Bible Strands
John 12:27
Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the disciples and the surrounding crowd immediately after announcing that the hour of His glorification has arrived. He addresses the Father directly as He stands at the threshold of His impending death.
The words — The Greek ψυχὴ (psuchē) means "soul," and τετάρακται (tetaraktai) translates literally to "has been deeply troubled." These terms describe Jesus' conscious human distress as He faces the cross.
The thread — The rhetorical question "what shall I say?" parallels the anguish recorded in Isaiah 38:15, while the rejection of escape aligns with the Father's timing in John 12:23. Hebrews 5:7 later documents Jesus offering prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him.
Why it lands — The text records Jesus' genuine distress followed by a deliberate refusal to avoid His appointed mission. A reader must acknowledge that obedience to God's purpose requires submitting personal desire to divine will.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- John 12:23 But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
- Isaiah 38:15 What can I say? He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done this. I will walk slowly all my years because of the anguish of my soul.
- Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
- Psalms 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.
- Matthew 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
- Matthew 26:42 A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
- Mark 14:33 He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.
- John 13:21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
- Psalms 69:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
- Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.