John 17:5 Meaning: Jesus Asks to Return to His Pre-Existent Glory
Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
`And now, glorify me, Thou Father, with Thyself, with the glory that I had before the world was, with Thee;
and now glorify me, thou Father, along with thyself, with the glory which I had along with thee before the world was.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus prays to be glorified with the glory he shared with the Father before creation.
Context
These words come from the prayer Jesus prayed on the night before his crucifixion. He had just finished the Last Supper with his disciples. Now he lifts his eyes to heaven and speaks directly to the Father. The chapter is often called the High Priestly Prayer. Jesus prays first for himself, then for his disciples, then for all future believers. In the verses just before this one, he says he has glorified the Father on earth by finishing the work he was given. Now he asks the Father to glorify him with the glory they shared before any world existed. This is a prayer of completion and return. Everything he came to do is done.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this verse. The Greek word for glory (doxa) means more than brightness or fame. It carries the sense of worth, honour, and the visible radiance of who someone truly is. When Jesus says he had glory with the Father, he means the full divine majesty that belongs to God alone. The verb glorify (doxazo) here asks for that glory to be shown again, made visible in his human body now that his work is finished. The preposition with (para) is intimate. It pictures Jesus alongside the Father, in close fellowship, not just nearby but face to face. And the verb I had (eichon) is in the imperfect tense, which means ongoing possession, not a past event. Jesus always had this glory. He did not lose it; he simply set aside its full display for a time. Now he asks to be seen for who he truly is.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse as a clear window into the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. Many point out that Jesus speaks of glory he had before the world existed, which affirms that he is not a created being but the eternal God. Some emphasise that the glory he asks for is the same glory he always possessed, now to be manifested in his resurrected humanity. Others focus on the mutual exchange: Jesus glorified the Father on earth, and now the Father glorifies the Son in heaven. Both readings agree that this verse reveals the Son’s pre-existence and the Father’s delight in honouring him.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse and think Jesus is asking for something he had lost, as if he stopped being God when he became human. In fact, Jesus never ceased to be God. The glory he speaks of was veiled, not missing. He set aside the visible display of his divine majesty during his life on earth. Now that his work is finished, he prays for that glory to be fully shown again. The request is about manifestation, not recovery.
Living This Out
You may have finished a long season of work. A project, a caregiving role, a year of study. When it’s over, something in you longs for recognition, for someone to see what you gave. Jesus understands that longing. But he did not demand glory from people. He turned to his Father and asked for the glory that was already his from eternity. This week, when you feel empty after a finished task, you can do the same. Entrust your reputation to the One who sees everything. He knows what you have done. He will honour you in his time.
Main takeaway: Jesus existed in glory with the Father before the world began, and he prays for that glory to be fully displayed again after his work on earth.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Before God made anything, Jesus was with God in heaven, sharing his glory. Jesus came to earth as a man, but he never forgot where he came from. He prayed to go back to that wonderful place with his Father.
For ages 9, 12
Jesus set aside the full display of his divine glory when he became human. He lived, served, and died, completing the work his Father gave him. Now, at the end of his life, he prays to be glorified again with the same glory he had with the Father from eternity. This shows us who Jesus truly is: the eternal Son of God.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean that Jesus had glory with the Father before the world existed?
It means that Jesus, as the eternal Son, shared in the full divine honour and close fellowship with the Father before any creation. This verse affirms his pre-existence and deity.
Did Jesus lose his divine glory when he became a man?
No. He set aside the full display of that glory, but he never stopped being God. In this prayer, he asks for that glory to be shown again in his humanity now that his work is complete.
Why does Jesus need to ask the Father for glory?
In his human nature, Jesus prays as the obedient Son and Mediator. The request shows the perfect relationship between Father and Son. Jesus finishes his work, and then the Father honours him with the glory that was always his.
Does John 17:5 prove that Jesus is God?
Yes. Christians have understood this verse as a clear statement that Jesus existed before creation and shared God's glory. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word," and this verse shows that same Word praying to return to the glory he had with the Father.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study