not yet come," deferring His ultimate sacrifice. With the arrival of the Gentiles, signifying the global scope of His mission, Jesus declares, "The hour is come." This is not just a chronological statement, but a theological declaration that the conditions for His ultimate act of redemption, death, and glorification are now fully met, encompassing both Israel and the nations. The implication is that His impending sacrifice is not only for His own people but for the salvation of the world. The connection to the "grain of wheat" analogy (John 12:24) directly illustrates how this glorification will manifest—through His death, which brings forth abundant spiritual life for many. This challenges human perceptions of power and success, asserting that true glory, in God's kingdom, is found in humility and self-sacrifice.
John 12 23 Commentary
John 12:23 is a foundational statement announcing the commencement of Jesus' ultimate mission—the Passion and its glorious aftermath. The approach of the Greeks serves as the divine trigger, signaling that the message of salvation is no longer confined to the children of Israel but is destined for all nations. This marks a profound shift from the private declarations to the disciples about His approaching "hour" to a public affirmation that the time for His redemptive work is now. The term "glorified" must be understood paradoxically: it refers primarily to the ignominy and sacrificial death on the cross, which, far from being a defeat, is revealed as the ultimate display of God's love and power, leading to His victorious resurrection and ascension. This declaration sets the stage for the coming week, moving Jesus from His public ministry into the events of the Passion, signifying that His "glory" is not of earthly conquest but of divine self-giving.