John 16:14

KJV

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

KJV (with Strong's)

He {G1565} shall glorify {G1392} me {G1691}: for {G3754} he shall receive {G2983} of {G1537} mine {G1699}, and {G2532} shall shew {G312} it unto you {G5213}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and announce it to you.

Berean Standard Bible

He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.

American Standard Version

He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Jesus reveals a profound truth about the mission of the Holy Spirit: His primary purpose is to glorify the Son. The Spirit achieves this by receiving the very essence and truth of Christ—His person, His words, His work, and His glory—and then declaring or unveiling these realities to the disciples. This verse underscores the complete unity of purpose within the Godhead, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself but serves as the divine agent who illuminates and exalts Jesus Christ, making His presence and truth known to believers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") is situated within Jesus' extensive [Farewell Discourse](/john/13-31-17-26 "John 13:31-17:26 - Jesus' Farewell Discourse"), spanning [John chapters 13 through 17](/john/13 "John 13 - The Last Supper"). This discourse, delivered in the intimate setting of the Upper Room just hours before His crucifixion, is a pivotal moment where Jesus prepares His disciples for His imminent physical departure and the subsequent advent of the Holy Spirit. Earlier in this discourse, Jesus introduces the Spirit as the "Advocate" or "Helper" (Greek: _Paraclete_) who will come after He leaves ([John 14:16](/john/14-16 "John 14:16 - The Promise of the Holy Spirit")). He assures them the Spirit will teach them all things ([John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Spirit as Teacher")) and bear witness to Him ([John 15:26](/john/15-26 "John 15:26 - The Spirit's Witness")). Immediately preceding [John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus"), Jesus explains that the Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment ([John 16:8-11](/john/16-8-11 "John 16:8-11 - The Spirit's Convicting Work")), and will guide the disciples into all truth, speaking not on His own authority but declaring what He hears and proclaiming what is yet to come ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit Guides into All Truth")). Thus, [John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") serves as the culmination of these explanations, succinctly stating the ultimate purpose and focus of the Spirit's entire ministry: the glorification of Jesus Christ.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The disciples, deeply rooted in a monotheistic Jewish tradition, were struggling to comprehend Jesus' claims of divinity and His impending departure. Their understanding of God was primarily shaped by the Old Testament, where the Spirit of God (Ruach Elohim) was understood as the active presence and power of God, inspiring prophets and empowering leaders. However, the concept of a distinct "person" of God, the Holy Spirit, indwelling believers and continuing the work of a departed Messiah, was entirely new and revolutionary. Jesus' words in [John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") were designed to reassure them that His departure would not mean abandonment, but a new, more intimate form of His presence through the Spirit. Culturally, the idea of a "witness" or "advocate" (Paraclete) was familiar in legal contexts, but Jesus redefines this role in a spiritual, theological sense, emphasizing the Spirit's role in testifying to Him. The disciples' grief and confusion over Jesus' impending death also provided the backdrop for these comforting and instructive words, preparing them for a future where their understanding and witness would be Spirit-empowered.

