John 15:19
What does John 15:19 mean?
A plain-English look at John 15:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 15:19 means
Jesus explains the reason for the world's hatred: "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." The world values those who conform to its values and systems. However, because believers have been chosen by Christ and set apart from the world's ways, they are fundamentally different, leading to the world's alienation and hostility towards them.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
KJV
King James Version · 1611If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If you were of the world, you would be loved by the world: but because you are not of the world, but I have taken you out of the world, you are hated by the world.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862if of the world ye were, the world its own would have been loving, and because of the world ye are not--but I chose out of the world--because of this the world hateth you.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on account of this the world hates you.
Context
Building on the warning in verse 18, this verse provides the theological reason for the world's hatred. It clarifies the fundamental distinction between believers and the world, linking their chosen status directly to the antagonism they will experience. This explanation prepares them for the severity of the persecution described next.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 3:12
not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- John 17:14
I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
- 1 Peter 4:3
For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:
- Revelation 12:17
And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:
- John 15:16
Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
- 1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
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