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John 15:17

John 15:17 in Multiple Translations

This is My command to you: Love one another.

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

These things I command you, that ye may love one another.

So this is my law for you: Have love one for another.

This is my command to you: love one another.

These things commaund I you, that ye loue one another.

'These things I command you, that ye love one another;

“I command these things to you, that you may love one another.

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

These things I command you, that you love one another.

I repeat what I have commanded you: Love each other.”

Listen, I’m telling you again what you have to do, you have to love each other.”

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — John 15:17

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

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John 15:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
GRK ταυτα εντελλομαι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους
ταυτα ohutos G3778 this/he/she/it Dem-APN
εντελλομαι entellō G1781 to order Verb-PNI-1S
υμιν su G4771 you Pron-2DP
ινα hina G2443 in order that/to Conj
αγαπατε agapaō G25 to love Verb-PAS-2P
αλληλους allēlōn G240 one another C-APM
Greek Word Study

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Greek Word Reference — John 15:17

ταυτα ohutos G3778 "this/he/she/it" Dem-APN
This refers to a specific person or thing, like when Jesus says 'this is my body' in Matthew 26:26 and Mark 14:22.
Definition: οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; __1. as subst., this one, he; __(a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; __(b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; __(with) proleptic (referring to what follows): before ἵνα (Bl., §69, 6), Luk.1:43, Jhn.3:19 (and freq.) 15:8, Rom.14:9, al.; before ὅτι, Luk.10:11, Jhn.9:3o, Act.24:14, Rom.2:3, al.; ὅπως, Rom.9:17; ἐάν, Jhn.13:35; __(d) special idioms: τοῦτο μὲν . . . τ. δέ (cl), partly . . . partly. Heb.10:33; καὶ τοῦτο (τοῦτον, ταῦτα), and that (him) too, Rom.13:11, 1Co.2:2, Heb.11:12; τοῦτ᾽ ἐστιν, Mat.27:46. __2. As adj., with subst.; __(a) with art. __(α) before the art.: Mat.12:32, Mrk.9:29, Luk.7:44, Jhn.4:15, Rom.11:24, Rev.19:9, al.; __(β) after the noun: Mat.3:9, Mrk.12:16, Luk.11:31, Jhn.4:13, Act.6:13, Rom.15:28, 1Co.1:20, Rev.2:24, al.; __(b) with subst. anarth. (with predicative force; Bl., §49, 4): Luk.1:36 2:2 24:21, Jhn.2:11 4:54 21:14, 2Co.13:1. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 1281 NT verses. KJV: he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who See also: 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 1:11.
εντελλομαι entellō G1781 "to order" Verb-PNI-1S
This verb means to order or command someone to do something, as seen in Matthew 19:7 and Acts 1:2. It involves giving instructions or directions. The Bible often uses this term to describe God's commands and instructions to his people.
