John 17:15

John 17:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
• New International Version (NIV)My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

Context of John 17:15

13But now I am coming to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight]. 14I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.

John 17:15 word by word

οὐκ ἐρωτῶ ἵνα ἄρῃς αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα τηρήσῃς αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• I prayἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• thou shouldest takeαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• thou shouldest keepτηρέωtēreō · to keep: protectG5083
• the evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190

Cross-references for John 17:15

• Psalms 30:9“What profit is there in my blood (death), if I go down to the pit (grave)? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness [to man]?
• Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.
• Isaiah 38:18For Sheol cannot praise or thank You, Death cannot praise You and rejoice in You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
• Isaiah 57:1The righteous man perishes [at the hand of evil], and no one takes it to heart; Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands That the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil.
• Luke 8:38But the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Him, pleading to go with Him; but Jesus sent him away, saying,
• Philippians 1:20It is my own eager expectation and hope, that [looking toward the future] I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with courage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be magnified and exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
• Genesis 48:16The Angel [that is, the Lord Himself] who has redeemed me [continually] from all evil, Bless the boys; And may my name live on in them [may they be worthy of having their names linked with mine], And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a [great] multitude in the midst of the earth.”
• 1 Chronicles 4:10Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.
• Psalms 121:7The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your life.
• Matthew 6:13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’
• Luke 11:4And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended or wronged us]. And lead us not into temptation [but rescue us from evil].’ ”
• Galatians 1:4who gave Himself [as a sacrifice to atone] for our sins [to save and sanctify us] so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—
• 2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one.
• 2 Timothy 4:8In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.
• 1 John 5:18We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

Commentaries on John 17:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15That thou shouldest take them out of the world - They must not yet leave the land of Judea: they had not as yet borne their testimony there, concerning Christ crucified and risen again from the dead. To take them away before this work was finished would not answer the gracious design of God. - Christ does not desire that his faithful apostles should soon die, and be taken to God. No: but that they may live long, labor long, and bring forth much fruit. He…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15That thou shouldest take them out of the world - Though they were going into trials and persecutions, yet Jesus did not pray that they might be removed soon from them. It was better that they should endure them, and thus spread abroad the knowledge of his name. It would be easy for God to remove his people at once to heaven, but it is better for them to remain, and show the power of religion in supporting the soul in the midst of trial, and to spread his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 Christ does not pray that they might be rich and great in the world, but that they might be kept from sin, strengthened for their duty, and brought safe to heaven. The prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity. He pleaded with his holy Father, that he would keep them by his power and for his glory, that they might be united in affection and labours, even according to the union of the Father and the Son. He did not pray that his disciples…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-19Jesus prayed for his disciples, who must continue his work after his departure.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1915-19. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world--for that, though it would secure their own safety, would leave the world unblessed by their testimony. but ... keep them from the evil--all evil in and of the world.Read the comment

Topics related to John 17:15

• Grace of God
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Perseverance of the saints
• Sanctify
• Truth
• Wherewith
• Atonement
• Christ, Offices of
• Essenes
• Ethics of Jesus
• Holy Spirit
• Intercession

Commentaries on John 17

• 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
• 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