John 15:13

John 15:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
• New International Version (NIV)Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Context of John 15:13

11I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. 12“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.

John 15:13 word by word

μείζονα ταύτης ἀγάπην οὐδεὶς ἔχει ἵνα τις τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ θῇ ὑπὲρ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Greaterμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• than thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• a manτιςtis · oneG5100
• lay downτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lifeψυχήpsuchē · soul: lifeG5590
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• friendsφίλοςphilos · friendly/friendG5384

Cross-references for John 15:13

• John 10:11I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep.
• Romans 5:6While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly.
• Ephesians 5:2and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
• 1 John 4:7Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].

Commentaries on John 15:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13That a man lay down his life for his friends - No man can carry his love for his friend farther than this: for, when he gives up his life, he gives up all that he has. This proof of my love for you I shall give in a few hours; and the doctrine which I recommend to you I am just going to exemplify myself. There are several remarkable cases, in heathen antiquity, where one friend offered his life for another. The two following will not stand dishonorably…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Greater love hath … - No higher expression of love could be given. Life is the most valuable object we possess; and when a man is willing to lay that down for his friends or his country, it shows the utmost extent of love. Even this love for friends has been rarely witnessed. A very few cases like that of Damon and Pythias have occurred where a man was willing to save the life of his friend by giving his own. It greatly enhances the love of Christ, that…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-17Verses 9-17 Those whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy. All that love the Saviour should continue in their love to him, and take all occasions to show it. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, but the joy of those who abide in Christ's love is a continual feast. They are to show their love to him by keeping his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13This is My commandment … love each other: See 13:34. Jesus demonstrated his love by sacrificing his life at the cross.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1612-16. That ye love one another, &c.--(See on Joh 13:34, 35).Read the comment

Topics related to John 15:13

• Jesus, the Christ
• Love
• Suffering

In the dictionaries

• Cloke
• Herein
• Atonement
• Children of God
• Christ, Offices of
• Comforter
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Friend; Friendship
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings