BIBLE VERSE STUDY
John 14:13 — Asking in Jesus' Name for the Father's Glory
Jesus promises that requests made in his name will be granted, with the stated purpose of glorifying the Father through the Son.
Scripture
13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
What this passage means
The verse is a conditional promise: 'whatsoever ye shall ask in my name' carries the qualifier of being asked 'in my name,' and the Son pledges to act ('that will I do'). The clause 'that the Father may be glorified in the Son' states the purpose (Greek G2443) of the promise, framing answered prayer as something that displays the Father's glory through the Son's action.
Because the immediate sequel in verse 14 restates the promise in shorter form ('If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do'), the emphasis falls on the name itself as the qualifying condition. Verse 15 then links prayer to obedience ('If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments'), indicating that asking 'in his name' is set within a relationship of trust and obedience, not treated as a formula for any request.
The verse is embedded in a discourse about mutual indwelling (verses 10–12, 20) and the coming Paraclete (verses 16–17, 26). In that setting, asking in Jesus' name is not an isolated transaction; it is the prayer of disciples who remain in him as the Father remains in him, and whose requests therefore align with the Son's own mission to glorify the Father.
Context
John 14 is the upper-room discourse, opening with 'Let not your heart be troubled' (verse 1) and moving through 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life' (verse 6) to the promise of the Spirit (verses 16–17, 26). Verses 10–12 establish mutual indwelling between Father and Son and promise believers 'greater works' because Jesus goes to the Father; verse 13 then grounds those greater works in prayer asked 'in my name.'
Verses 14–15 closely follow the target verse: verse 14 echoes it almost word for word, and verse 15 makes love for Jesus visible in obedience. Verses 16–26 expand the theme of the Father's response by introducing 'another Comforter,' the Spirit of truth, whom the Father will send 'in my name' (verse 26), linking answered prayer to the Spirit's ongoing work.
Key words in the original
- G3686 Greek G3686 (ὄνομα, onoma) is glossed 'a name (literally or figuratively) (authority, character).' In John 14:13 the phrase 'in my name' uses the preposition G1722 (ἐν) plus this noun, locating the request within the sphere of Jesus' revealed identity and authority rather than treating the name as a mere tag.
- G0154 Greek G0154 (αἰτέω) is the verb 'to ask,' used in the subjunctive here as αἰτήσητε. The construction 'whatsoever … ye shall ask' (G5100 G3739 G0154) emphasizes the breadth of the request, while the name-condition in G1722 G3588 G3686 keeps that breadth within a defined relationship.
- G1392 Greek G1392 (δοξάζω) means 'to render or esteem glorious.' The passive δοξασθῇ in verse 13 indicates that the Father is the one who is glorified; the purpose clause G2443 ('that') ties answered prayer to the Father's being glorified G1722 G3588 G5207 ('in the Son').
Related verses
- John 14:14 John 14:14 immediately restates verse 13: 'If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do.' The repetition underlines that the name-condition, not the size of the request, is the focus of Jesus' promise.
- John 15:7 John 15:7 expands the same promise with the condition of abiding: 'If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.' Abiding parallels asking 'in his name,' adding the dimension of ongoing relationship.
- John 16:23 John 16:23 shifts the addressee of prayer to the Father: 'if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name.' Read with 14:13, asking in Jesus' name is presented both as asking the Son and as asking the Father in the Son's name.
Common questions
Does John 14:13 guarantee that every prayer prayed 'in Jesus' name' will be answered?
The verse as written makes the name the qualifying condition for the promise, and its stated purpose is the Father's glorification in the Son. Other texts in this set, such as 1 John 5:14 ('if we ask anything according to his will') and John 15:7 ('If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you'), add the conditions of God's will and abiding, so a plain reading of 14:13 in light of these parallels treats the name as more than a verbal tag.
What does it mean to ask 'in my name'?
Within the chapter, 'in my name' is set between mutual indwelling (verses 10–12, 20) and the command to keep his commandments (verse 15). Verse 26 also says the Father will send the Holy Spirit 'in my name.' Across these uses, asking 'in Jesus' name' points to requests aligned with his identity, his words, and his ongoing work through the Spirit, not to a formula appended to any prayer.
How does John 14:13 relate to the 'greater works' of verse 12?
Verse 12 promises that the believer who has faith 'shall do' the works of Jesus and 'greater works than these,' because Jesus goes to the Father. Verse 13 immediately grounds those greater works in prayer: 'whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do.' On this reading, the works of verse 12 are not accomplished apart from prayer, and the purpose clause of verse 13 shows that such prayer displays the Father's glory through the Son.