John 15:22
What does John 15:22 mean?
A plain-English look at John 15:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 15:22 means
Jesus states that if He "had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin" in the same profound way. His coming and teaching revealed God's truth, exposing their sinfulness and rendering their previous ignorance inexcusable. Now, with the light of His truth, their rejection of Him constitutes a willful and accountable rebellion, removing any moral justification or excuse for their continued sin and unbelief.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.
KJV
King James Version · 1611If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If I had not come and been their teacher they would have had no sin: but now they have no reason to give for their sin.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862if I had not come and spoken to them, they were not having sin; but now pretext they have not for their sin.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Context
This verse addresses the world's heightened guilt for rejecting Jesus, building on the previous discussion of the world's ignorance of the Father. It transitions from explaining *why* the world hates them to explaining the *consequences* of that hatred, setting up the direct link between hating Jesus and hating the Father.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.
- 2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place.
- John 9:41
Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.
- Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
- John 19:11
Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin.
- Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:
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