John 17 · Verse 4

John 17:4

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 17:4, King James Version

John 17:4 in other translations

BSBI have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
WEBI glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.
ASVI glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.
YLTI did glorify Thee on the earth, the work I did finish that Thou hast given me, that I may do it.
DARBYI have glorified thee on the earth, I have completed the work which thou gavest me that I should do it;
BBEI have given you glory on the earth, having done all the work which you gave me to do.
WebsterI have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

What does John 17:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 17:4-5
4-5. I have glorified thee on the earth--rather, "I glorified" (for the thing is conceived as now past). I have finished--I finished. the work which thou gavest me to do--It is very important to preserve in the translation the past tense, used in the original, otherwise it might be thought that the work already "finished" was only what He had done before uttering that prayer; whereas it will be observed that our Lord speaks throughout as already beyond this present scene (Joh 17:12, &c.), and so must be supposed to include in His "finished work" the "decease which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. Have glorified thee. In my instructions and life. See his discourses everywhere, the whole tendency of which is to put honour on God.

I have finished the work. Comp. Jn 19:30. When he says "I have finished," he probably means to include also his death. All the preparations for that death were made. He had preached to the Jews; he had given them full proof that he was the Messiah; he had collected his disciples; he had taught them the nature of his religion; he had given them his parting counsel, and there was nothing remaining to be done but to return to God. We see here that Jesus was careful that his great and important work should be done before his dying hour. He did not postpone it to be performed just as he was leaving the world. So completely had he done his work, that even before his death he could say, "I have finished the work." How happy would it be if men would imitate his example, and not leave their great work of life to be done on a dying bed! Christians should have their work accomplished, and when that hour approaches, have nothing to do but to die, and return to their Father in heaven.

(g) "I have glorified" Jn 14:13 (h) "I have finished" Jn 19:30, 2Ti 4:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 I have glorified thee - Our Lord, considering himself as already sacrificed for the sin of the world, speaks of having completed the work which God had given him to do: and he looks forward to that time when, through the preaching of his Gospel, his sacrifice should be acknowledged, and the true God should be known and worshipped by the whole world.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 17:1-5

Our Lord prayed as a man, and as the Mediator of his people; yet he spoke with majesty and authority, as one with and equal to the Father. Eternal life could not be given to believers, unless Christ, their Surety, both glorified the Father, and was glorified of him. This is the sinner's way to eternal life, and when this knowledge shall be made perfect, holiness and happiness will be fully enjoyed. The holiness and…

Read the full comment on John 17:1-5 →

John 17:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐγώegōI myselfG1473
σεseYouG4771
ἐδόξασαedoxasaglorifiedG1392
ἐπὶepionG1909
τῆςtēstheG3588
γῆςgēsearthG1093
τὸtotheG3588
ἔργονergonworkG2041
τελειώσαςteleiōsashaving completedG5048
ὃhothatG3739
δέδωκάςdedōkasYou have givenG1325
μοιmoiMeG3165
ἵναinathatG2443
ποιήσω.poiēsōI may do.G4160

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 17:4

  • John 4:34

    Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

  • Acts 20:24

    But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

  • 2 Timothy 4:7

    I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

  • John 14:31

    But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

  • John 19:30

    When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

  • John 15:10

    If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

  • John 13:31-32

    Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

  • John 12:28

    Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

  • John 14:13

    And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

  • Luke 22:37

    For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

  • John 9:3

    Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

  • John 5:36

    But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
glorified.
12:28; 13:31,32; 14:13
finished.
4:34; 5:36; 9:3; 14:31; 15:10; 19:30; Ac 20:24; 2Ti 4:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 17:3

    And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

  • John 17:4

    I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

  • John 17:5

    And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Read all of John 17

John 17:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo te he glorificado en la tierra: he acabado la obra que me diste que hiciese.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, je t’ai glorifié sur la terre, j’ai achevé l’œuvre que tu m’as donnée à faire;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich habe dich verherrlicht auf der Erde; das Werk habe ich vollbracht, welches du mir gegeben hast, daß ich es tun sollte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego te clarificavi super terram: opus consummavi, quod dedisti mihi ut faciam: