John 12:28 kjv
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
John 12:28 nkjv
Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."
John 12:28 niv
Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
John 12:28 esv
Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."
John 12:28 nlt
Father, bring glory to your name." Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again."
John 12 28 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Divine Affirmation of Christ: | ||
Matt 3:17 | "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." | Voice at Jesus' baptism. |
Mark 1:11 | "...You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased." | Voice at Jesus' baptism. |
Luke 3:22 | "...You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." | Voice at Jesus' baptism. |
Matt 17:5 | "...This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased..." | Voice at Jesus' transfiguration. |
Mark 9:7 | "...This is My beloved Son; listen to Him." | Voice at Jesus' transfiguration. |
Luke 9:35 | "...This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" | Voice at Jesus' transfiguration. |
2 Pet 1:17 | "For when he received honor and glory from God the Father..." | Refers to voice at transfiguration. |
Glorifying God Through Christ: | ||
John 13:31-32 | "...Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him..." | Glory in Christ's departure. |
John 17:1 | "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you..." | Jesus' High Priestly prayer for glory. |
John 17:4 | "I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do." | Jesus fulfilling the Father's will. |
Phil 2:9-11 | "...God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name..." | Exaltation of Christ, bringing glory to God. |
Heb 12:2 | "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy... endured the cross..." | Jesus endured for glory and joy. |
1 Pet 1:21 | "...God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory..." | God's glorification of Christ after death. |
The Name of God: | ||
Ex 3:15 | "The LORD, the God of your fathers... this is my name forever..." | God reveals His eternal name. |
Deut 28:58 | "...reverence this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God..." | Reverence for God's majestic name. |
Psa 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots... but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." | Trust in God's character/authority. |
Psa 113:3 | "From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised." | Universal praise for God's name. |
Prov 18:10 | "The name of the LORD is a strong tower..." | Security in God's nature. |
Jesus' Submission / Father's Will: | ||
John 6:38 | "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but to do the will of Him who sent Me." | Jesus' consistent submission to the Father. |
Luke 22:42 | "...Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." | Jesus' submission in Gethsemane. |
Psa 40:8 | "I delight to do Your will, O my God..." | Foreshadows Messiah's obedience. |
Heb 10:7 | "...Behold, I have come to do your will, O God..." | Christ fulfilling the Father's will. |
Glory Revealed Through Suffering: | ||
Isa 53:10-11 | "...If His soul makes an offering for guilt, He shall see His offspring..." | The suffering servant bringing glory. |
Heb 2:9-10 | "...crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death..." | Christ's glory attained through suffering. |
1 Pet 4:13 | "...rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." | Suffering leading to ultimate glory. |
John 12 verses
John 12 28 Meaning
John 12:28 records Jesus' prayer for the Father to glorify His name, a petition immediately answered by a voice from heaven confirming that God has already glorified it and will do so again. This divine interaction emphasizes that Jesus' impending death is not a defeat but the ultimate means by which God's character and power are supremely revealed and exalted. It serves as a direct affirmation from the Father regarding the entirety of Jesus' earthly ministry and His future redemptive acts.
John 12 28 Context
John 12:28 occurs during Jesus' final public ministry in Jerusalem, mere days before His crucifixion. This passage immediately follows Jesus' discourse about His impending death, which He describes as a grain of wheat falling into the earth to bear much fruit (John 12:23-26), and His confession that His soul is troubled (John 12:27). His prayer, "Father, glorify Your name," expresses His ultimate commitment to God's purpose even amidst personal anguish. The crowd gathered, including many Hellenistic Jews and even some Greeks (John 12:20-22) who wished to see Him, sets the stage for a dramatic divine intervention. This context highlights Jesus' understanding of His mission not as a political conquest but as a spiritual victory through self-sacrifice, and God's response serves as a pivotal validation of this path for all present and for future generations.
John 12 28 Word analysis
- Father (Πάτερ, Patēr): This term highlights the intimate and unique relationship between Jesus and God, a foundation for His unwavering trust and obedience. It speaks to a deep personal connection and access that underscores the authenticity of Jesus' prayer and the ensuing divine response.
- glorify (δόξασον, doxason - aorist imperative): This is not a demand but a prayer for the Father to reveal His inherent majesty and worth. It signifies Jesus' ultimate aim: that God's character be perfectly displayed. The Greek "doxa" refers to manifestation of intrinsic nature, honor, or renown.
- Your name (σου τὸ ὄνομα, sou to onoma): In biblical thought, "name" (Hebrew shem, Greek onoma) represents the essence, character, and authority of a person, especially God. Jesus' prayer is for God's very being, His reputation and character, to be made supremely evident through the events that are about to unfold.
- Then a voice came from heaven (φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, phonē egeneto ek tou ouranou): This signifies a direct, audible, and unequivocal divine communication, understood by many in the crowd as a clap of thunder or an angel's voice. It is a heavenly attestation, not a mere internal feeling, marking a clear moment of divine intervention. It parallels instances at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration, indicating a pivotal moment in His ministry.
- I have glorified it (ἐδόξασα, edoxasa - aorist indicative): God's past action of glorification refers to Jesus' entire earthly ministry—His miraculous birth, sinless life, authoritative teaching, and powerful signs—all of which revealed God's character and purpose through Him. It confirms the divine origin and validity of all Jesus has done so far.
- and I will glorify it again (καὶ πάλιν δοξάσω, kai palin doxaso - future indicative): This speaks of future glorification. It specifically points to Jesus' impending crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit. These events would definitively reveal God's redemptive power, justice, and love to an unprecedented degree. The glorification is achieved not through worldly power, but through humble self-sacrifice and resurrection.
- "Father, glorify Your name!": This phrase reveals Jesus' complete self-renunciation and single-minded devotion to the Father's will. It’s a moment of raw human emotion (John 12:27) immediately followed by profound spiritual alignment, indicating that even in deepest anguish, Jesus' primary concern was God's glory. It highlights His model of prayer.
- "Then a voice came from heaven: 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.'": This twofold declaration serves as a comprehensive divine affirmation. The past tense ("I have glorified it") validates all that Jesus has accomplished up to that moment, confirming His divine mission. The future tense ("I will glorify it again") unmistakably points to the suffering and triumph of the cross, resurrection, and beyond as the ultimate demonstration of God's glory. This structure reassures Jesus, informs the disciples, and addresses the confusion of the crowd, revealing God's overarching plan.
John 12 28 Bonus section
The "voice from heaven" experienced here is sometimes related to the Jewish concept of Bath Qol (daughter of a voice), an echo of divine pronouncements in rabbinic literature. While distinct from direct prophecy, it was still considered a valid form of divine communication, affirming this event's spiritual weight to a Jewish audience. Furthermore, this incident clarifies the nature of God's glory. It is not something detached or solely ineffable; it is dynamically revealed through action, especially through the incarnation and the sacrificial death of Jesus. This divine pronouncement thus elevates the cross from a symbol of shame to the ultimate expression of God's glorious love and power.
John 12 28 Commentary
John 12:28 is a profound moment where the heavenly realm intersects directly with earthly events. Jesus' prayer, driven by His imminent suffering, prioritizes God's name above His own comfort, showcasing His perfect submission. The Father's audible response—the third such voice in the Gospels—is not merely an encouraging word, but a solemn affirmation of His eternal plan. The declaration "I have glorified it" confirms that Jesus' ministry, including His miracles and teachings, has already been a revelation of God's character. "And I will glorify it again" powerfully points to the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension as the supreme and final unveiling of God's glory, specifically through Christ's sacrifice. This verse underscores that true glory is not found in avoiding suffering, but in fulfilling God's redemptive will through it, drawing all to Him.