Definition: ἐν-τέλλω [in LXX, as in NT (and mostly in Hdt.), always mid., chiefly for צָוָה pi. ;] -ομαι, to command, enjoin, instruct: before περί Heb.11:22; with inf., Mat.19:7; with dative of person(s), Act.1:2; οὕτως, Act.13:47; καθώς, Jhn.14:31 (ἐντολὴν ἔδωκεν, WH); before λέγων, Mat.17:9; with inf., Jhn.8:5; ἵνα, Mrk.13:34; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.28:20, Mrk.10:3, Jhn.15:14, 17; before περί, with genitive of person(s), Mat.4:6 and Luk.4:10 (LXX); διαθήκην ἐ. πρός, with accusative of person(s), Heb.9:20 (LXX) (cf. Sir.45:3).† SYN.: κελεύω, to command, of verbal orders in general; παραγγέλλω, to charge, esp. of the transmitted orders of a military com­mander; ἐντέλλω points rather to the contents of the command (see Thayer, see word κελεύω) (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 17 NT verses. KJV: (give) charge, (give) command(-ments), injoin See also: Acts 1:2; Luke 4:10; Hebrews 9:20.
υμιν su G4771 "you" Pron-2DP
This Greek word means 'you' and is used to address someone directly, like in John 1:30 and Matthew 26:64. It's a way to emphasize or contrast the person being spoken to. The KJV Bible translates it as 'thou'.
Definition: σύ, pron. of 2nd of person(s), thou, you, genitive, σοῦ, dative, σοί, accusative, σέ, pl., ὑμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς (enclitic in oblique cases sing., except after prep. (BL, §48, 3), though πρὸς σέ occurs in Mat.25:39). Nom. for emphasis or contrast: Jhn.1:30, 4:10, 5:33, 39, 44, Act.4:7, Eph.5:32; so also perhaps σὺ εἶπας, Mat.26:64, al. (M, Pr., 86); before voc., Mat.2:6, Luk.1:76, Jhn.17:5, al.; sometimes without emphasis (M, Pr., 85f.), as also in cl., but esp. as rendering of Heb. phrase, e.g. υἱός μου εἶ σύ (בְּנִי־אַתָּה, Psa.2:7), Act.13:33. The genitive (σοῦ, ὑμῶν) is sometimes placed bef. the noun: Luk.7:48, 12:30, al.; so also the enclitic σοῦ, Mat.9:6; on τί ἐμοὶ κ. σοί, see: ἐγώ. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2041 NT verses. KJV: thou See also: 1 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:2.
ινα hina G2443 "in order that/to" Conj
This word means 'in order that' or 'to', showing purpose or result, as seen in Acts 19:4 and Romans 11:31. It's used to express a goal or outcome. In Ephesians 1:17, it's used to describe a purpose.
Definition: ἵνα, __I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), __1. of place, where, whither. __2. of circumstance, when. __II. Conjunction, __1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); __(a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); __(b) with subjc.: after a pres., Mrk.4:21, Luk.6:34, Jhn.3:15, Act.2:25, Rom.1:11, al.; after a pf., Mat.1:22, Jhn.5:23 1Co.9:22, al.; after an imperat. (present or aor.), Mat.7:1, Mrk.11:25, Jhn.10:38, 1Co.7:5, al.; after a delib. subjc., Mrk.1:38, al.; after a fut., Luk.16:4, Jhn.14:3, 1Co.15:28, al.; after historic tenses (where optative in cl.; WM, 359f.; M, Pr., 196f.), Mrk.6:41 (impf.), Jhn.4:8 (plpf.), Mrk.3:14 (aor.), al.; __(with) in late writers (M, Pr., 35; Burton, §§198, 199), with indic., fut: Luk.20:10, 1Pe.3:1, al.; __(d) as often in eccl. writers (Thayer, see word), with indic. pres.: 1Co.4:6, Gal.4:17, al. (?; but V. Burton, §198, Rem.); __(e) εἰς (διὰ) τοῦτο, ἵνα: Jhn.18:37, 1Ti.1:16, al.; τούτου χάριν, Tit.1:5; __(f) elliptical constructions: omission of the principal verb, Jhn.1:8, 2Th.3:9, 1Jn.2:19, al.; of the final verb, Rom.4:16, 2Co.8:13, al. __2. In