John 13:31

KJV

¶ Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore {G3767}, when {G3753} he was gone out {G1831}, Jesus {G2424} said {G3004}, Now {G3568} is {G1392} the Son {G5207} of man {G444} glorified {G1392}, and {G2532} God {G2316} is glorified {G1392} in {G1722} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

After Y’hudah had left, Yeshua said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.

Berean Standard Bible

When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.

American Standard Version

When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 13:31 marks a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, immediately following Judas's departure from the Last Supper. Jesus declares that "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him," signaling the immediate commencement of the Passion narrative. This statement paradoxically frames the impending suffering, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension not as defeat, but as the ultimate revelation of Jesus' divine glory and, through Him, the supreme glory of God the Father.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a dramatic turning point, a theological pivot from the private discourse of the Upper Room (which began with the foot-washing in [John 13:1-11](/john/13-1-11 "John 13:1-11 - Jesus Washes Disciples' Feet")) and the identification of the betrayer ([John 13:21-30](/john/13-21-30 "John 13:21-30 - Jesus Identifies His Betrayer")), to Jesus' final, extensive discourses with His disciples before His arrest. Judas's exit is the catalyst, marking the moment when the divine plan for Jesus' "hour" ([John 12:23](/john/12-23 "John 12:23 - The Hour Has Come")) is set in irreversible motion. The atmosphere shifts from the intimate fellowship of the meal to the solemn anticipation of the cross, which John consistently portrays as Jesus' exaltation and glorification.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Jerusalem during the Passover feast, a time of intense religious fervor and nationalistic expectation. Jewish messianic hopes often centered on a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman rule, not a suffering servant. Jesus' declaration of "glorification" in the face of imminent betrayal and death would have been profoundly counter-cultural and perplexing to His disciples, who still struggled to grasp the nature of His kingdom. The concept of "glory" (Hebrew: _kavod_, Greek: _doxa_) in the Old Testament often referred to God's visible manifestation of His presence, power, and majesty. Jesus redefines this glory, revealing it not through earthly triumph but through self-sacrificial love and obedience, culminating in the cross.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme is **Glory (doxa)**, understood paradoxically as revealed through suffering and death. John's Gospel repeatedly emphasizes Jesus' "hour" ([John 2:4](/john/2-4 "John 2:4 - My Hour Has Not Yet Come"), [John 7:30](/john/7-30 "John 7:30 - His Hour Had Not Yet Come"), [John 8:20](/john/8-20 "John 8:20 - His Hour Had Not Yet Come"), [John 12:23](/john/12-23 "John 12:23 - The Hour for the Son of Man to Be Glorified")), which culminates in His crucifixion and resurrection. This "hour" is not merely a chronological marker but a divinely appointed moment of destiny and revelation. The title **"Son of Man"** is also significant, often used by Jesus to refer to His dual identity—both human and divine—and His eschatological role as judge and savior ([John 5:27](/john/5-27 "John 5:27 - Authority to Execute Judgment")). The mutual glorification of the Son and the Father underscores the **unity and co-equality within the Godhead**, a profound theological truth woven throughout John's narrative ([John 10:30](/john/10-30 "John 10:30 - I and the Father Are One"), [John 14:9-11](/john/14-9-11 "John 14:9-11 - Philip Asks to See the Father")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **gone out (Greek, _exérchomai'_):** From ἐκ and ἔρχομαι, meaning "to issue (literally or figuratively)," "come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad." In this context, it specifically refers to Judas's physical departure from the Upper Room, which Jesus recognizes as the precise trigger for the events leading to His glorification. His exit is not merely a physical movement but the symbolic initiation of the Passion.
* **Now (Greek, _nŷn'_):** A primary particle of present time, meaning "now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate. The use of "Now" (νῦν) is emphatic and crucial. It signifies that the long-anticipated "hour" of Jesus' glorification, which has been alluded to throughout John's Gospel, has finally arrived. Judas's departure marks the definitive moment when the divine plan shifts from preparation to execution.
* **glorified (Greek, _doxázō'_):** From δόξα, meaning "to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application):--(make) glorify(-ious), full of (have) glory, honour, magnify." This word is repeated twice in the verse, highlighting its central importance. In John's theology, Jesus' glorification is not merely a future event (like His ascension) but begins with His crucifixion. The cross, seemingly a place of shame and defeat, is paradoxically the ultimate display of God's love and Jesus' divine majesty.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore, when he was gone out":** The connective "Therefore" (οὖν) links Jesus' declaration directly to the departure of Judas. This is not a casual observation but a profound statement recognizing that Judas's act of betrayal, though evil in itself, serves as the divinely ordained catalyst for the "hour" of Jesus' glorification. The moment Judas leaves the fellowship and enters the darkness, the stage is set for the culmination of God's redemptive plan.
* **"Jesus said":** This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and authoritative nature of Jesus' words. He is not reacting in despair or surprise but speaking with full knowledge and intentionality, revealing a divine perspective on the unfolding events. His statement is a prophetic utterance, declaring the spiritual reality behind the physical departure.
* **"Now is the Son of man glorified":** The emphatic "Now" signals the immediate commencement of Jesus' glorification. "The Son of man" refers to Jesus' identity as both fully human and the divine, messianic figure from Daniel's vision ([Daniel 7:13-14](/daniel/7-13-14 "Daniel 7:13-14 - The Son of Man Comes")). His "glorification" encompasses His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. For John, the cross is not a sign of weakness but the ultimate revelation of Jesus' divine power, love, and obedience, through which His true nature is magnified and honored.
* **"and God is glorified in him":** This second clause reveals the profound theological reciprocity. Jesus' glorification is inextricably linked to the glorification of God the Father. Through Jesus' perfect obedience, His sacrificial death, and His ultimate triumph over sin and death, the character, power, and redemptive plan of God are fully revealed and magnified. Jesus' entire mission, culminating in the Passion, serves to bring ultimate honor and praise to the Father.

