John 12:27 kjv
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
John 12:27 nkjv
"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:27 niv
"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
John 12:27 esv
"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
John 12:27 nlt
"Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, 'Father, save me from this hour'? But this is the very reason I came!
John 12 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 12:27 | "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." | Explicit statement of Jesus' inner struggle and purpose |
| Matthew 26:38 | "Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me." | Parallel account of Jesus' profound sorrow in Gethsemane |
| Mark 14:34 | "And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death... " | Another parallel account, highlighting His sorrow |
| Luke 22:42 | "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." | Shows Jesus' submission to the Father's will, despite personal suffering |
| Psalm 42:11 | "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." | Expression of soul distress and subsequent trust in God |
| Psalm 43:5 | "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou vexed and disquieted within me? hope in God: for yet shall I praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." | Similar lament and declaration of hope in God |
| Isaiah 53:10 | "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." | Foreshadows the suffering of the Servant of the Lord for humanity's sin |
| Hebrews 5:7 | "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;" | Describes Jesus' earnest prayers during His suffering |
| John 18:37 | "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." | Reinforces Jesus' understanding of His purpose of coming into the world |
| John 12:23-24 | "And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." | Sets the stage by speaking of glorification through death |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." | Underlying motivation for Jesus' coming and suffering |
| Philippians 2:8 | "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." | Highlights Jesus' obedience in His sacrificial death |
| Revelation 5:12 | "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." | Attributes glory to the slain Lamb |
| Romans 5:8 | "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." | Connects Christ's death to God's love for sinners |
| 1 Peter 2:21 | "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" | Christ's suffering as an example for believers |
| John 12:28 | "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." | The Father's response, confirming the purpose of glorification |
| John 12:32 | "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." | Jesus' understanding of His exaltation leading to salvation |
| Hebrews 12:2 | "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." | Jesus' motivation to endure His suffering |
| John 13:1 | "Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." | Reinforces Jesus' awareness of His approaching "hour" |
| Isaiah 50:7 | "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed." | Prophecy of unwavering resolve in the face of suffering |
John 12 verses
John 12 27 Meaning
Jesus expresses deep emotional turmoil, acknowledging His distress over the imminent events He faces. He frames this feeling not as a personal desire to escape His destiny, but as a plea directed to His Father. The ultimate purpose is "for this cause" - meaning for the salvation of the world, as previously declared – to glorify God even through this difficult hour.
John 12 27 Context
This verse occurs in the Gospel of John, chapter 12, shortly before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. Jesus has just arrived in Bethany, where He is anointed by Mary. His disciples, particularly Judas, express concern about the extravagance of the act. Jesus responds by explaining that Mary has anointed Him in preparation for His burial, linking this event to His imminent death and resurrection – the "hour" spoken of here. The preceding verses (12:23-26) directly set up this statement, with Jesus explaining that His glorification comes through His death, likening it to a grain of wheat dying to produce much fruit. The disciples are grappling with His claims and His impending suffering, which contrasts sharply with their expectations of a triumphant earthly kingdom. The surrounding context highlights Jesus’ foreknowledge of His suffering and His unwavering commitment to His divine mission, despite experiencing profound human emotions.
John 12 27 Word Analysis
And (καὶ - kai): A coordinating conjunction, connecting this statement to what precedes and follows, indicating continuation and sequence.
now (νῦν - nyn): Denotes the present moment, emphasizing the immediate and current state of Jesus' inner experience.
is (ἐστιν - estin): The present tense of the verb "to be," affirming the ongoing reality of His soul's state.
my (μου - mou): Possessive pronoun, indicating the state belongs to Jesus personally.
soul (ψυχή - psychē): Refers to the inner self, the seat of emotions, consciousness, and life. In Greek thought, it can encompass the mind, will, and affections, not just breath or spirit. This term captures the depth of Jesus' distress.
troubled (τετάρακται - tetaractai): Perfect passive participle of ταράσσω (tarassō), meaning agitated, disturbed, thrown into confusion or distress. The perfect tense signifies a state resulting from a past action, implying the cause of His trouble (the coming passion) has already affected Him deeply, and this agitation is the current result.
and (καὶ - kai): Another coordinating conjunction.
what (τί - ti): Interrogative pronoun, introducing a question regarding what He should say.
shall I say (εἴπω - eipō): First-person singular subjunctive of εἶπον (eipon), "to say." The subjunctive mood, here with "what," implies a question of choice or consideration about what to utter.
Father (Πάτερ - Pater): The vocative case of Πατήρ (Patēr), addressing God intimately and with reverence. This highlights the relationship and dependence on God.
save me (σῶσόν με - sōson me): Imperative mood, second person singular of σῴζω (sōzō), "to save," "to deliver." It is a plea for deliverance from the immediate suffering of "this hour."
from (ἐκ - ek): Preposition indicating origin or separation, meaning "out from."
this (ταύτης - tautēs): Demonstrative pronoun, feminine genitive singular, referring to "this hour."
hour (ὥρας - hōras): Genitive singular of ὥρα (hōra), meaning "hour," "time," or "season." In Johannine theology, "the hour" often refers to the appointed time for Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection – His crucifixion.
but (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, contrasting His desire for personal relief with His ultimate purpose.
for (ὑπὲρ - hyper): Preposition, here indicating "on behalf of" or "because of," explaining the reason for enduring the hour.
this (ταύτην - tautēn): Demonstrative pronoun, accusative singular feminine, referring to "this hour."
cause (αἰτίαν - aitian): Accusative singular of αἰτία (aitia), meaning "cause," "reason," or "account." It links His coming into "this hour" to a divine purpose.
came I (ἦλθον - ēlthon): First-person singular aorist indicative of ἔρχομαι (erchomai), "to come." A simple past tense indicating the fact of His arrival or coming into the world.
unto (εἰς - eis): Preposition indicating direction or purpose, "into" or "unto."
this (ταύτην - tautēn): Demonstrative pronoun, accusative singular feminine, referring to "this hour."
hour (ὥραν - hōran): Accusative singular of ὥρα (hōra), "hour." The purpose of His coming was unto "this hour."
Word Group Analysis:
- "my soul troubled": Captures Jesus' human experience of intense emotional distress and anguish in the face of imminent death, similar to the disciples in Gethsemane.
- "Father, save me from this hour": This is not a denial of His mission, but an honest human expression of suffering and a desire for relief, followed by an immediate correction rooted in divine purpose.
- "but for this cause came I unto this hour": This is the crucial pivot. It shows His complete alignment with the Father's plan. The reason for His existence and mission was precisely to face "this hour" – His passion and sacrifice – which would ultimately lead to the glorification of God and the salvation of humanity.
John 12 27 Bonus Section
The concept of "the hour" in John's Gospel is a recurring motif, representing the divinely appointed time for Jesus' passion, death, resurrection, and glorification. This verse is a crucial turning point where Jesus transitions from speaking about His purpose in a more general sense to confronting the specific reality of His imminent suffering. The use of "troubled" (tarassō) suggests a severe agitation, a disruption of His inner peace, but not a loss of control or purpose. His interaction with the Father is intimate, highlighting their unique relationship. The entire passage reflects the tension between Jesus' divine identity and His human experience, particularly when confronting ultimate sacrifice. The response from heaven in the following verse (John 12:28) confirms the validity of His prayer and the ultimate outcome of His suffering: the glorification of God’s name.
John 12 27 Commentary
Jesus, in this pivotal moment, vocalizes the profound emotional conflict he faces as He contemplates the suffering and death that await Him. His statement "Now is my soul troubled" reveals His human struggle with the agonizing prospect of crucifixion. This isn't a wavering in His divine resolve, but an honest expression of the immense emotional weight He carried. He presents this turmoil to His Father, directly appealing for deliverance ("save me from this hour"). However, this plea is immediately qualified by the profound truth of His mission: "but for this cause came I unto this hour." This subordinate clause underscores that His very reason for being sent into the world was to embrace this specific hour of suffering and death. His coming was not to avoid hardship, but to fulfill it as the ultimate act of obedience and atonement. Therefore, the initial desire for personal relief is surrendered to the overarching divine purpose of glorifying the Father and achieving salvation for humanity. His statement demonstrates a profound integration of His divine foreknowledge with His human experience of suffering, culminating in absolute submission to God's will.
- Practical application: Believers can learn from Jesus' example of honestly bringing their troubles to God while simultaneously surrendering their will to God’s plan. When facing immense personal hardship, it is okay to express the struggle to God, yet commit to the larger purpose God has for our lives.