late writers, definitive, = inf. (WM, 420; Bl, §69, 1), that; __(a) after verbs of wishing, caring, striving, etc.: θέλω, Mat.7:12, al.; ζητῶ, 1Co.4:2 14:12; ζηλόω, 1Co.14:1, al.; __(b) after verbs of saying, asking, exhorting: εἰπεῖν, Mat.4:3, al.; ἐρωτῶ, Mrk.7:26, al.; παρακαλῶ, Mat.14:36, 1Co.1:10, al., etc.; __(with) after words expressing expediency, etc.: συμφέρει, Mat.18:6, Jhn.11:50, al.; ἱκανός, Mat.8:8, Luk.7:6; χρείαν ἔχω, Jhn.2:25, al, etc.; __(d) after substantives, adding further definition: ὥρα, Jhn.12:23 13:1; χρόνος, Rev.2:21; συνήθεια, Jhn.18:39; μισθός, 1Co.9:18. __3. In late writers, ecbatic, denoting the result, = ὥστε, that, so that (M, Pr., 206ff.; WM, 572; Bl., §69, 3; Burton, §223): Rom.11:11, 1Co.7:29, 1Th.5:4, al. (but see Thayer, see word); so with the formula referring to the fulfilment of prophecy, ἵνα πληρωθῇ, Mat.1:22 2:14, Jhn.13:18, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 626 NT verses. KJV: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Timothy 5:20; 1 Peter 1:7.
αγαπατε agapaō G25 "to love" Verb-PAS-2P
To love means to show esteem and goodwill towards someone, as seen in Matthew 5:43 and John 8:42. This love is not just a feeling, but an action that is demonstrated towards others. It is a key concept in the Bible.
Definition: ἀγαπάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for אהב ;] to love, to feel and exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person, to prize and delight in a thing. __1. Of human affection, to men: τ. πλησίον, Mat.5:43; τ. ἐχθρούς, ib. 44; to Christ, Jhn.8:42; to God, Mat.22:37; with accusative of thing(s), Luk.11:43, Jhn.12:43, Eph.5:25, II Tim 4:8, 10, Heb.1:9, 1Pe.2:17, 3:10, 2Pe.2:15, 1Jn.2:15, Rev.12:11. __2. Of divine love; __(a) God's love: to men, Rom.8:37; to Christ, Jhn.3:35; __(b) Christ's love: to men, Mrk.10:21; to God, Jhn.14:31; with cogn. accusative, Jhn.17:26, Eph.2:4. SYN.: φιλέω. From its supposed etymology (Thayer, LS; but see also Boisacq) ἀ. is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem (diligo), as distinct from that expressed by φιλέω (amo), spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning. If this distinction holds, ἀ. is fitly used in NT of Christian love to God and man, the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will, and which, therefore, unlike that feeling which is instinctive and unreasoned, can be commanded as a duty. (Cf. ἀγάπη, and v. Tr., Syn. §xii; Cremer, 9, 592; and esp. MM, VGT, see word) (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 109 NT verses. KJV: (be-)love(-ed) See also: 1 Corinthians 2:9; John 3:35; 1 Peter 1:8.
αλληλους allēlōn G240 "one another" C-APM
This word means one another, indicating mutual action or relationship. In Matthew 25:32 and John 13:22, it describes how people interact with each other.
Definition: ἀλλήλων (genitive pl.), dative -οις, -αις, accusative -ους, -ας, -α (no nom.), recipr. pron. (ἄλλος), of one another, mutually: Mat.25:32, Mrk.4:41, Jhn.13:22, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 93 NT verses. KJV: each other, mutual, one another, (the other), (them-, your-)selves, (selves) together (sometimes with G3326 (μετά) or G4314 (πρός)) See also: 1 Corinthians 7:5; John 4:33; 1 Peter 1:22.

