John 15:4 kjv
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:4 nkjv
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:4 niv
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
John 15:4 esv
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
John 15:4 nlt
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
John 15 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 15:5 | I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. | Direct parallel, emphasis on source of fruit. |
| Romans 11:17 | Some of the branches have been broken off, but you, although a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and with them are a partaker of the root of the olive tree | Metaphor of grafting, indicating vital connection. |
| Galatians 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. | Union with Christ, Christ living through believers. |
| Colossians 3:4 | When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. | Christ as the source and essence of the believer's life. |
| 1 John 3:24 | Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. | Obedience as evidence of abiding. |
| Philippians 1:11 | being filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. | Righteousness as fruit originating from Christ. |
| John 14:20 | In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. | Affirmation of reciprocal abiding. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:17 | But the one who joins himself to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. | Spiritual union with Christ. |
| Ephesians 5:30 | because we are members of his body. | Believers as part of Christ's physical body. |
| Romans 8:9 | You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. | The indwelling Spirit as evidence of belonging to Christ. |
| Matthew 13:23 | As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it: he really does bear fruit and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. | Hearing and understanding the word leads to fruitfulness. |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses | Holy Spirit empowering for witness and fruit. |
| 1 John 4:16 | So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. | Abiding in love is abiding in God. |
| 1 Peter 4:11 | Whoever speaks, as one speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serves by the strength that God supplies; in all things may God be glorified through Jesus Christ. | Service empowered by God, glorifying Him. |
| Romans 6:22 | But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you bear leads to sanctification, and its end, eternal life. | Fruit as a result of salvation and sanctification. |
| 1 John 5:12 | Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. | Possession of Christ leads to life. |
| Hebrews 12:1 | Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, | Encouragement to run the race, implying the source of strength. |
| Jeremiah 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and it is never anxious in the year of drought, for it never fails to bear fruit. | Old Testament image of fruitful dependency on God. |
| Psalm 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. | Another OT image of blessed fruitfulness through divine connection. |
John 15 verses
John 15 4 Meaning
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so you also cannot produce fruit unless you remain in me. This abiding relationship is the source of spiritual fruitfulness.
John 15 4 Context
This verse is found within Jesus' farewell discourse to his disciples before his crucifixion. The chapter uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches to illustrate the essential relationship between Jesus and his followers. Jesus has presented himself as the true vine, while his disciples are the branches. This relationship is not merely one of association, but of vital, organic connection. The preceding verses (John 15:1-3) establish this connection, speaking of Jesus as the true vine, God the vinedresser, and the disciples as branches that bear fruit and are pruned for greater fruitfulness. This verse, John 15:4, is a direct instruction flowing from this established metaphor, emphasizing the necessity of remaining in Him for any spiritual productivity.
John 15 4 Word Analysis
μείνατε (mein-ate): Imperative form of the Greek verb "meno," meaning "to remain," "to abide," "to stay." It carries a strong sense of continuous dwelling, perseverance, and unwavering connection. In this context, it's a command to actively and intentionally continue in dependence on Christ.
ἐν ἐμοὶ (en emoi): "in me." "En" signifies within, by means of, or in relation to. This highlights the indwelling presence and essential unity with Christ.
κἀγὼ (k'agō): "and I." "Kai" means "and," and "egō" means "I." This shows the reciprocal nature of the relationship; His abiding in them is conditioned upon their abiding in Him.
καρπὸν (kar-pon): "fruit." Refers to the spiritual fruit of a believer's life—actions, attitudes, and character traits that are pleasing to God and a result of Christ's presence and work. This includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), as well as evangelistic and discipleship efforts.
ποιεῖν (poiein): "to do," "to make," "to produce." In this context, it refers to the act of producing or bringing forth fruit. The branches produce fruit because of the life flowing from the vine.
μόνον (monon): "alone," "only." This word emphasizes the exclusive nature of fruit-bearing; it can only happen in conjunction with remaining in Christ.
ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν (aph' heautōn): "from themselves." This highlights the inherent inability of the branch (disciple) to produce fruit apart from its connection to the vine (Christ). There is no autonomous capacity for spiritual fruit.
words-group by words-group analysis data:
- "Remain in me, and I in you": This establishes the core condition for fruitfulness—a mutual and abiding union. It's not a passive state but an active continuation of faith and obedience, allowing Christ's life to flow through the believer.
- "As the branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine": This clause uses a clear analogy to illustrate the principle. The branch has no inherent life or productivity; its existence and ability to bear fruit are entirely dependent on its connection to the vine. Any attempt to bear fruit independently is futile.
- "so you also cannot produce fruit unless you remain in me": This directly applies the analogy to the disciples. Their spiritual fruitfulness is impossible apart from their continuous and active abiding in Christ. The spiritual life and power needed to bear God's fruit come solely from Him.
John 15 4 Bonus Section
The imagery of the vine and branches is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. God is frequently depicted as the vinedresser or Israel as a vineyard that fails to produce fruit, leading to judgment (Isaiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 2:21). Here, Jesus reclaims this imagery, presenting Himself as the true vine, thus signifying His divine identity and purpose for His people. God the Father is the vinedresser, diligently tending to His vine. The pruning mentioned in previous verses (15:2) can refer to suffering, trials, or even disciplinary correction, all intended to purify and increase fruitfulness. This emphasizes that barrenness is not an option for a true disciple; a constant effort is made to ensure their fruitfulness through their union with Christ.
John 15 4 Commentary
Jesus uses the natural, observable relationship between a vine and its branches to teach His disciples a profound spiritual truth. The imperative to "remain" is crucial. It’s an invitation to a deep, abiding, and mutually indwelling relationship with Christ. This isn't about performing tasks but about a continuous connection to the source of life and power. Just as a branch severed from the vine withers and cannot bear fruit, a believer disconnected from Christ through wilful disobedience or disbelief will likewise be unfruitful. The fruit Jesus speaks of is not merely outward behavior but the manifestation of Christ's character and work through the believer. This abiding empowers them to live a life that glorifies God and impacts the world for His kingdom. The phrase "apart from me you can do nothing" from verse 5 underscores the absolute dependency and the devastating futility of independent spiritual effort.