John 17:6

KJV

¶ I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

KJV (with Strong's)

I have manifested {G5319} thy {G4675} name {G3686} unto the men {G444} which {G3739} thou gavest {G1325} me {G3427} out of {G1537} the world {G2889}: thine {G4674} they were {G2258}, and {G2532} thou gavest {G1325} them {G846} me {G1698}; and {G2532} they have kept {G5083} thy {G4675} word {G3056}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“I made your name known to the people you gave me out of the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

Berean Standard Bible

I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

American Standard Version

I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, Jesus reports to the Father on the success of His earthly ministry among His disciples. He declares that He has fully revealed God's character and nature to these chosen men, who were originally the Father's own and were then entrusted to Him. Furthermore, Jesus commends them for their faithfulness in receiving and obeying God's word, highlighting the divine initiative in salvation and the disciples' responsive obedience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse initiates the first major section of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer (John 17:1-26), specifically His intercession for His immediate disciples (John 17:6-19). Preceding this prayer, Jesus has delivered His Farewell Discourse to His disciples (John 13-16), preparing them for His departure, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the challenges they will face. The prayer serves as a profound theological summary of Jesus' mission and His relationship with the Father and His followers, transitioning from teaching to direct intercession. It underscores the intimacy of the Trinitarian relationship and the secure position of those whom the Father has given to the Son.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for this prayer is likely the Upper Room or en route to the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. This was a time of immense tension and spiritual significance. In ancient Jewish thought, a "name" was far more than a mere label; it encapsulated the essence, character, and authority of the person. To "manifest" or "make known" God's name was to reveal His very being, His attributes, and His redemptive plan. The concept of God "giving" people to His chosen servant or prophet was also rooted in Old Testament covenantal language, signifying divine election and a special relationship.
* **Key Themes:** John 17:6 contributes significantly to several major themes within John's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. It powerfully emphasizes the **sovereignty of God** in salvation, particularly the theme of divine election, where believers are seen as a gift from the Father to the Son, as further elaborated in [John 6:37](/john/6-37 "John 6:37 - All the Father gives will come to Jesus"). The verse also highlights **Jesus' role as the ultimate revealer of the Father**, demonstrating that true knowledge of God comes through Christ's words, deeds, and very person, echoing Jesus' declaration in [John 14:9](/john/14-9 "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father"). Finally, it underscores the **importance of obedience and faithfulness to God's word** as a mark of true discipleship, a theme consistently presented by Jesus throughout His ministry, such as in [John 8:31](/john/8-31 "Remaining in Jesus' word").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **manifested (Greek, _phaneróō'_):** This verb means "to render apparent," "to make plain," or "to bring to light." In the context of Jesus manifesting God's name, it implies not merely speaking about God, but fully disclosing and demonstrating God's essential nature, character, and will through His entire life, teachings, miracles, and redemptive work. Jesus made the invisible God visible and comprehensible to humanity.
* **gavest (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** This primary verb means "to give" and is used here to describe the Father's sovereign act of entrusting certain individuals to Jesus. It signifies a divine transfer, emphasizing that these men were chosen by the Father and then specifically given to the Son for a redemptive purpose. This highlights the Father's initiative and authority in the process of salvation.
* **word (Greek, _lógos'_):** While often referring to spoken words or teachings, in John's Gospel, "word" (with the article) frequently carries profound theological weight, referring to the Divine Expression, which is Christ Himself. Here, "thy word" encompasses God's revealed truth, Jesus' teachings, and the very person of Jesus as the embodiment of God's revelation. To "keep" this word means to guard, preserve, obey, and live in accordance with it, indicating a deep acceptance and faithfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world:"** Jesus declares the fulfillment of His mission to reveal the Father. "Manifested thy name" signifies a complete disclosure of God's character, attributes, and redemptive plan, not just a title. The recipients of this revelation are specific "men," identified as those whom the Father sovereignly "gave" to Jesus, indicating a divine election. The phrase "out of the world" emphasizes their distinctness from the prevailing values and systems of the fallen world, marking them as chosen and set apart.
* **"thine they were, and thou gavest them me;"** This clause reiterates and amplifies the concept of divine ownership and transfer. It establishes that these men belonged to the Father first ("thine they were") before being entrusted to Jesus. This double emphasis on "giving" highlights the Father's sovereign initiative and the intimate, purposeful relationship within the Trinity regarding the salvation and discipleship of these individuals. It underscores that believers are a precious gift from the Father to the Son.
* **"and they have kept thy word."** This serves as Jesus' commendation of His disciples. Their "keeping" of God's word implies more than mere intellectual assent or memorization; it signifies active obedience, faithfulness, and a steadfast adherence to the truth revealed through Jesus. Their response validates the effectiveness of Jesus' ministry in manifesting the Father's name and demonstrates their genuine discipleship.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** is prominent with the verb "gavest" (Greek: _dídōmi_), appearing twice in quick succession ("thou gavest me... and thou gavest them me"). This repetition powerfully emphasizes the Father's sovereign act of entrusting believers to Jesus, underscoring the divine initiative and the secure, purposeful nature of this relationship. **Metonymy** is evident in the phrase "thy name," where "name" stands for the entire character, essence, and authority of God. Jesus did not just reveal a word or a title, but the very being of the Father. Furthermore, the contrast between "the men... out of the world" and the "world" itself functions as **symbolism**, where "the world" represents the fallen, unredeemed human system opposed to God, while "the men" symbolize those chosen and set apart by divine grace.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 17:6 profoundly articulates the Trinitarian nature of salvation, where the Father initiates, the Son reveals and receives, and the Holy Spirit empowers the keeping of the Word (though not explicitly mentioned here, implied by the disciples' ability to keep the word). It establishes the divine origin of true discipleship, emphasizing that believers are not self-made but are divinely chosen and gifted to Christ. This provides immense assurance, as our standing is rooted in God's sovereign plan and Christ's faithful execution of that plan, rather than solely on human merit or effort. The disciples' keeping of God's word is presented as the fruit of Jesus' revelatory work, highlighting the necessary human response of faith and obedience to divine truth.