#### Literary Devices
The verse powerfully employs **Paradox**, presenting the seemingly contradictory idea that Jesus' imminent suffering and death—typically associated with shame and defeat—are, in fact, the means of His and God's ultimate **Glory**. This redefinition of glory is central to John's theology. There is also strong **Foreshadowing**, as Jesus' words point directly to the unfolding events of the Passion, resurrection, and ascension, which will fully manifest this glorification. The repetition of "glorified" (doxázō) functions as **Thematic Repetition**, emphasizing the central concept and its dual application to both the Son and the Father. Finally, the scene is imbued with **Dramatic Irony**, as Judas departs, believing he is carrying out his own will, while Jesus declares that his departure is, in fact, the very catalyst for the divine plan of glorification to unfold.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 13:31 encapsulates a profound Johannine theological truth: the cross is not merely an instrument of suffering but the very throne of Christ's glory. Unlike synoptic accounts that emphasize the shame and humiliation of the cross, John consistently portrays it as Jesus' exaltation, the moment when His divine nature is most fully revealed. This is the ultimate expression of God's love for humanity, demonstrating that true glory is found not in worldly power or triumph, but in self-sacrificial obedience and redemptive suffering. The mutual glorification of the Son and the Father underscores the unity and shared purpose within the Godhead, revealing that Jesus' mission is entirely aligned with and brings honor to the Father's will.

* [John 12:23](/john/12-23 "John 12:23 - Jesus Speaks of His Hour"): "And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified."
* [John 17:1](/john/17-1 "John 17:1 - Jesus Prays for His Glorification"): "These 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:"
* [John 17:4](/john/17-4 "John 17:4 - Jesus Glorifies the Father"): "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 13:31 challenges our conventional understanding of glory, inviting us to see strength in vulnerability, triumph in sacrifice, and divine revelation in suffering. In a world that often equates glory with power, success, and outward display, Jesus reveals a radically different path. His glorification through the cross teaches us that true honor and purpose are found in obedient submission to God's will, even when that path involves hardship or apparent defeat. For believers, this verse encourages us to embrace our own "hours" of difficulty not as moments of despair, but as potential opportunities for God's glory to be revealed in and through us. It calls us to find our identity and purpose not in worldly accolades, but in reflecting Christ's self-giving love and allowing His character to be magnified in our lives, even through our weaknesses.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' declaration of "glorification" in the face of impending suffering challenge your own understanding of what it means to be "glorified" or "successful"?**
* **In what ways might God be glorified in your life, even through difficult or painful circumstances?**
* **How can embracing the paradox of glory through suffering deepen your faith and trust in God's sovereign plan?**

### FAQ

**Why does Jesus say "Now is the Son of man glorified" when the crucifixion had not yet occurred?**

Answer: The "Now" (Greek: _nŷn_) in [John 13:31](/john/13-31 "John 13:31 - Now Is the Son of Man Glorified") signifies the immediate and decisive commencement of Jesus' "hour," a concept woven throughout John's Gospel. While the physical act of crucifixion had not yet taken place, Judas's departure was the final, divinely appointed trigger that set in motion the events leading directly to the cross. From Jesus' divine perspective, the process of glorification had already begun with this act of betrayal, as it was the necessary step toward His ultimate exaltation, resurrection, and return to the Father. John's theology often views the cross itself as the moment of Jesus' glorification, not merely a prelude to it, because it is there that God's love and Jesus' divine identity are most fully and powerfully revealed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 13:31 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the entirety of Jesus' Passion, resurrection, and ascension. The "glorification" Jesus speaks of is not a worldly triumph but the ultimate revelation of God's redemptive plan through the self-sacrifice of the Son. As the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), Jesus' death on the cross, seemingly a defeat, becomes the pinnacle of His obedience and the most profound display of divine love and power. This act of glorification culminates in His resurrection, demonstrating His victory over death and sin ([Romans 6:9-10](/romans/6-9-10 "Romans 6:9-10 - Christ's Victory Over Death")), and His ascension, where He is exalted to the right hand of the Father ([Acts 2:33](/acts/2-33 "Acts 2:33 - Exalted to the Right Hand of God")). Thus, the "Son of Man" is glorified by fulfilling His messianic mission as the suffering servant, and in so doing, He perfectly reveals and glorifies the Father, establishing the new covenant through His blood and paving the way for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which further glorifies Him ([John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Spirit Will Glorify Me")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Peter 4:11

If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John 14:13

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

John 7:39

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 11:4

When Jesus heard [that], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Ephesians 3:10

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Hebrews 5:5

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Hebrews 5:9

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;