John 15:20

John 15:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
• New International Version (NIV)Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Context of John 15:20

18“If the world hates you [and it does], know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of the world [you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you. Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21But they will do all these [hurtful] things to you for My name’s sake [because you bear My name and are identified with Me], for they do not know the One who sent Me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

John 15:20 word by word

μνημονεύετε τοῦ λόγου οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν· οὐκ ἔστιν δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν· εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Rememberμνημονεύωmnēmoneuō · to rememberG3421
• the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• The servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• greater thanμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• they have persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• they have keptτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• yoursὑμέτεροςhumeteros · yourG5212

Cross-references for John 15:20

• John 5:16For this reason the Jews began to persecute Jesus continually because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
• John 7:32The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things [under their breath] about Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him.
• John 8:59So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus concealed Himself and left the temple.
• John 10:31Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him.
• John 11:57Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it so that they might arrest Him.
• John 13:16I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
• Matthew 10:24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master.
• Luke 2:34Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is to be opposed—
• Luke 6:40A student is not superior to his teacher; but everyone, after he has been completely trained, will be like his teacher.
• Acts 4:27For in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
• Acts 7:52Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;
• 1 Thessalonians 2:15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and harassed and drove us out; and [they] continue to be highly displeasing to God and [to show themselves] hostile to all people,
• 1 Samuel 8:7The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.
• Isaiah 53:1Who has believed [confidently trusted in, relied on, and adhered to] our message [of salvation]? And to whom [if not us] has the arm and infinite power of the Lord been revealed?
• Ezekiel 3:7yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you and obey you, since they are not willing to listen to Me and obey Me, for the entire house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.

Commentaries on John 15:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20If they have kept my saying - Or, doctrine. Whosoever acknowledges me for the Christ will acknowledge you for my ministers. Some translate the passage thus: If they have Watched my sayings, i.e. with an intent to accuse me for something which I have said, they will Watch yours also: therefore be on your guard. has this sense, as we have had occasion to observe before; and perhaps has the same sense here, as it is much more agreeable to the context.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Remember the word that I said … - At their first appointment to the apostolic office. See Matthew 10:24-25.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 How little do many persons think, that in opposing the doctrine of Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, they prove themselves ignorant of the one living and true God, whom they profess to worship! The name into which Christ's disciples were baptized, is that which they will live and die by. It is a comfort to the greatest sufferers, if they suffer for Christ's name's sake. The world's ignorance is the true cause of its hatred to the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20No servant is greater than his master: See study note on 13:16. The disciples of Jesus should live like him in every way, even when they face suffering or death because of their faith.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2117-21. The substance of these important verses has occurred more than once before. (See on Mt 10:34-36; Lu 12:49-53, &c.).Read the comment

Topics related to John 15:20

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Commandments
• Jesus Continued
• Minister, Christian
• Persecution

In the dictionaries

• Cloke
• Herein
• Affliction
• Atonement
• Comforter
• Communion; (fellowship)
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ
• Johannine Theology
• John, Gospel of

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