John 12:26

John 12:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Context of John 12:26

24I can guarantee this truth: A single grain of wheat doesn’t produce anything unless it is planted in the ground and dies. If it dies, it will produce a lot of grain. 25Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life. Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them. 27“I am too deeply troubled now to know how to express my feelings. Should I say, ‘Father, save me from this time ⌞of suffering⌟’? No! I came for this time of suffering. 28Father, give glory to your name.” A voice from heaven said, “I have given it glory, and I will give it glory again.”

John 12:26 word by word

Ἐὰν ἐμοί τις διακονῇ, ἐμοὶ ἀκολουθείτω· καὶ ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγώ, ἐκεῖ καὶ ὁ διάκονος ὁ ἐμὸς ἔσται. ἐάν τις ἐμοὶ διακονῇ, τιμήσει αὐτὸν ὁ πατήρ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• serveδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• let him followἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• whereὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• thereἐκεῖekei · thereG1563
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• servantὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• servantδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• willτιμάωtimaō · to honorG5091
• Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962

Cross-references for John 12:26

• John 13:16I can guarantee this truth: Slaves are not superior to their owners, and messengers are not superior to the people who send them.
• John 14:15“If you love me, you will obey my commandments.
• John 15:20Remember what I told you: ‘A servant isn’t greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they did what I said, they will also do what you say.
• Luke 6:46“Why do you call me Lord but don’t do what I tell you?
• Romans 1:1From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and appointed to spread the Good News of God.
• Romans 14:18The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake.
• Galatians 1:10Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.
• Colossians 3:24You know that your real master will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is Christ, your real master, whom you are serving.
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, a servant of Christ Jesus from your city, greets you. He always prays intensely for you. He prays that you will continue to be mature and completely convinced of everything that God wants.
• 2 Peter 1:1From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who have obtained a faith that is as valuable as ours, a faith based on the approval that comes from our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• 1 John 5:3To love God means that we obey his commandments. Obeying his commandments isn’t difficult
• Jude 1:1From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father, and who are kept safe for Jesus Christ.
• John 10:27My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me,
• John 21:22Jesus said to Peter, “If I want him to live until I come again, how does that concern you? Follow me!”
• Numbers 14:24But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has wholeheartedly followed me, I’ll bring him to the land he already explored. His descendants will possess it.

Commentaries on John 12:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26If any man serve me - Christ is a master in a twofold sense: To instruct men. To employ and appoint them their work. He who wishes to serve Christ must become: His disciple or scholar, that he may be taught: His servant, that he may be employed by and obey his master. To such a person a twofold promise is given: He shall be with Christ, in eternal fellowship with him; and He shall be honored by the Lord: he shall have an abundant recompense in glory; but…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Serve 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-26Verses 20-26 In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the gospel passover, the great desire of our souls should be to see Jesus; to see him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive grace from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the Redeemer. A corn of wheat yields no increase unless it is cast into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly glory alone, without becoming man. Or, after he had taken man's nature, he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-50In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time. First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13). Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well. John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2623-26. Jesus answered them, The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified--that is, They would see Jesus, would they? Yet a little moment, and they shall see Him so as now they dream not of. The middle wall of partition that keeps them out from the commonwealth of Israel is on the eve of breaking down, "and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, shall draw all men unto Me"; I see them "flying as a cloud, and as doves to their cotes"--a glorious…Read the comment

Topics related to John 12:26

• Deacon
• God
• Heaven
• Jesus Continued
• Obedience
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Consult
• Costly
• Prince
• Andrew
• Christ, Offices of
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• King, Christ As
• Ministry

Commentaries on John 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings