Albert Barnes Commentary John 12:23

"And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified." — John 12:23 (ASV)

The hour is come. The time is come. The word hour commonly means a definite part or a division of a day; but it also is used to denote a brief period, and a fixed, definite, determined time. It is used in this sense here. The appointed, fixed time is come—that is, is so near at hand that it may be said to be come.

The Son of man. This is the favorite title which Jesus gives to himself, denoting his union with man, and the interest he felt in his welfare. The title is used here rather than "The Son of God," because as a man he had been humble, poor, and despised; but the time had come when, as a man, he was to receive the appropriate honors of the Messiah.

Be glorified. Be honored in an appropriate way—that is, by the testimony which God would give to him at his death, by his resurrection, and by his ascension to glory. .