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John 12:26

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 12:26 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.
John 12:26 — American Standard Version

Context — John 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.
25He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.
27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.
28Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, [saying], I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“If any man serve, me, etc.] Or is willing to be a servant of Christ, and to be esteemed as such; let him follow me; as in the exercise of the graces of love, humility, patience, self-denial, and resignation of will to the will of God, and in the discharge of every duty, walking as he walked, so in a way of suffering; for as the master, so the servants, as the head, so the members, through many tribulations, must enter the kingdom; to which he encourages by the following things: and where I am; in heaven, as he now was, as the Son of God; or “where I shall be”, as the Syriac and Persic versions render it, even as man, in the human nature, when raised from the dead: there shall also my servant…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: If any man serve me, him will my Father honour--Jesus here claims the same absolute subjection to Himself, as the law of men's exaltation to honor, as He yielded to the Father.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Serve me - Will be my disciple, or will be a Christian. Perhaps this was said to inform the Greeks John 12:20 of the nature of his religion. Let him follow me - Let him imitate me; do what I do, bear what I bear, and love what I love. He is discoursing here particularly of his own sufferings and death, and this passage has reference, therefore, to calamity and persecution. “You see me triumph - you see (me enter Jerusalem, and you supposed that my kingdom was to be set up without opposition or calamity; but it is not. I am to die; and if you will serve me, you must follow me even in these scenes of calamity; be willing to endure trial and to bear shame, looking for future reward.” Where I am…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Let him follow me - By hating his life: and where I am - In heaven. If any man serve me - Thus, him will the Father honour. John 12:27”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“serve: Joh 13:16, Joh 14:15, Joh 15:20; Luk 6:46; Rom 1:1, Rom 14:18; Co2 4:5; Gal 1:10; Col 3:24, Col 4:12; Pe2 1:1; Jo1 5:3; Jde 1:1 let: Joh 10:27, Joh 21:22; Num 14:24, Num 32:11; Mat 16:24; Mar 8:34; Luk 9:23; Eph 5:1, Eph 5:2; Rev 14:4 where: Joh 14:3, Joh 17:24; Psa 17:15; Mat 25:21; Co2 5:8; Phi 1:23; Th1 4:17, Th1 4:18 him: Joh 14:21-23; Sa1 2:30; Pro 27:18 John 12:27”
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Related study paths

Read John 12 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification