John 17 9

John 17:9 kjv

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

John 17:9 nkjv

"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

John 17:9 niv

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

John 17:9 esv

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

John 17:9 nlt

"My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.

John 17 verses

John 17 9 Meaning

John 17:9 reveals Jesus' distinct and focused prayer for His immediate disciples, and by extension, all who would believe in Him through their word. This specific intercession is explicitly contrasted with "the world," which in this context refers to humanity alienated from God and characterized by unbelief and opposition to Him. Jesus prays for His chosen ones because they are the Father's gift to Him, reflecting divine election and sovereign ownership. It highlights their unique identity and the Father's prior claim on their lives as the basis for Jesus' request for their protection and sanctification.

John 17 9 Context

John chapter 17 is known as Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer." It immediately precedes His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion. In this pivotal prayer, Jesus intercedes primarily for His disciples (John 17:6-19) and for future believers (John 17:20-26). Verse 9 forms the opening of Jesus' intercession specifically for the current disciples, whom He identifies as "those You have given me." The context emphasizes their spiritual preservation, unity, and sanctification in a hostile world. Jesus is preparing them for His physical departure, ensuring their spiritual protection as they continue His mission in the world from which they have been chosen. It underscores a fundamental distinction between the saved and the unsaved world from a divine perspective.

John 17 9 Word analysis

• I pray (erōtō - ἐρωτῶ):

  • This Greek term, erōtō, implies an intimate request, inquiry, or even entreaty between equals or those in close relationship.
  • It is distinct from aiteō (αἰτέω), which typically refers to a petition from a subordinate to a superior.
  • Jesus' use of erōtō emphasizes His unique equality and profound relationship with the Father, signifying an authoritative yet humble appeal based on their shared will.
  • Significance: Highlights the profound, unique communion between the Father and the Son, and the authority behind Jesus' intercession.

• for them (autōn - αὐτῶν):

  • Refers immediately to the eleven faithful disciples present with Jesus at that moment (Judas Iscariot had departed).
  • By extension, the phrase points to all true believers, those whom the Father "has given" to the Son throughout history (as broadened in John 17:20).
  • Significance: Jesus' intercession is not generic but specific to those in His spiritual fellowship, chosen by God.

• I am not praying (ouk erōtō - οὐκ ἐρωτῶ):

  • A direct and absolute negative statement, making a clear distinction.
  • It is not a statement of indifference to the world's salvation (John 3:16 demonstrates otherwise) but defines the specific scope and purpose of this particular high-priestly prayer for the sanctified body of believers.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the particularity of this prayer's object and its unique focus on His followers' immediate and future spiritual state.

• for the world (peri tou kosmou - περὶ τοῦ κόσμου):

  • The term kosmos (κόσμος) in John often refers to humanity in its fallen, unredeemed state, hostile and alienated from God, under the sway of evil.
  • It does not mean the physical creation or humanity indiscriminately.
  • This "world" rejected Jesus, hates His followers, and needs the light He offers but remains in darkness by choice.
  • Significance: Clarifies that this prayer's focus is on those who are in the world but not of it, for their distinct mission.

• but for those (alla peri toutōn - ἀλλὰ περὶ τούτων):

  • A strong adversative conjunction, "but," highlighting the sharp contrast with "the world."
  • It redirects the focus exclusively to the specified group, emphasizing their unique status and the Father's prior relationship with them.
  • Significance: Underlines the elective nature of the group for whom Jesus prays.

• you have given me (dedōkas moi - δέδωκας μοι):

  • Dedōkas is a perfect active indicative verb, emphasizing a completed past action by the Father with continuing results into the present.
  • This phrase repeatedly appears in John 17 (v. 2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 24), affirming the Father's sovereign initiative in entrusting specific individuals to the Son.
  • This "giving" implies not just transference but divine election and placement into relationship with Christ.
  • Significance: Root of salvation lies in God's sovereign choice and gift. It is the Father's prior work that grounds Jesus' intercession.

• for they are yours (hoti soi eisin - ὅτι σοί εἰσιν):

  • This clause provides the foundational reason and justification for Jesus' prayer for this specific group.
  • "Yours" (soi) highlights direct ownership and possession by the Father.
  • This indicates that believers belong fundamentally to God the Father before being given to the Son.
  • Significance: Reaffirms God's ultimate proprietorship and care over His chosen people, assuring Jesus' prayer is aligned with the Father's will and eternal purpose.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me...": This entire phrase sets up a stark binary contrast. It's not a global intercession for all humanity, but a concentrated high-priestly prayer for a specific, divinely chosen group. This selective prayer for a people belonging to the Father and given to the Son reveals the covenantal, elect nature of the church. Jesus focuses on preserving those who will carry forward His mission in the world, distinct from the world's pervasive unbelief.

• "...for they are yours.": This concluding clause establishes the ultimate theological bedrock for Jesus' intercession. The reason Jesus prays specifically for these individuals is rooted in their inherent belonging to the Father. This Divine ownership ensures the validity and certainty of Jesus' prayer, emphasizing that His request aligns perfectly with the Father's will and eternal purpose for His people. It highlights the security and identity of believers as the Father's cherished possession.

John 17 9 Bonus section

The High Priestly Prayer, beginning with John 17:9, reveals a pattern of divine ownership that precedes conversion; those given to Christ are inherently the Father's. This provides profound theological comfort and assurance for believers. It signifies that our inclusion in God's family is not solely based on our volatile human decision, but fundamentally on the stable and unchanging divine initiative. This specific intercession of Christ demonstrates the covenantal bond and profound love within the Trinity, as the Son faithfully cares for those the Father has sovereignly chosen and delivered to Him. Furthermore, it foreshadows Jesus' ongoing high priestly ministry in heaven, where He continuously intercedes for His own, ensuring their perseverance and ultimate glory (Heb 7:25).

John 17 9 Commentary

John 17:9 succinctly articulates the specialized focus of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer: a concentrated intercession for His elect disciples, those gifted to Him by the Father. This prayer distinguishes them from "the world," not as the created order or as humanity needing salvation (a broader theme in John, e.g., John 3:16), but as humanity characterized by its estrangement from God and rejection of Christ. Jesus’ decision "not" to pray for this "world" at this moment is strategic; His prayer is for the distinct community called out from it. His intercession underscores that His followers belong primarily to the Father and have been entrusted to the Son, forming the foundation for their preservation, sanctification, and ultimate unity (as expanded upon in the rest of the chapter). This verse assures believers of Christ's specific, personal, and powerful advocacy, stemming from their divine election and the intimate relationship within the Godhead. Practically, it affirms the security of the believer in God's sovereign hands and the unique, set-apart identity of the church.