* [John 6:37](/john/6-37 "John 6:37 - All the Father gives to Jesus will come to Him")
* [John 10:29](/john/10-29 "John 10:29 - No one can snatch them out of the Father's hand")
* [John 14:23](/john/14-23 "John 14:23 - Those who keep Jesus' word will be loved by the Father")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 17:6 offers profound comfort and a clear call to discipleship for believers today. The truth that we are "given" to Christ by the Father provides an unshakable foundation for our faith, assuring us of God's sovereign love and our secure position in Him. This divine initiative means our salvation is not precarious but grounded in an eternal, Trinitarian purpose. It should cultivate deep humility and gratitude, recognizing that our faith is a gift. Furthermore, the commendation of the disciples for "keeping thy word" serves as a timeless standard for our own lives. It challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to active, obedient engagement with God's revealed truth. To "keep" His word means to guard it in our hearts, allow it to transform our minds, and live it out in our daily actions, demonstrating our love for God and our genuine commitment to Christ. This active obedience is not a burden but a pathway to deeper intimacy with God and a more profound experience of His presence and power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the truth that you were "given" to Christ by the Father impact your sense of security and identity as a believer?**
* **In what practical ways can you "keep" God's word more faithfully in your daily life, moving beyond simply hearing or reading it?**
* **How does Jesus' manifestation of the Father's "name" influence your understanding of God's character and your relationship with Him?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean that Jesus "manifested thy name" to the disciples?**

Answer: To "manifest God's name" means that Jesus fully revealed and made known the Father's true character, nature, and attributes. In ancient Jewish thought, a "name" represented the entire essence and authority of a person. Therefore, Jesus didn't just speak about God; He embodied God's truth, love, justice, and redemptive plan through His words, miracles, and His very life. Through Jesus, the disciples (and by extension, all who believe) gained an intimate and accurate understanding of who God the Father truly is, demonstrating that "whoever has seen me has seen the Father" as Jesus states in [John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Jesus reveals the Father").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 17:6 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus' unique role as the perfect and complete revelation of God the Father. He is the "name" made manifest, the very "Word" (Greek: _Logos_) who was with God and was God, and through whom all things were made, as proclaimed in [John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word was God"). Jesus is the Son who perfectly knows the Father and reveals Him to humanity, fulfilling the Old Testament longing for a deeper knowledge of God's character beyond mere laws or rituals. His incarnation, life, teachings, atoning death, and resurrection are the definitive manifestation of God's love, holiness, and redemptive power. The "men" given to Him by the Father represent the elect, those whom God sovereignly draws to Christ (as seen in [John 6:44](/john/6-44 "John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the Father draws him")), and who, in turn, respond by "keeping His word." This "word" is ultimately Christ Himself, the living Word of God, whom they receive, believe in, and obey, thereby entering into eternal life and a relationship with the Father through the Son, as promised in [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God so loved the world").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 17:26

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare [it]: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 17:24

¶ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

John 14:21

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 14:24

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: