John 17:6

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.

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}.

“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.

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.

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.

John 17:6 is a pivotal verse within Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, offered just hours before His arrest and crucifixion. In this deeply intimate conversation with God the Father, Jesus reflects on His earthly ministry and intercedes for His disciples and all future believers.

Context

This verse marks the beginning of Jesus' specific intercession for His immediate disciples, whom the Father had "given" to Him. The setting is the Upper Room, following the Last Supper, a moment charged with spiritual significance as Jesus prepares to complete His redemptive mission. He is reporting back to the Father on the success of His ministry among those entrusted to Him.

Key Themes

  • Manifesting God's Name: Jesus declares that He has made the Father's "name" known. This goes beyond merely revealing a title; it signifies a full revelation of God's true nature, character, power, and redemptive plan through Jesus' words, deeds, and very life. Jesus embodied and revealed God's very nature and character to His chosen ones.
  • Divine Ownership and Giving: The verse powerfully emphasizes God's sovereignty and the intimate relationship within the Trinity regarding salvation. The disciples belonged to the Father ("thine they were") before being entrusted to Jesus ("thou gavest them me"). Believers are a precious gift from the Father to the Son, highlighting a profound divine election and purpose, as Jesus also states that the Father gives Him authority over all flesh to give eternal life.
  • Obedience to God's Word: A key commendation for the disciples is that "they have kept thy word." This signifies their faithfulness, obedience, and acceptance of Jesus' teachings, which are inherently the Father's words. Their obedience is a testament to the effectiveness of Jesus' ministry in making God known and a condition for experiencing His love and presence.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "manifested thy name" (Greek: ephanerōsa sou to onoma) is significant. Ephanerōsa means "I have revealed," "made plain," or "brought to light." In ancient Jewish thought, a "name" (Hebrew: shem, Greek: onoma) often encapsulated the entire essence, character, and authority of a person. Thus, Jesus didn't just speak about God; He fully disclosed and demonstrated God's being. The disciples' act of "keeping thy word" (Greek: tetērēkasan sou ton logon) implies more than just memorization; it means to guard, preserve, obey, and live by God's truth.

Related Scriptures

  • The concept of believers being "given" to Jesus by the Father is a recurring theme in John's Gospel, reinforcing divine election. See also John 6:37.
  • Jesus later prays for these same disciples, emphasizing that they are chosen out of the world but remain in it to bear witness.
  • The importance of obedience to God's word is a consistent command throughout Jesus' ministry, leading to blessings and deeper relationship. Consider John 8:31.

Practical Application

For believers today, John 17:6 offers profound insights:

  • Knowing God Through Jesus: Our primary way to understand God the Father is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Studying Jesus' life, teachings, and redemptive work reveals the Father's love, justice, and mercy.
  • Divine Security and Assurance: This verse affirms that believers are chosen, given to Christ by the Father, and kept by Him. Our salvation is founded not on our fluctuating efforts but on God's sovereign choice and Christ's faithful work, providing immense comfort and security.
  • The Call to Obedience: Just as the first disciples were commended for keeping God's word, we are called to live in faithful obedience to biblical truth. Our commitment to obeying God's commands demonstrates our love for Him and allows us to further experience His presence and power in our lives.
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.

  • 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:

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