John 17 6

John 17:6 kjv

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

John 17:6 nkjv

"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

John 17:6 niv

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.

John 17:6 esv

"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

John 17:6 nlt

"I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

John 17 verses

John 17 6 Meaning

John 17:6 expresses Jesus' declaration to His Father that He has fully revealed God's character and truth to a specific group of people chosen by the Father and given to Him. These individuals, distinct from "the world," belonged to God initially, were entrusted to Jesus, and have demonstrated their true discipleship by adhering to God's word. The verse highlights the Father's sovereign election, Jesus' revelatory mission, and the obedient response of genuine believers.

John 17 6 Context

John 17 marks the apex of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, offered just before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. This chapter is a deeply intimate dialogue between the Son and the Father, revealing Jesus' ultimate concern for His disciples and all future believers. Following the farewell discourse (John 13-16), where Jesus instructed, comforted, and prepared His disciples for His departure, Chapter 17 moves from direct teaching to intercession. Verse 6 specifically focuses on the initial group of disciples who were with Him, laying the groundwork for His subsequent prayers for their sanctification, unity, and protection. Historically, the concept of "God's name" held profound significance for Jewish people, representing His nature, power, and presence. Jesus, in manifesting this name, was not merely revealing a word but the very essence of God in His person and ministry, thereby challenging existing perceptions and revealing a personal, relational God previously less known. This also stands in stark contrast to the pagan polytheistic beliefs of the Hellenistic world and any incipient Gnostic ideas that might have minimized the Father or Christ's physical revelation.

John 17 6 Word analysis

• I have manifested (Ἐφανέρωσα - ephanerōsa): This verb means "to make visible," "to make evident," "to reveal openly." It's not just verbal teaching but a full disclosure through Jesus' person, words, deeds, and entire incarnate life. It implies more than abstract knowledge; it implies experiential knowledge of God.

• thy name (τὸ ὄνομά σου - to onoma sou): "Name" in biblical usage goes beyond a mere label. It encapsulates the very character, nature, authority, and reputation of the person. Jesus manifesting "the Father's name" means He revealed God's essence: His love, holiness, grace, power, justice, and faithfulness, as He Himself embodies these attributes. It refers to the personal revelation of God's self, distinct from a philosophical concept.

• unto the men (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις - tois anthrōpois): Specifically, these are the chosen individuals, not humanity in general. It highlights the particularity of divine election and revelation.

• which thou gavest me (οὓς ἔδωκας μοι - hous edōkas moi): This phrase underscores the Father's sovereign initiative and grace in salvation. It speaks of divine election – these individuals were entrusted by the Father to the Son. It emphasizes their prior relationship with the Father and their current relationship through the Son.

• out of the world (ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου - ek tou kosmou): In John's Gospel, "world" (kosmos) often refers to humanity in its fallen state, alienated from God, under the sway of sin and Satan. Being given "out of" the world signifies separation, redemption, and a distinct new identity not aligned with worldly values or systems.

• thine they were (σοὶ ἦσαν - soi ēsan): This highlights God's pre-existent claim and ownership. They belonged to the Father before they were given to the Son. It speaks to divine foreknowledge and prior relationship, rooted in eternal counsel.

• and thou gavest them me (κἀμοὶ αὐτοὺς ἔδωκας - kamoi autous edōkas): This reiterates the divine transfer of these elect ones from the Father's care to the Son's messianic mission and protection. It reinforces the theme of divine sovereignty in salvation.

• and they have kept thy word (καὶ τὸν λόγον σου τετηρήκασιν - kai ton logon sou tetērēkāsin): The verb "kept" (tetērēkāsin) is in the perfect tense, indicating a past action with ongoing results and a state of being. It signifies a continuous, faithful obedience and perseverance in adhering to God's revealed will. This is the tangible evidence and fruit of receiving the manifestation of God's name through Jesus. It signifies genuine, living faith expressed through obedience.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world": This entire phrase encapsulates Jesus' core mission as the ultimate revealer of God. It points to a particularistic work of salvation, where God sovereignly elects and draws a people to Himself through Christ, distinguishing them from the broader rebellious "world."
  • "thine they were, and thou gavest them me": This emphatic repetition underlines the Father's divine ownership and deliberate action in giving these specific individuals to Jesus. It emphasizes God's sovereign plan of salvation, highlighting His initiative and meticulous care for His elect, first as His own, then entrusted to the Son for redemption and guardianship.

John 17 6 Bonus section

• The revelation of God's "name" here echoes Old Testament covenantal revelations (e.g., Exod 3:13-15, 34:6-7) but deepens them by the direct, embodied revelation in Christ. Jesus doesn't just speak God's name; He lives it.
• The phrase "thine they were" implies a prior spiritual ownership or eternal purpose known to God before their existence, underpinning the concept of predestination.
• The emphasis on "keeping His word" provides a clear, practical indicator of authentic faith and belonging, showing that receiving divine revelation leads to transformative obedience, a theme pervasive throughout John's Gospel.

John 17 6 Commentary

John 17:6 is a foundational statement within Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, revealing core aspects of God's salvific work. Jesus declares the success of His mission concerning a specific group: those whom the Father gave Him. The "manifestation of the name" of God is central, signifying Jesus’ full and active revelation of God’s essence – His character, attributes, and will – not merely through teaching but through His very being, His actions, and His perfect obedience. This revelation distinguishes those "out of the world" who belong to God by divine election and have been given to Christ. Their response, "they have kept thy word," validates their genuine discipleship. It's not a condition for being "given" but an intrinsic outcome, a spiritual mark demonstrating their allegiance to the Father revealed in the Son. This verse confirms divine election, Christ's singular role as God's revealer, and the identifying characteristic of true believers: devoted obedience to God's truth as revealed by Jesus. It highlights the Father's purposeful design in calling a people for Himself and ensuring their faithful perseverance.