John 17:20

John 17:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
• New International Version (NIV)“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
• English Standard Version (ESV)"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

Context of John 17:20

18I have sent them into the world the same way you sent me into the world. 19I’m dedicating myself to this holy work I’m doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy. “I’m not praying only for them. I’m also praying for those who will believe in me through their message. 21I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are.

John 17:20 word by word

οὐ περὶ τούτων δὲ ἐρωτῶ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν πιστευόντων διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν εἰς ἐμέ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Neitherοὐou · noG3756
• pray Iἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• forπερίperi · aboutG4012
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• aloneμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• themὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• which shall believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• onεἰςeis · towardG1519
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056

Cross-references for John 17:20

• John 17:6“I made your name known to the people you gave me. They are from this world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They did what you told them.
• Ephesians 4:11He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts ⌞to his church⌟.
• Acts 2:41Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added ⌞to the group⌟.
• Acts 4:4But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.
• Romans 15:18I’m bold enough to tell you only what Christ has done through me to bring people who are not Jewish to obedience. By what I have said and done,
• Romans 16:26but now is publicly known. The everlasting God ordered that what the prophets wrote must be shown to the people of every nation to bring them to the obedience that is associated with faith.
• 2 Timothy 1:2To Timothy, my dear child. Good will, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

Commentaries on John 17:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20III. Our Lord's Prayer for His Church, and for All Who Would Believe on His Name, Through the Preaching of the Apostles and Their Successor. John 17:20-26. See on John 17:1; (note). Neither pray I for these alone - This prayer extends itself through all ages, and takes in every soul that believes in the Lord Jesus. And what is it that Christ asks in behalf of his followers? The greatest of blessings: unity, peace, love, and eternal glory.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Neither pray I for these alone … - Not for the apostles only, but for all who shall be converted under the preaching of the gospel. They will all need similar grace and be exposed to similar trials. It is a matter of unspeakable joy that each Christian, however humble or unknown to men however poor, unlearned, or despised, can reflect that he was remembered in prayer by “him whom God heareth always.” We value the prayers of pious friends. How much more…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-23Verses 20-23 Our Lord especially prayed, that all believers might be as one body under one head, animated by one soul, by their union with Christ and the Father in him, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The more they dispute about lesser things, the more they throw doubts upon Christianity. Let us endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, praying that all believers may be more and more united in one mind and one judgment…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Jesus was praying for other sheep who were not yet in his flock (10:16). These are the believers through the centuries who have come to faith through the witness of the disciples of Jesus.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2320-23. Neither pray I for these alone--This very important explanation, uttered in condescension to the hearers and readers of this prayer in all time, is meant not merely of what follows, but of the whole prayer. them also which shall believe--The majority of the best manuscripts read "which believe," all future time being viewed as present, while the present is viewed as past and gone.Read the comment

Topics related to John 17:20

• Communion
• Jesus Continued
• Minister, Christian
• Prayer
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Intercession of Christ
• Perseverance of the saints
• Sanctify
• Truth
• Wherewith
• Atonement
• Christ, Offices of
• 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