Study Notes — John 15:17

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Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
2 1 John 3:14–17 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
3 1 Peter 2:17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

John 15:17 Summary

[Jesus is giving us a simple yet powerful command: to love one another. This means treating others with kindness, respect, and compassion, just as Jesus has treated us. As it says in 1 John 4:19, 'We love because He first loved us.' By loving one another, we show the world what it means to be a follower of Jesus and to experience His love. As Jesus says in John 13:35, 'By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.']

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jesus mean by 'Love one another' in this verse?

Jesus is commanding His disciples to love each other with the same love He has shown them, as seen in John 13:34, where He says, 'As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.'

Is this command only for the disciples or for all believers?

This command is for all believers, as Jesus is speaking to His disciples who represent the larger body of believers, and this command is reiterated in other parts of the Bible, such as 1 John 4:7-8, which says, 'Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.'

How can we fulfill this command to love one another?

We can fulfill this command by following Jesus' example of love and sacrifice, as seen in John 15:13, which says, 'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.' We can also show love by serving and caring for one another, as seen in Galatians 5:13-14, which says, 'Serve one another in love.'

What is the significance of Jesus giving this command to His disciples?

Jesus gives this command to His disciples to emphasize the importance of unity and love among believers, as seen in John 17:21-23, where Jesus prays that His disciples may be one, just as He and the Father are one.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some ways I can show love to my fellow believers this week?
  2. How can I demonstrate the same love Jesus has shown me to those around me?
  3. What are some barriers that prevent me from loving others as Jesus commands, and how can I overcome them?
  4. How can I balance the command to love one another with the reality of living in a world that often hates and rejects Jesus and His followers, as seen in John 15:18-19?

Gill's Exposition on John 15:17

These things I command you,.... The doctrines which Christ spake, as one having authority, concerning the vine and branches; his love to his disciples, in laying down his life for them, and in

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 15:17

These things I command you, that ye love one another. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on John 15:17

This is but the repetition of the same precept we before had; unless we will understand it as a more special charge upon them, considered as ministers of the gospel; the mutual love of ministers being highly necessary for the good and peace of the church of God, over which God hath set them.

Trapp's Commentary on John 15:17

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. Ver. 17. That ye love one another] That ye hold together, because the world will hate you. A spirit of perversities made way for the ruin of Egypt, Isaiah 19:14; Isaiah 19:16-17. Si collidimur frangimur, if we clash we break. Of the ancient Britons, Tacitus tells us that nothing was so destructory to them as their dissensions, Dum singuli pugnant universi vincuntur. And of the Thracians, Herodotus saith, that if they had been all of one mind they had been invincible. Keep therefore the staff of binders unbroken, Zechariah 11:7; Zechariah 11:14 "Keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace," Ephesians 4:3. In the cause of religion every subdivision is a strong weapon in the hand of the enemy; as in the disagreement of Luther and Zuinglius. The Jesuits have a practice of running over to the Lutherans, pretending to be converts; but it is only to keep up that bitter contention that is between the Calvinists and Lutherans; the virulence whereof is much fomented by these renegade Jesuits.

Ellicott's Commentary on John 15:17

(17) These things I command you—i.e., the things of which He has spoken from John 15:1 onwards, and especially from John 15:12-16. After speaking them He comes back to the purpose from which this section started, “that ye love one another.” We must beware of the not unfrequent mistake of interpreting “these things” of the words which follow, as if it were, “I command you this, viz., to love one another.” The thought is, “I am giving you these precepts that you may love one another.”

Cambridge Bible on John 15:17

17. These things I command you, &c.] More literally, These things I am commanding you, in order that ye may love one another. ‘These things’ does not refer to ‘that ye love one another,’ but to what has already been said about being one with Him and with each other. Comp. John 15:11, John 14:25, John 16:25; John 16:33.

Whedon's Commentary on John 15:17

17. I command you—Inasmuch as I have conferred upon you grace so stupendous, and a love so perfect, full rightly have I authority to command you.

Sermons on John 15:17

SermonDescription
David Wilkerson I Can’t Talk to You…unless! by David Wilkerson David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of recognizing and listening to God's voice, noting that many Christians have silenced it over time due to distractions and misconceptions
Thomas Bradbury The World by Thomas Bradbury Thomas Bradbury preaches on the profound love of God as demonstrated in John 3:16, emphasizing the necessity of being born again to understand divine truth and experience salvation
Mary Wilder Tileston Check Those Unkind Words and Thoughts by Mary Wilder Tileston Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of loving one another as commanded by Jesus in John 15:17, highlighting the need for more grace, sweetness, and sunshine from God's l
Alan Redpath (John) 18 - the Light Expressing by Alan Redpath In this sermon, the speaker discusses the structure of the Gospel of John, dividing it into three main parts: the revelation of God as life to the world, the revelation of God as l
Jim Cymbala I Am a Branch by Jim Cymbala In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ and staying connected to Him. He explains that simply trying to change our behavior without truly abiding
Sister Joela (Pdf Book) the Cross in the Crossfire by Sister Joela Sister Joela emphasizes the critical importance of recognizing our susceptibility to deception and the necessity of clinging to the truth of the cross in her sermon 'The Cross in t
Milton Green (What Is True Salvation) True Salvation by Milton Green In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a fear of God and a pure heart. He explains that loving one's neighbor as oneself is the fulfillment of the law. Th

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