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 |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 26:38 | Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death;..." | Parallel feeling of profound sorrow |
| Mark 14:34 | And He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death..." | Echoes intense emotional distress |
| Luke 22:42 | saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” | Plea for removal, followed by submission |
| Matt 26:39 | ...“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” | Identical submission to the Father's will |
| Heb 5:7-8 | In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers...learned obedience through what He suffered. | Jesus's prayers for deliverance, learning obedience |
| John 12:23 | And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” | Direct context: "the hour" is glorified through suffering |
| John 12:24 | Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. | Jesus explains the necessity of His death for life |
| John 18:11 | So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?” | Willingness to accept the cup of suffering |
| Luke 9:51 | When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. | Resolute determination toward His ultimate goal |
| Isaiah 53:7 | He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter... | Prophetic suffering servant image |
| John 14:27 | “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” | Contrast: Jesus troubled for our peace |
| John 6:61 | But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?” | Jesus's awareness of His inner state |
| Matt 16:21 | From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things... | Jesus foretells His suffering and death |
| Mark 8:31 | And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things...and be killed, and after three days rise again. | Pre-meditated plan for His suffering |
| Luke 9:22 | saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things...and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” | Affirmation of the necessary path of suffering |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Jesus's obedience unto death |
| Acts 2:23 | this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God... | God's divine plan in Jesus's death |
| Ps 40:7-8 | Then I said, “Behold, I have come...I delight to do Your will, O my God..." | OT prefigurement of joyful obedience to God's will |
| Ps 69:1-2 | Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. | Cry for deliverance, human distress |
| Heb 2:10 | For it was fitting that He, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. | Perfection through suffering |
John 12 verses
John 12 27 Meaning
John 12:27 reveals Jesus' profound inner turmoil and unwavering resolve as His crucifixion approaches. He expresses a human response of deep disturbance, acknowledging the natural aversion to suffering. However, this momentary inclination for relief is immediately superseded by a steadfast reaffirmation of His divine mission: His entire earthly journey has been precisely for this climactic moment of self-sacrifice. It signifies the profound unity of His human experience with His divine purpose, even in the face of immense suffering.
John 12 27 Context
This verse is spoken by Jesus during His final public discourse in Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. The context begins with the Triumphal Entry (John 12:12-19), marking Jesus's official, albeit misunderstood, presentation as Messiah. The arrival of some Greeks seeking to "see Jesus" (John 12:20-21) seems to trigger Jesus's profound reflection. He realizes that His mission is no longer confined to the Jews but extends to all nations, a reality only made possible through His death. This realization prompts Him to speak of the "hour" for the Son of Man to be glorified (John 12:23), immediately followed by the parable of the grain of wheat dying to bear fruit (John 12:24-26). John 12:27 serves as Jesus's internal grappling with the horror of the approaching suffering, balanced by the ultimate purpose of His incarnation. It acts as a profound human confession interwoven with divine resolve, a powerful foretaste of His agony in Gethsemane.
John 12 27 Word analysis
- Now: (Greek: Nyn, νῦν) Signifies immediate presence and urgency. It marks a decisive moment, drawing attention to the very present and active internal struggle.
- My soul: (Greek: Hē psychē mou, ἡ ψυχὴ μου) Refers to the very core of Jesus's being, His inner self, emotions, and consciousness. This is not a superficial feeling but a deep disturbance affecting His whole person.
- Is troubled: (Greek: Tetaraktai, τετάρακται) A perfect passive indicative verb, implying a state of deep agitation, disturbance, fear, or dismay that continues in the present, resulting from a past, possibly external or spiritual, action or reality. It suggests extreme mental and emotional distress.
- And what shall I say?: A rhetorical question expressing internal debate and profound consideration. It highlights the stark choice before Him and the natural human instinct for preservation.
- ‘Father, save me from this hour’?:
- Father: Affirms the intimate, dependent relationship with God.
- Save me: A genuine, human plea for deliverance from impending pain.
- From this hour: (Greek: ek tēs hōras tautēs, ἐκ τῆς ὥρας ταύτης) "Hour" here is significant, not merely a temporal period, but the predetermined, climactic moment of intense suffering, death, and atonement that He must endure.
- But for this purpose: (Greek: Alla dia touto, ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦτο) A strong adversative conjunction, directly contrasting the previous thought and introducing the decisive reason for His continued path. It underscores the unshakeable divine mission.
- I have come: (Greek: Elēlutha, ἐλήλυθα) Perfect active indicative verb, indicating an action completed in the past with ongoing, enduring results. His entire incarnation and earthly ministry have culminated in, and been directed towards, this specific "hour".
Words-group analysis
- "Now my soul is troubled.": This phrase establishes Jesus' full humanity. He experiences genuine, deep emotional distress and inner turmoil, mirroring human vulnerability in the face of dreadful impending events. It affirms that His suffering was not stoic indifference but real anguish.
- "And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?": This immediate follow-up to His distress reveals an internal deliberation, a wrestling between human desire for avoidance and divine call. The rhetorical question signifies that even as the thought surfaces, it is swiftly weighed against His predetermined mission.
- "But for this purpose I have come to this hour.": This declaration is the profound resolution. The "but" dramatically pivots from human desire to divine commitment. It signifies His absolute resolve and obedience, acknowledging that His entire existence, His very incarnation, was precisely to fulfill the atoning work represented by this "hour." His mission's fulfillment demands His submission to the agony.
John 12 27 Bonus section
The tension expressed in John 12:27 is essential for understanding the unique nature of Jesus's person. It simultaneously affirms His full humanity (able to experience deep distress) and His full divinity (purposefully walking into His preordained mission). This is a vital theological point countering docetic heresies that denied Jesus's true humanity and those who suggest His suffering was merely an illusion. The Greek word tetaraktai (troubled) used here is also employed elsewhere in John for the disturbance of waters or when Jesus Himself is disturbed in spirit (e.g., John 11:33, 13:21), linking His inner state to significant, impactful events. The "hour" is not only for His suffering but for His glorification (John 12:23), where His ultimate vindication and redemptive victory are found through the Cross, making His troubled soul a gateway to divine glory.
John 12 27 Commentary
John 12:27 captures a poignant moment in Jesus's journey, a crucial internal monologue revealing the depths of His humanity alongside His steadfast divine resolve. It is a powerful pre-Gethsemane reflection, exposing the natural, raw revulsion of the human spirit toward impending suffering and death, an experience common to all humanity. Jesus’s troubled soul (tetaraktai) demonstrates that He genuinely felt the weight and horror of the cross, dispelling any notion that He was aloof or untouched by pain. Yet, this human instinct for self-preservation is not permitted to derail His purpose. His rhetorical question, "‘Father, save me from this hour’?" is immediately and unequivocally answered by His own conviction: His entire mission on earth was designed for this very "hour" of suffering and glorification. It underscores His unwavering obedience to the Father’s will and His conscious, purposeful march toward Calvary, knowing it was the essential path to salvation for humankind. This verse is not a moment of weakness, but a profound display of courageous resolve forged through profound internal struggle.