John 17:12 kjv
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:12 nkjv
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:12 niv
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
John 17:12 esv
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:12 nlt
During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
John 17 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 6:39 | And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me... | Jesus protects all given by the Father. |
| Jn 10:28-29 | I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish... | Security of those in Christ's hands. |
| Psa 41:9 | Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. | Prophecy of betrayal by a close companion (Judas). |
| Zec 11:12-13 | I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages... | Prophecy of betrayal for silver (Judas). |
| Acts 1:16-20 | Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled concerning Judas... | Apostles acknowledge Judas fulfilled prophecy. |
| Mt 26:24 | The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him... | Christ's destiny and betrayal were preordained. |
| Lk 22:3 | Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. | Satan's influence on Judas. |
| Jn 13:18 | I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen... | Jesus knew Judas's nature from the start. |
| Jn 6:70-71 | Did I not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil? | Jesus identifies Judas as a devil early on. |
| 1 Pet 1:5 | Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation... | God's power preserves believers. |
| Jude 1:24 | Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling... | God is able to preserve His people without stumbling. |
| Heb 7:25 | He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God... | Christ's continuing ability to save and preserve. |
| Jn 17:6 | I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me... | Jesus reveals God's name/character to His disciples. |
| Jn 17:11 | Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name... | Jesus prays for ongoing preservation by God's name. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name... | Authority granted to Christ. |
| 2 Thes 2:3 | ...the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. | The term "son of destruction" used elsewhere for a figure of perdition. |
| Rom 9:22-23 | What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction...? | God's sovereignty over those appointed for destruction. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | For I am convinced that neither death nor life... will be able to separate us from the love of God... | God's unyielding hold on His chosen. |
| Mt 10:4 | Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. | Direct statement of Judas's role as betrayer. |
| Lk 24:44 | These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you... all things written about me... must be fulfilled. | Emphasizes fulfillment of all Scripture concerning Christ. |
John 17 verses
John 17 12 Meaning
John 17:12 affirms Jesus' perfect guardianship over His disciples during His earthly ministry, declaring that none entrusted to Him by the Father were lost except Judas Iscariot. This singular exception, described as the "son of destruction," was not an unforeseen failure but occurred to fulfill divine prophecy, thereby highlighting God's sovereign plan amidst human betrayal.
John 17 12 Context
John chapter 17 is often referred to as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, offered just before His arrest in Gethsemane. This prayer reveals Jesus' heart, intentions, and divine mission. Verse 12 is part of Jesus' report to the Father concerning the disciples He has shepherded. He first gives an account of His stewardship, affirming His success in preserving those the Father gave Him, making a direct exception for Judas. This verse serves as a pivot from recounting His completed preservation of the initial disciples (during His physical presence) to praying for their future sanctification and protection, and then extending that prayer to all future believers. Historically, the betrayal by one of the chosen twelve would be a significant scandal and point of theological inquiry for the early church; this verse directly addresses and explains it through the lens of divine purpose and prophecy.
John 17 12 Word analysis
- While I was with them: (ὅτε ἤμην μετ’ αὐτῶν, hote ēmēn met' autōn) Refers to Jesus' earthly ministry, a period of physical companionship and active discipleship.
- I protected them: (ἐτήρουν αὐτούς, etēroun autous) The Greek tereo means "to keep, guard, preserve, watch over." It signifies diligent care and spiritual safeguarding.
- and kept them: (καὶ ἐφύλαξα, kai ephulaxa) The Greek phylasso is similar to tereo, meaning "to guard, protect, preserve from danger." Its inclusion alongside tereo emphasizes the comprehensive and successful nature of Jesus' preservation.
- in your name: (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου, en tō onomati sou) "Name" here refers to God's essence, authority, character, and power. Jesus protected them by operating under and within the Father's divine power and authority, not by His own independent power.
- which you have given me: (ὃ δέδωκάς μοι, ho dedōkas moi) Signifies divine authorization. The Father uniquely entrusted Jesus with the divine Name/authority to act on His behalf, allowing Him to fulfill His mission of preserving the chosen ones.
- Not one of them has been lost: (οὐδεὶς ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀπώλετο, oudeis ex autōn apōleto) The Greek apollumi means "to perish, destroy, be lost." Here, it signifies spiritual perdition. Jesus declares His complete success in preserving the true believers from spiritual destruction.
- except the son of destruction: (εἰ μὴ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας, ei mē ho huios tēs apōleias) This is a Semitic idiom where "son of" means "belonging to," "characterized by," or "destined for." Judas Iscariot is tragically identified as inherently linked to destruction or perdition. He was not genuinely "lost" from the group given to Jesus in the same spiritual sense as the others were kept, as he was never truly of the group given to the Father.
- so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: (ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ, hina hē graphē plērōthē) This Greek phrase with hina denotes divine purpose. Judas's actions, while a result of his own choices, were simultaneously a divinely foreseen and purposed event. This fulfills prophecies like Psa 41:9 regarding betrayal.
John 17 12 Bonus section
The designation "son of destruction" for Judas Iscariot resonates with the concept of being predestined for an outcome, although the biblical narrative also emphasizes Judas's personal responsibility in his betrayal. This paradox of divine sovereignty and human free will is evident. The verse also underscores Jesus' comprehensive awareness of all His disciples, distinguishing between genuine followers and those who, like Judas, were "of the world" despite their physical proximity to Christ. Judas, though chosen to be one of the Twelve, was never truly a sheep of Jesus' fold (Jn 10:26-27). This offers comfort to believers regarding their eternal security, confirming that genuine salvation is eternally preserved by Christ.
John 17 12 Commentary
John 17:12 is a profound statement of Christ's perfect stewardship over His disciples. Jesus affirms that during His earthly ministry, He diligently protected and kept every person the Father entrusted to Him from spiritual perdition. This divine preservation was exercised "in God's Name," underscoring that Jesus acted with the Father's full authority and divine power. The solemn exception made for Judas Iscariot, designated the "son of destruction," highlights that Judas was set apart from the group whom Jesus preserved unto salvation. His defection was not a failure on Jesus' part to protect one truly "given" by the Father for salvation, but rather the unfolding of God's sovereign plan, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy concerning the betrayer. This verse teaches the security of the believer, demonstrating Christ's unwavering faithfulness to those whom the Father grants Him, even as it confronts the painful reality of human choice and divine decree intersecting in the case of Judas's perfidy.