John 17:4 kjv
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 17:4 nkjv
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
John 17:4 niv
I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.
John 17:4 esv
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
John 17:4 nlt
I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
John 17 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 17:4 | I have finished the work that you gave me to do. | Fulfillment of purpose |
| Gen 1:31; 2:1-3 | God saw all that he had made, and it was good. | Completion of creation |
| Exo 39:32, 42-43 | Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. | Obedience in covenant |
| Isa 53:10 | Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him... making his life an offering. | Suffering servant's completed work |
| Luke 9:31 | They spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. | Foreshadowing of the cross |
| Luke 23:46 | Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" | Final earthly act |
| John 1:14 | ...we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father... | Manifestation of God's glory |
| John 19:30 | When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished." | Verbal affirmation of completion |
| Rom 3:21-24 | ...by the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ... | The provision for righteousness |
| Rom 15:8 | ...to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs... | Confirmation of divine promises |
| 1 Cor 15:45 | ...the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. | The life-giving purpose achieved |
| 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. | Ultimate obedience |
| Col 1:19-20 | ...in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things... | Reconciliation accomplished |
| Col 2:9-10 | For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him... | Completeness in Christ |
| Heb 10:5-10 | "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me... we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all." | The singular, perfect offering |
| 1 Peter 2:21-24 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you... | Suffering as example and atonement |
| 1 John 3:8 | ...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. | Purpose to undo evil |
| Rev 5:9 | "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God..." | Redeeming work acknowledged |
| John 4:34 | Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." | The nature of Jesus' work |
| John 5:36 | But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, bear witness that the Father has sent me. | Works as testimony |
John 17 verses
John 17 4 Meaning
Jesus declares the completion of His work on earth, signifying His perfect obedience and fulfillment of His Father's mission. This finished work assures the Father of Jesus' finished purpose and provides the foundation for His future glorification and the salvation of those given to Him.
John 17 4 Context
In John chapter 17, Jesus offers a profound prayer to the Father just before His arrest and crucifixion. This prayer, known as the "High Priestly Prayer," encompasses Jesus' intercession for Himself, His disciples present at the time, and all future believers. Verse 4 specifically marks the point where Jesus reflects on the entirety of His earthly mission and its divine purpose. He is addressing His Father in an intimate, loving discourse, anticipating the completion of His incarnate life and work. The historical backdrop is Jesus’ awareness of His impending death and His focus on the eternal significance of His earthly ministry for God's redemptive plan.
John 17 4 Word Analysis
- "I": Refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, speaking directly to the Father.
- "have finished":
- Greek:
teteleska(τετέλεσκα) - Meaning: Perfect tense, indicating a completed action with abiding results. It speaks of a work brought to its intended completion, full execution, and consummation. It is not merely a task done, but a mission accomplished, all objectives met. This word carries a sense of bringing something to its full, perfect state or end.
- Greek:
- "the work":
- Greek:
to ergon(τὸ ἔργον) - Meaning: Refers to the sum total of Jesus' divinely appointed ministry, encompassing His teachings, miracles, obedience, suffering, and sacrificial death. It is the singular, holistic task assigned by the Father.
- Greek:
- "which": Refers back to "the work."
- "you": Refers to God the Father.
- "gave me to do":
- Greek:
dedokas moi poiesai(δέδωκάς μοι ποιῆσαι) - Meaning: Indicates divine assignment and volition. The Father sovereignly appointed this work, and Jesus willingly submitted to it.
Dedokas(gave) in the perfect tense suggests a past giving that continues its effect.Poiesai(to do) implies active execution and bringing into being.
- Greek:
John 17 4 Bonus Section
The word teteleska (τετέλεσκα) is also used by Jesus on the cross in John 19:30 ("It is finished"). This echo underscores the absolute finality and completeness of His atoning sacrifice as the culmination of His divine mission. This finished work means the debt of sin has been fully paid, leaving nothing further for humanity to add for their salvation; it is a finished provision for reconciliation. It is a declaration that God's plan of redemption has reached its appointed goal, assuring the success of His mission and the eternal security of those who believe in Him.
John 17 4 Commentary
Jesus' statement "I have finished the work which You gave Me to do" is the climax of His reflection on His earthly purpose. It signifies the consummation of His obedience to the Father's will. This work was not a mere earthly endeavor but a divinely orchestrated plan of redemption. His work involved His perfect life, sacrificial death, and the inauguration of the new covenant. This completion is the basis for His petition to the Father in the subsequent verses. It is the ground upon which His glorification rests and the assurance of the Father's gift of eternal life to believers. The perfect tense of "finished" (teteleska) assures the Father that the divine plan, from beginning to end, has been flawlessly executed by the Son, guaranteeing the efficacy of His sacrifice for salvation.