John 14:17

[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Even the Spirit {G4151} of truth {G225}; whom {G3739} the world {G2889} cannot {G3756}{G1410} receive {G2983}, because {G3754} it seeth {G2334} him {G846} not {G3756}, neither {G3761} knoweth {G1097} him {G846}: but {G1161} ye {G5210} know {G1097} him {G846}; for {G3754} he dwelleth {G3306} with {G3844} you {G5213}, and {G2532} shall be {G2071} in {G1722} you {G5213}.

The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you.

the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.

Context

John 14:17 is part of Jesus' profound Farewell Discourse to His disciples, delivered shortly before His crucifixion. In this discourse (chapters 13-17), Jesus prepares His followers for His physical departure, promising them the continued presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This verse immediately follows His promise in John 14:16 to send another "Comforter" or "Helper," clearly identifying this divine helper as "the Spirit of truth."

Key Themes

  • The Identity of the Spirit: The Spirit of Truth: Jesus explicitly names the promised Comforter as "the Spirit of truth." This title highlights the Holy Spirit's primary role in revealing divine reality, guiding believers into all truth, and exposing error. He is the very essence of truth and the source of spiritual understanding.
  • The World's Inability to Receive: The verse starkly contrasts the disciples' ability to know the Spirit with the world's inability. The "world" here refers to humanity apart from God, those who are spiritually blind and resistant to God's revelation. They cannot "receive" the Spirit because they do not "see" or "know" Him. This speaks to a fundamental spiritual discernment that is absent in those who reject Christ and His teachings. The world's perception is limited to the physical and rational, preventing them from recognizing or accepting a spiritual reality like the Holy Spirit.
  • The Believer's Unique Indwelling Presence: In contrast to the world, Jesus tells His disciples, "but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." This signifies an intimate, personal, and transformative relationship. The Spirit was already "with" them during Jesus' earthly ministry, but the promise is that He would be "in" them after Pentecost, establishing a permanent, indwelling presence. This indwelling is the hallmark of the new covenant and empowers believers for life and ministry.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Spirit of truth" in Greek is Pneuma tēs alētheias (πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας). Pneuma means "spirit" or "breath," and alētheias means "truth." This emphasizes the Spirit's role in guiding believers into divine reality and distinguishing truth from falsehood. The word "knoweth" (Greek: ginōskō) implies an experiential, personal knowledge, not just intellectual acquaintance. It's a deep, relational understanding, highlighting the intimate bond between believers and the Holy Spirit.

Practical Application

John 14:17 offers immense comfort and profound implications for believers today:

  • Assurance of Presence: Believers are not left alone. The Holy Spirit indwells them, providing constant companionship, comfort, and guidance. This truth should fill us with confidence and peace, knowing God is always with us.
  • Spiritual Discernment: The Holy Spirit enables believers to understand spiritual truths that remain hidden from the world. He illuminates scripture, convicts of sin, and empowers us to live a life pleasing to God. This highlights the importance of relying on the Spirit for wisdom and discernment in a world often confused by spiritual matters. As 1 Corinthians 2:14 teaches, the natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit.
  • Call to Obedience and Relationship: Since the Spirit dwells within us, we are called to live in a way that honors His presence. This involves listening to His promptings, obeying His guidance, and cultivating a deeper relationship with Him through prayer and studying God's Word. The Spirit's indwelling is not passive but an active force transforming us into the likeness of Christ, as further elaborated in Romans 8:9.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 36:27

    And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

  • John 16:13

    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

  • 1 John 2:27

    But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16

    ¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

  • 1 John 4:6

    We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
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