* **Key Themes:** [John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within John's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **unity and distinct roles within the Trinity**. While the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal, this verse clarifies the Spirit's functional role in exalting the Son, demonstrating the harmonious cooperation within the Godhead. Secondly, it reinforces **Christ's centrality and supremacy**. The entire divine plan, including the Spirit's work, revolves around Jesus. The Spirit does not compete for glory but directs all attention to Christ's person and finished work, echoing themes found in [John 1:1-18](/john/1-1-18 "John 1:1-18 - The Word Became Flesh") and [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World"). Thirdly, it speaks to the theme of **divine revelation**. The Spirit is presented as the agent who mediates divine truth from Christ to believers, illuminating their understanding of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished. This is consistent with Jesus' earlier promise that the Spirit would "guide you into all truth" ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit Guides into All Truth")). Finally, it underscores the **continuity of Jesus' ministry** through the Spirit. Even after Jesus' ascension, His work of teaching, revealing, and convicting continues on earth through the Holy Spirit, ensuring that His presence remains real and His message accessible to all generations of believers.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Glorify (Greek, _doxázō'_):** From _doxa_ (glory), this verb means "to render (or esteem) glorious," "to magnify," or "to cause to be held in high esteem." In this context, it signifies the Holy Spirit's work of revealing Jesus' inherent divine splendor, majesty, and true worth. The Spirit does not add glory to Jesus, but rather unveils and makes manifest the glory that is already His as the Son of God, enabling believers and the world to recognize and honor Him. This involves demonstrating Jesus' power, authority, wisdom, and love.
* **Receive (Greek, _lambánō'_):** This verb means "to take," "to get hold of," or "to obtain." Here, it indicates that the Holy Spirit does not originate His own message or agenda. Instead, He "takes" or "receives" the very essence, teachings, character, and divine nature that belong to Jesus ("of mine"). This highlights the Spirit's complete alignment with and dependence upon the Son, ensuring that His revelation is always consistent with Christ's person and will. The Spirit's ministry is derivative, drawing from the inexhaustible wellspring of Christ's truth.
* **Shew (Greek, _anangéllō'_):** Meaning "to announce (in detail)," "to declare," "to report," or "to tell." This word describes the active role of the Holy Spirit in communicating and making known the things He has received from Christ. It implies a detailed, clear, and comprehensive proclamation. The Spirit doesn't merely hint at truth but expounds upon it, illuminating the minds and hearts of believers so they can grasp the depth and breadth of Christ's revelation. This "showing" is a continuous process, unfolding the truth about Jesus to His followers throughout history.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He shall glorify me:"** This opening clause unequivocally states the primary mission and ultimate goal of the Holy Spirit's work. The "He" refers to the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus has been discussing as the promised Helper. The Spirit's entire ministry is oriented towards exalting, magnifying, and revealing the inherent glory of Jesus Christ. This means that any genuine work of the Spirit will ultimately direct attention and praise to the Son, demonstrating His divine nature, His perfect life, His atoning death, and His victorious resurrection.
* **"for he shall receive of mine,"** This explanatory clause reveals the mechanism by which the Spirit glorifies Jesus. The Spirit does not operate independently or invent new truths. Instead, He "receives" (takes, draws from) what belongs to Jesus. "Mine" (Greek: _emou_) refers to everything that pertains to Christ: His words, His teachings, His divine nature, His authority, His redemptive work, His character, and His very being. This emphasizes the Spirit's complete dependence on and unity with the Son, ensuring that the Spirit's revelation is always consistent with and derived from Christ Himself.
* **"and shall shew [it] unto you."** This final clause specifies the recipients and the practical outcome of the Spirit's work. Having received from Christ, the Spirit then "shows" (declares, announces, reveals) these truths to the disciples (and by extension, to all believers). This "showing" is an act of illumination, enabling spiritual understanding and insight into the person and work of Jesus. It implies that the Spirit makes Christ's presence real, His teachings comprehensible, and His glory evident to the hearts and minds of His followers, empowering them to live in light of His truth and to bear witness to Him.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Personification** is evident in the portrayal of the Holy Spirit as an active, conscious agent who "glorifies," "receives," and "shows." This gives the Spirit a distinct identity and role within the divine economy, making His actions tangible and understandable to the disciples. There is also a strong element of **Emphasis** through repetition of the core idea of the Spirit's Christ-centered mission throughout the Farewell Discourse, culminating in this concise statement. The causal conjunction "for" (Greek: _hoti_) introduces a **Reason/Explanation**, clarifying _how_ the Spirit will glorify Jesus, by receiving from Him. Finally, the verse functions as a **Promise** and **Foreshadowing**, assuring the disciples of the Spirit's future ministry and its profound impact on their understanding of and relationship with Christ after His physical departure.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") is a cornerstone for understanding the functional relationship within the Holy Trinity. It beautifully illustrates the unity of purpose between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, where each Person of the Godhead works in perfect concert to achieve the divine will. The Spirit's role is not to draw attention to Himself, but to direct all glory and honor to Jesus Christ, revealing His divine nature and redemptive work. This highlights the profound truth that all of God's revelation and redemptive activity is ultimately Christ-centered. The Spirit acts as the divine illuminator, taking the truth of Christ and making it accessible and real to human hearts, ensuring that the saving knowledge of Jesus is continually proclaimed and understood. This verse serves as a crucial theological safeguard, reminding us that any genuine spiritual experience or teaching will always elevate and magnify Jesus.

