The Meaning of John 14:13 Explained

John 14:13

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

YLT: and whatever ye may ask in my name, I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does John 14:13 Mean?

Context Summary

John 14:12-24 - The Spirit Of Truth
There is no adequate translation for the word Paraclete. It may be rendered "interpreter," "comforter," "advocate," but no one word suffices. The Greek means "one whom you call to your side in the battle or law-court." His advent depends upon the praying Christ (I will pray the Father), and upon the praying Church (ye shall ask). The Holy Spirit must be a person, or He could not be compared as "another" to Christ. It is characteristic of this dispensation that He shall be in us, and His indwelling brings with it that of the Father and the Son.
"We will"¦ make our abode." That word abode is the same Greek word as is rendered mansions in the former part of this chapter. God prepares a mansion for those who believe in Christ, and asks in return that we shall prepare our hearts as guest chambers for Him to dwell in. As He enters the loving, cleansed, and believing heart, we hear Him say: "This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it," Psalms 132:14. And what a word is that, my Father will love him. That He should love the world is wonderful, but that He should love us would be incredible, were He not infinite, and did He not see us in Jesus Christ our Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 14

1  Jesus comforts his disciples with the hope of heaven;
5  professes himself the way, the truth, and the life, and one with the Father;
13  assures their prayers to be effectual;
15  requires obedience;
16  promises the Comforter;
27  and leaves his peace with them

Greek Commentary for John 14:13

Whatsoever ye shall ask [οτι αν αιτησητε]
Indefinite relative clause with οτι — hoti (neuter accusative singular of οστις — hostis), αν — an and the aorist active subjunctive of αιτεω — aiteō This is an advance thought over John 14:12. In my name First mention of his “name” as the open sesame to the Father‘s will. See also John 14:26; John 15:16; John 16:23, John 16:24, John 16:26. That will I do The Father answers prayers (John 15:16; John 16:23), but so does the Son (here and John 14:14). The purpose (ινα — hina clause with first aorist passive subjunctive of δοχαζω — doxazō) is “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Plead Christ‘s name in prayer to the Father. [source]
In my name []
The first occurrence of the phrase. See on Matthew 28:19. Prayer is made in the name of Jesus, “if this name, Jesus Christ, as the full substance of the saving faith and confession of him who prays, is, in his consciousness, the element in which the prayerful activity moves; so that thus that Name, embracing the whole revelation of redemption, is that which specifically measures and defines the disposition, feeling, object, and contents of prayer. The express use of the name of Jesus therein is no specific token; the question is of the spirit and mind of him who prays” (Meyer). Westcott cites Augustine to the effect that the prayer in Christ's name must be consistent with Christ's character, and that He fulfills it as Savior, and therefore just so far as it conduces to salvation. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 14:13

John 15:8 Herein [ἐν τούτῳ]
Commonly referred to what follows. My Father is glorified in this, namely, that ye bear much fruit. It is better to refer it back to John 15:7. In the perfect unity of will between the Son and the disciple, which results in the disciple's obtaining whatever he asks, the Father is glorified. To this effect is John 14:13, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” The design of this glorification is that ( ἴνα ) you may bear much fruit. This retrospective reference of ἐν τούτῳ , in this, or herein, occurs in John 4:37; John 16:30; 1 John 4:17. [source]
John 14:26 In my name []
See on John 14:13. [source]
John 11:4 Heard it [ακουσας]
The messenger delivered the message of the sisters. The reply of Jesus is for him and for the apostles. Is not unto death Death in the final issue, to remain dead. Lazarus did die, but he did not remain dead. See αμαρτια προς τανατον — hamartia pros thanaton in 1 John 5:16, “sin unto death” (final death). But for the glory of God In behalf of God‘s glory, as the sequel shows. Cf. John 9:3 about the man born blind. The death of Lazarus will illustrate God‘s glory. In some humble sense those who suffer the loss of loved ones are entitled to some comfort from this point made by Jesus about Lazarus. In a supreme way it is true of the death of Christ which he himself calls glorification of himself and God (John 13:31). In John 7:39 John had already used δοχαζω — doxazō of the death of Christ. That the Son of God may be glorified thereby Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of δοχαζω — doxazō Here Jesus calls himself “the Son of God.” In John 8:54 Jesus had said: “It is my Father that glorifieth me.” The raising of Lazarus from the tomb will bring glory to the Son of God. See John 17:1 for this idea in Christ‘s prayer. The raising of Lazarus will also bring to an issue his own death and all this involves the glorification of the Father (John 7:39; John 12:16; John 13:31; John 14:13). The death of Lazarus brings Jesus face to face with his own death. [source]
John 13:20 Whomsoever I send [αν τινα πεμπσω]
More precisely, “If I send any one” (third-class condition, ανεαν — an = τινα — ean and πεμπσω — tina indefinite pronoun accusative case, object of πεμπω — pempsō first aorist active subjunctive of ει τις — pempō to send). This use of εαν τις — ei tis or οστις — ean tis (if any one) is very much like the indefinite relative ος αν — hostis and εαν — hos an (or ει τις τελει — ean), but the idiom is different. In Mark 8:34. we have both ος εαν — ei tis thelei and οτι αν — hos ean while in John 14:13. we find εαν τι — hoti an and ean ti (Robertson, Grammar, p. 956). [source]
John 15:7 Ask whatsoever ye will [ο εαν τελητε αιτησαστε]
Indefinite relative with εαν — ean and present active subjunctive of τελω — thelō to wish, to will, and aorist middle imperative of αιτεω — aiteō to ask. This astounding command and promise (γενησεται — genēsetai future middle of γινομαι — ginomai it will come to pass) is not without conditions and limitations. It involves such intimate union and harmony with Christ that nothing will be asked out of accord with the mind of Christ and so of the Father. Christ‘s name is mentioned in John 15:16; cf. John 14:13; John 16:23. [source]
John 15:16 But I chose you [αλλ εγω εχελεχαμην υμας]
First aorist middle indicative of εκλεγω — eklegō See this same verb and tense used for the choice of the disciples by Christ (John 6:70; John 13:18; John 15:19). Jesus recognizes his own responsibility in the choice after a night of prayer (Luke 6:13). So Paul was “a vessel of choice” Appointed First aorist active indicative Second aorist active subjunctive of διδωμι — didōmi with ινα — hina (purpose clause). Cf. John 14:13 for the same purpose and promise, but with ποιησω — poiēsō (I shall do). See also John 16:23, John 16:26. [source]
1 John 3:20 Whereinsoever our heart condemn us [οτι εαν καταγινωσκηι ημων η καρδια]
A construction like οτι αν — hoti an whatever, in John 2:5; John 14:13. Καταγινωσκω — Kataginōskō occurs only three times in the N.T., here, 1 John 3:21; Galatians 2:11. It means to know something against one, to condemn. [source]

What do the individual words in John 14:13 mean?

And whatever - you might ask in the name of Me this will I do so that may be glorified the Father the Son
καὶ ὅ¦τι ἂν αἰτήσητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου τοῦτο ποιήσω ἵνα δοξασθῇ Πατὴρ τῷ Υἱῷ

ὅ¦τι  whatever 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
αἰτήσητε  you  might  ask 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: αἰτέω  
Sense: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.
ὀνόματί  name 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ποιήσω  will  I  do 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
δοξασθῇ  may  be  glorified 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δοξάζω  
Sense: to think, suppose, be of opinion.
Πατὴρ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
Υἱῷ  Son 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.