John 15 25

John 15:25 kjv

But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

John 15:25 nkjv

But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'

John 15:25 niv

But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'

John 15:25 esv

But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'

John 15:25 nlt

This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures : 'They hated me without cause.'

John 15 verses

John 15 25 Meaning

John 15:25 explains that the intense and baseless hatred shown towards Jesus by the world, specifically the religious authorities of His day, was not an unexpected event but a direct fulfillment of prophetic scripture found within their own Old Testament. This "word" served to demonstrate the profound unreasonableness and unjust nature of their opposition to Him, further validating Jesus' identity and divine mission within God's predetermined plan.

John 15 25 Context

John 15:25 is an integral part of Jesus' Farewell Discourse (John 13-17), delivered to His disciples in the upper room on the eve of His crucifixion. Specifically, it follows Jesus' teaching on the vine and branches (15:1-17), which highlights the necessity of abiding in Him. Immediately prior to this verse, Jesus warned His disciples that the world would hate them, just as it had hated Him (15:18-24). He attributed this hatred to the world's ignorance of God and His own clear testimony and works, which leave them without excuse. Verse 25 then provides a profound theological explanation for this hostility: it serves to fulfill Old Testament scripture. This deepens the understanding for the disciples that Jesus' and their own suffering are not random occurrences or signs of divine disfavor, but part of a sovereignly ordained plan, validating both Jesus' Messiahship and the unchanging truth of God's prophetic Word.

John 15 25 Word analysis

• "But" (ἀλλά, alla): Introduces a strong contrast. Here, it signifies that despite the world's sinful act of hatred, there is a higher, divine purpose at play. It pivots the focus from human malice to divine sovereignty.
• "[this happened] that" (ἵνα, hina): This conjunction introduces a clause of purpose or result. It reveals that the rejection and hatred Jesus experienced were not merely arbitrary acts but unfolded in order that a specific prophecy might reach its completion.
• "the word" (ὁ λόγος, ho logos): Refers here to a particular scriptural utterance or prophecy. It is God's revealed message, emphasizing its divine origin and authoritative nature as spoken truth from God.
• "that is written" (ὁ γεγραμμένος, ho gegrammenos): This perfect passive participle underscores the established, permanent, and unchangeable nature of the prophecy. It "stands written," fixed in God's revelation for centuries, awaiting its preordained fulfillment.
• "in their Law" (ἐν τῷ νόμῳ αὐτῶν, en tō nomō autōn):
  • "Law" (νόμῳ, nomō): In John's Gospel, "Law" frequently denotes the entire corpus of Old Testament scripture, not just the Pentateuch, encompassing Psalms and Prophets (e.g., Ps 82:6 is cited as "the Law" in Jn 10:34). It highlights the broad authority of the Scriptures.
  • "their" (αὐτῶν, autōn): This possessive pronoun is crucial and carries an ironic, even condemnatory, nuance. It implies that the scriptures belonged to those who professed to live by them, yet failed to recognize their fulfillment in Jesus. It indicts them through their own revered texts.
• "might be fulfilled" (πληρωθῇ, plērōthē): An aorist passive subjunctive, indicating a divinely accomplished completion. The human act of hatred, despite its wickedness, became an instrument in the hand of God to bring His prophetic Word to its preordained culmination.
• "They hated me" (Ἐμίσησάν με, Emisēsan me): Refers to the intense, active, and tangible hostility shown by the world, particularly the Jewish leadership, towards Jesus. It's a statement of historical fact, confirming the prophesied opposition.
• "without a cause" (δωρεάν, dōrean):
  • Meaning literally 'freely,' 'for nothing,' 'gratuitously.'
  • In this context, it powerfully signifies 'without a just or legitimate reason,' 'undeservedly,' or 'baselessly.' It highlights the profound injustice, irrationality, and pure malevolence of the hatred Jesus faced, for He offered only good and truth.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "But that the word... might be fulfilled": This phrase articulates God's profound sovereignty, indicating that even the most egregious and unjust actions by humans are ultimately integrated into His overarching redemptive plan. It elevates the suffering of Jesus from mere tragedy to prophetic necessity.
• "that is written in their Law": This grouping serves to powerfully indict Jesus' adversaries. By quoting their Law, the very scriptures they esteemed, Jesus demonstrates that their actions were not only evil but also a rejection of what their own sacred texts proclaimed. It underlines their spiritual blindness and hypocrisy.
• "They hated me without a cause": This is the precise essence of the prophecy, highlighting the inexplicable and unprovoked animosity towards Jesus. It establishes that the root of this hatred lies not in any fault of Jesus, but in the inherent rebellion and spiritual darkness of the "world," manifesting an undeserved hostility against pure goodness.

John 15 25 Bonus section

The specific Old Testament passages alluded to (e.g., Psalms 35, 69, 109) feature righteous sufferers lamenting persecution by enemies who unjustly hate them. By applying these prophecies to Himself, Jesus implicitly identifies with the righteous sufferer archetype of the Psalms and presents Himself as the ultimate fulfillment of these types. This validates His suffering as that of the blameless Messiah. Furthermore, the deliberate "without a cause" (δωρεάν, dōrean) serves as a theological counterpoint to any notion that Jesus deserved His fate; it removes all legitimacy from the accusations leveled against Him, revealing the profound sinfulness of those who opposed Him, and ultimately making their rejection inexcusable before God.

John 15 25 Commentary

John 15:25 serves as a profound explanation for the world's inexplicable and vehement rejection of Jesus. It is not an arbitrary hostility but a pre-ordained event, fulfilling the sacred scriptures revered by those very individuals who demonstrated the hatred. This truth provided comfort and insight to Jesus' disciples, assuring them that their coming persecution would likewise be part of God's unfolding plan. The phrase "their Law" ironically implicates the Jewish leadership, revealing that their claims to follow God's word were hollow, as they failed to recognize its ultimate subject and purpose. The "hatred without a cause" emphasizes the absolute injustice of the world's actions, demonstrating a deep-seated spiritual opposition to perfect goodness and truth, confirming Jesus' blamelessness even in suffering. This prophetic fulfillment underscores the reliability of God's Word and the sovereign hand of God orchestrating redemption even through human evil.

Example: When an innocent person suffers extreme verbal abuse or physical harm for simply speaking truth or doing good, their undeserved plight can be compared, in principle, to Jesus' suffering. Their vindication, or even the eventual consequences for their abusers, ultimately aligns with God's justice and plans.