New King James Version
John 15:15
15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
- New International Version (NIV)I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
Context of John 15:15
13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17These things I command you, that you love one another.
Read all of John 15John 15:15 word by word
οὐκέτι λέγω ὑμᾶς δούλους, ὅτι ὁ δοῦλος οὐκ οἶδεν τί ποιεῖ αὐτοῦ ὁ κύριος· ὑμᾶς δὲ εἴρηκα φίλους, ὅτι πάντα ἃ ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐγνώρισα ὑμῖν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Henceforth I callλέγωlegō · to say: callG3004
- youσύsu · youG4771
- notοὐκέτιouketi · not any moreG3765
- servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- the servantὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- knowethεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- notοὐou · noG3756
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
- doethποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- butδέde · thenG1161
- I have calledἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
- friendsφίλοςphilos · friendly/friendG5384
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- I have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- ofπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- I have made knownγνωρίζωgnōrizō · to make knownG1107
Cross-references for John 15:15
- John 15:20Remember 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.
- John 12:26If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
- John 13:16Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
- John 20:17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
- Galatians 4:6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- Philemon 1:16no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
- James 1:1James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
- 2 Peter 1:1Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
- Jude 1:1Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
- Revelation 1:1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
- James 2:23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
- John 4:19The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
- John 17:6“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
- Genesis 18:17And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
- 2 Kings 6:8Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.”
- Psalms 25:14The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
Commentaries on John 15:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Henceforth I call you not servants - Which he at least indirectly had done, John 13:16; Matthew 10:24, Matthew 10:25; Luke 17:10. I have called you friends - I have admitted you into a state of the most intimate fellowship with myself; and have made known unto you whatsoever I have heard from the Father, which, in your present circumstances, it was necessary for you to be instructed in.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15I call you not servants - This had been the common title by which he addressed them Matthew 10:24-25; John 12:26; John 13:13; but he had also before this, on one occasion, called them friends Luke 12:4, and on one occasion after this he called them servants, John 15:20. He here means that the ordinary title by which he would hence forth address them would be that of friends. The servant knoweth not - He receives the command of his master without knowing…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. 15The disciples of a rabbi were considered his servants or slaves. Jesus elevated his followers to a higher relationship as his friends.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 15:15
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries