John 17:1
What does John 17:1 mean?
A plain-English look at John 17:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 17:1 means
Jesus begins His final recorded prayer by acknowledging that the appointed "hour" has arrived—the time for His crucifixion and ultimate glorification. He prays that the Father would glorify Him, not for His own sake alone, but so that He, in turn, might glorify the Father. This reveals the eternal, reciprocal relationship within the Godhead, where the Son's obedience and sacrifice bring honor to the Father, and the Father's exalting of the Son demonstrates His perfect justice and love. This prayer sets the tone for Jesus' complete submission to the Father's will and His focus on divine glory.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee:
KJV
King James Version · 1611These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus said these things; then, lifting his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the time has now come; give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862These things spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to the heaven, and said--`Father, the hour hath come, glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752These things Jesus spoke: and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said: the hour is come. Glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890These things Jesus spoke, and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee;
Context
This verse opens Jesus' profound High Priestly Prayer, immediately following His extended farewell discourse to His disciples (John 13–16). It transitions from teaching to direct intercession, setting the stage for Jesus' request for divine enablement as He faces His imminent suffering and death. The prayer begins with Jesus' own situation, establishing the foundation for His subsequent intercessions for His disciples and future believers.
v.1This passage
v.2even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Philippians 2:9
Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;
- Acts 3:13
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
- Luke 18:13
But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.
- John 7:39
But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- John 8:20
These words spake he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come.
- John 13:31
When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him;
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