* [John 15:26](/john/15-26 "The Spirit's Witness to Christ")
* [1 Corinthians 12:3](/1_corinthians/12-3 "No One Can Say Jesus is Lord Except by the Holy Spirit")
* [2 Corinthians 3:18](/2_corinthians/3-18 "Being Transformed into Christ's Image by the Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") offers profound implications for our spiritual lives and for the church today. It serves as a vital discernment principle: any genuine work of the Holy Spirit will ultimately point to and exalt Jesus Christ. If a teaching, ministry, or spiritual experience draws primary attention to itself, to human leaders, to manifestations, or even solely to the Spirit's power without glorifying Christ, it warrants careful scrutiny. Our worship, preaching, and personal devotion should always be Christ-centered, recognizing that the Spirit's role is to illuminate Jesus' person, His finished work on the cross, and His ongoing reign. This verse also encourages us to depend on the Holy Spirit for a deeper understanding of Christ. It is through His divine illumination that we truly grasp the depths of God's love revealed in Jesus, the power of His resurrection, and the wisdom of His teachings. As we yield to the Spirit, He continues to take what is Christ's and reveal it to us, transforming us into His likeness and empowering us to bear witness to Him in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways does my personal spiritual life or the ministry I am involved in consistently glorify Jesus Christ?**
* **How can I actively seek the Holy Spirit's illumination to understand Jesus more deeply in my daily walk and study of Scripture?**
* **What might it look like to prioritize Christ's glory over personal experience or spiritual manifestations in my faith journey?**

### FAQ

**Does the Holy Spirit have His own distinct ministry, or is He solely focused on Jesus?**

Answer: While the Holy Spirit is a distinct person of the Trinity with unique divine attributes and functions, [John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") clarifies that His primary mission is to glorify Jesus Christ. This does not mean He lacks His own distinct ministry, but rather that His ministry is always in perfect harmony with and directed towards exalting the Son. The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment ([John 16:8](/john/16-8 "John 16:8 - The Spirit's Convicting Work")), guides believers into all truth ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit Guides into All Truth")), empowers for witness ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Witness")), and distributes spiritual gifts ([1 Corinthians 12:4-11](/1_corinthians/12-4-11 "1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - Diversity of Gifts, Unity of Spirit")). However, all these aspects of His work ultimately serve to reveal, magnify, and apply the person and work of Jesus Christ. He never draws attention to Himself but always points to the Son.

**What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to "receive of mine" (Jesus')?**

Answer: The phrase "he shall receive of mine" (Greek: _lambánō ek tou emou_) signifies that the Holy Spirit does not speak or act independently of Jesus. Instead, He draws from the very essence, truth, and authority that belong to Christ. This includes Jesus' words, His teachings, His divine nature, His redemptive work, His character, and His will. It means that the Spirit's revelation is always consistent with, derived from, and an unfolding of what Jesus has already revealed or accomplished. The Spirit is not a source of new, independent doctrines that contradict or go beyond Christ's revelation. Rather, He illuminates and applies the truth of Christ, making it comprehensible and real to believers, as seen in passages like [John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Spirit as Teacher") where Jesus says the Spirit will "bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 16:14](/john/16-14 "John 16:14 - The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus") finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, who makes the person and finished work of Jesus Christ a living reality for believers. The Spirit's glorification of Jesus is not merely a theological concept but a dynamic, active process that began at Pentecost ([Acts 2:1-4](/acts/2-1-4 "Acts 2:1-4 - The Day of Pentecost")) and continues to this day. It is the Spirit who convicts the world of sin because they do not believe in Jesus ([John 16:9](/john/16-9 "John 16:9 - The Spirit Convicts of Sin")). He testifies to Christ's righteousness, evidenced by His ascension to the Father ([John 16:10](/john/16-10 "John 16:10 - The Spirit Convicts of Righteousness")), and reveals the judgment of the ruler of this world, who has been defeated by Christ's victory on the cross ([John 16:11](/john/16-11 "John 16:11 - The Spirit Convicts of Judgment")). For believers, the Spirit takes the truth of Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection, applying it to their hearts, leading to repentance and faith. He indwells them, making Christ's presence real within them ([Romans 8:9-11](/romans/8-9-11 "Romans 8:9-11 - The Spirit of Christ Dwells in Believers")), and transforms them into the image of Christ ([2 Corinthians 3:18](/2_corinthians/3-18 "Being Transformed into Christ's Image")). Every genuine spiritual gift, every act of worship, every proclamation of the gospel empowered by the Spirit ultimately serves to magnify Jesus as Lord and Savior, demonstrating that Christ is indeed "all in all" ([Colossians 3:11](/colossians/3-11 "Christ is All in All")). Thus, the Spirit's mission is the fulfillment of Christ's redemptive purpose, ensuring that His glory is revealed throughout all creation.

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 John 4:13

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1 John 4:14

¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.

2 Corinthians 3:14

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

John 15:26

¶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Revelation 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

1 Peter 1:10

¶ Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you: