John 15 19

John 15:19 kjv

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:19 nkjv

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 15:19 niv

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

John 15:19 esv

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 15:19 nlt

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

John 15 verses

John 15 19 Meaning

John 15:19 conveys a profound truth about the relationship between Christ's followers and the world: those who belong to Christ are distinct from the world, and this distinction is the direct cause of the world's animosity towards them. The world, defined as humanity organized apart from God and antagonistic to Him, embraces its own, but naturally opposes those chosen by Christ and separated from its corrupt system. This hatred serves as an affirmation of a believer's true spiritual identity and their belonging to Jesus.

John 15 19 Context

John chapter 15 is part of Jesus' Upper Room Discourse (chapters 13-17), delivered to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. Following the illustration of the vine and branches (Jn 15:1-17), which emphasizes the essential connection believers must maintain with Him to bear fruit, Jesus shifts to preparing His disciples for the world's hostility. Verses 18-27 explicitly warn about this coming hatred and persecution. This particular verse (15:19) acts as a foundational explanation for why this hatred will occur. It contrasts the world's self-acceptance with its rejection of Christ's followers, rooting this antagonism in a divine act of election that sets believers apart from the world's system, values, and ruler. Historically, the early Jewish and Roman societies viewed Christians as a distinct, often disruptive, and even atheistic group due to their exclusive worship of Christ, refusal of state gods, and counter-cultural values, leading to significant persecution.

John 15 19 Word analysis

• If you were of the world (ei ek tou kosmou ete - εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἦτε):

  • If: Introduces a conditional statement, a hypothetical scenario that is contrasted with the reality.
  • you were: Imperfect tense, referring to a continuous state.
  • of (ek - ἐκ): A preposition denoting origin, source, or belonging. To be "of the world" means to be sourced from, belong to, and aligned with its nature.
  • the world (kosmos - κόσμος): In John's Gospel, "world" often denotes humanity organized in rebellion against God, alienated from Him, embodying principles contrary to His truth and love. It refers to human society's fallen systems, values, philosophies, and ways of life that exclude God.

• the world would love its own (ho kosmos an to idion ephilei - ὁ κόσμος ἂν τὸ ἴδιον ἐφίλει):

  • love (phileō - φιλέω): Implies a natural fondness, affection, or preference. The world naturally embraces and finds affinity with those who share its ungodly values and perspectives.
  • its own (to idion - τὸ ἴδιον): Refers to what belongs inherently to the world; those who share its characteristics, principles, and desires.

• but because you are not of the world (hoti de ouk ek tou kosmou este - ὅτι δὲ οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἐστὲ):

  • but because (hoti de - ὅτι δὲ): Introduces the reason and direct contrast. This is the factual state of affairs for believers.
  • not of the world: The decisive separation from the world's identity and orientation. Believers fundamentally do not originate from or belong to this fallen system.

• but I chose you out of the world (all' egō exelexamēn hymas ek tou kosmou - ἀλλ' ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου):

  • but I (all' egō - ἀλλ' ἐγώ): Emphasizes Jesus' personal and decisive initiative. The separation is not self-made but divinely orchestrated.
  • chose (exelexamēn - ἐξελεξάμην): Aorist tense of eklegomai (ἐκλέγομαι), meaning to "pick out" or "select." This is a singular, decisive act of selection, indicating divine election. It implies a purposeful and sovereign act of calling individuals out from the larger mass of humanity.
  • you: Refers specifically to the disciples, and by extension, all who genuinely follow Christ.
  • out of (ek - ἐκ): Reinforces the concept of extraction, a pulling away from the kosmos.

• therefore the world hates you (dia touto ho kosmos misei hymas - διὰ τοῦτο ὁ κόσμος μισεῖ ὑμᾶς):

  • therefore (dia touto - διὰ τοῦτο): Establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The divine act of choosing and separating believers is the reason for the world's animosity.
  • hates (miseī - μισεῖ): Present active indicative of miseō (μισέω), meaning to feel strong animosity, dislike, or aversion; to abhor. This is an active and consistent opposition. The world's hatred is an inherent, logical reaction of darkness to light (Jn 3:19-20), and of rebellion against divine truth.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "If you were of the world, the world would love its own": This establishes a natural order: conformity leads to acceptance. The world validates and values that which aligns with its nature and objectives.
  • "but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world": This powerful contrast highlights the dual reality for believers. Their non-belonging to the world is due not to their own merit, but to Jesus' sovereign, purposeful act of election and extraction. This divine initiative is the fundamental distinction.
  • "therefore the world hates you": The conclusion is an inevitable consequence. The world's hatred is not random or illogical; it's a direct result of being chosen out of it and now representing an antithetical kingdom and value system.

John 15 19 Bonus section

The "world" (kosmos) in John 15:19 is more than just people or the physical earth; it is a spiritual system ruled by darkness, in opposition to God and His kingdom. Jesus had already referred to the "ruler of this world" (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), implying a spiritual force animating its hostility. The hatred experienced by believers is not merely human prejudice but often has a satanic influence behind it. Furthermore, Jesus Himself faced the world's hatred and testified that it hated Him because His deeds were good and exposed its evil (Jn 7:7). Therefore, when believers experience this same hatred, it means they are faithfully reflecting Christ's light and truth, thereby exposing the world's fallen nature. This shared experience should provide comfort and assurance, signifying genuine identification with their Lord and their eternal hope, rather than belonging to a temporal, antagonistic system destined for judgment.

John 15 19 Commentary

John 15:19 articulates a fundamental spiritual dynamic: the profound opposition between the Kingdom of God and the "world" system. Jesus explains that if His followers aligned with the world, they would experience its acceptance. However, they are not of the world because He has sovereignly "chosen" and "called them out" from its dominion. This act of divine election, setting believers apart for His purposes, inevitably creates a chasm between them and the world's values, desires, and ways. Consequently, the world reacts with animosity. This hatred is not merely dislike but a deep-seated antagonism stemming from a clash of allegiances, authorities, and fundamental natures. Believers embody light in the world's darkness, truth amidst its deception, and allegiance to Christ where the world offers loyalty to itself or its spiritual ruler. Therefore, the world's hatred, while difficult, serves as a powerful validation of their true identity as those belonging to Christ and being distinct from the ungodly system. It transforms from something to avoid into a mark of genuine discipleship, affirming their radical separation unto God.