John 15:20
What does John 15:20 mean?
A plain-English look at John 15:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 15:20 means
Jesus reminds His disciples of a previous teaching: "A servant is not greater than his lord." He applies this truth to their impending persecution: "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." Just as the world rejected and mistreated Him, it will do the same to them. He also notes, paradoxically, that if the world had accepted His word, it might accept theirs, highlighting their shared fate with Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Keep in mind the words I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they were cruel to me, they will be cruel to you; if they kept my words, they will keep yours.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; if me they did persecute, you also they will persecute; if my word they did keep, yours also they will keep;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Remember the word which I said unto you, The bondman is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep also yours.
Context
This verse reinforces the inevitability of persecution, directly following the explanation of the world's hatred in verse 19. It connects their future experience of suffering to Jesus' own, grounding their expectation of hostility in His prior example. This prepares for the revelation that this persecution is for Jesus' name's sake.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 8:59
They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
- John 11:57
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.
- John 7:32
The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.
- 2 Corinthians 4:9
pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;
- Acts 4:27
for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,
- John 8:51
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.
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