John 17:7

KJV

Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G3568} they have known {G1097} that {G3754} all things {G3956} whatsoever {G3745} thou hast given {G1325} me {G3427} are {G2076} of {G3844} thee {G4675}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now they know that everything you have given me is from you,

Berean Standard Bible

Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You.

American Standard Version

Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 17:7, nestled within Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, marks a profound moment of recognition by the disciples. It reveals their experiential understanding that every aspect of Jesus' being, teaching, and miraculous power—indeed, "all things whatsoever" He possessed and demonstrated—originated directly from God the Father. This verse underscores the divine authority and perfect unity between the Father and the Son, affirming the truthfulness and heavenly source of Jesus' entire ministry in the eyes of His closest followers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal statement within Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, recorded in its entirety in [John 17](/john/17 "Jesus' High Priestly Prayer"). It immediately follows Jesus' declaration that He has glorified the Father on earth by accomplishing the work given to Him ([John 17:4](/john/17-4 "Jesus' Glorification of the Father")) and His affirmation that He has revealed the Father's name to the disciples, whom the Father "gave" Him out of the world ([John 17:6](/john/17-6 "The Father's Gift of Disciples to Jesus")). Verse 7, therefore, represents a crucial culmination: the disciples' understanding of Jesus' divine origin is presented as evidence of His successful revelation of the Father and the completion of His earthly mission among them. It transitions the prayer from Jesus' self-reflection and glorification to His intercession for His disciples, establishing the foundation of their faith.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' prayer takes place in the immediate aftermath of the Last Supper, on the eve of His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion. This setting imbues the prayer with immense solemnity and urgency. The concept of "knowing" (Greek: *ginōskō*) in Jewish thought, particularly as used by John, often implies a deep, personal, and relational understanding, not merely intellectual assent. It's a knowledge gained through intimate experience and communion. The disciples, having spent three years walking, learning, and witnessing miracles with Jesus, had developed this profound, experiential knowledge. Their recognition that Jesus' authority and power derived entirely "from thee" (the Father) would have been a radical affirmation of His unique identity, especially in a culture deeply rooted in monotheism and wary of any claims to divine equality.
* **Key Themes:** John 17:7 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in John's Gospel. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Jesus' Divine Origin and Authority**, asserting that His entire being and ministry are not self-derived but perfectly sourced in the Father. This aligns with Jesus' consistent claims throughout the Gospel, such as His statement that [He does nothing of His own accord](/john/8-28 "Jesus' Dependence on the Father"). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Revelation**, specifically that Jesus is the ultimate and perfect revelation of the Father. All that the Father "gave" to Jesus—His words, His power, His very nature—was perfectly transmitted through Him, enabling humanity to truly know God through the Son, as seen in [John 14:9](/john/14-9 "Jesus as the Revelation of the Father"). Lastly, it speaks to the theme of **Discipleship and Experiential Knowledge**, emphasizing that true faith involves a profound, personal understanding of who Jesus is and where His authority comes from, a knowledge that is foundational for the disciples' future mission.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **known (Greek, _ginōskō'_):** This word (G1097) signifies a deep, personal, and experiential knowledge, rather than mere intellectual apprehension or factual information. It implies an understanding gained through intimate relationship, observation, and participation. For the disciples, this "knowing" was the culmination of three years spent walking with Jesus, witnessing His miracles, hearing His teachings, and experiencing His divine presence. It was a profound, relational recognition of His true identity and origin.
* **given (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** This verb (G1325) denotes a deliberate bestowal or grant. In this context, it refers to the Father's active role in entrusting Jesus with His entire mission, authority, words, and even the disciples themselves. It underscores the Father's initiative and sovereign purpose in Christ's ministry, emphasizing that Jesus' power and message were not self-generated but divinely commissioned and empowered.
* **of (Greek, _pará'_):** This preposition (G3844) indicates origin, source, or proximity. When used with the genitive case ("of thee"), it powerfully conveys that the "all things" Jesus received originate directly "from beside" or "from the presence of" the Father. It highlights the intimate communion and shared essence between the Father and the Son, affirming that Jesus' divine nature and authority are inherently derived from the Father Himself.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now they have known":** This phrase indicates a completed action with ongoing results, signifying a settled and certain understanding on the part of the disciples. The "now" (G3568, _nŷn_) emphasizes that this is a current, realized truth, a climax in their spiritual perception. Their knowledge is not fleeting but a firm conviction.
* **"that all things whatsoever thou hast given me":** This refers comprehensively to everything that defines Jesus' earthly ministry and being. It includes His divine nature, His words, His teachings, His miracles, His authority, His mission, and even the disciples themselves as a gift from the Father. The "whatsoever" (G3745, _hósos_) emphasizes the unlimited scope of this divine bestowal.
* **"are of thee":** This climactic declaration affirms the ultimate source and divine origin of all that Jesus is and does. It asserts His perfect unity and dependence on the Father, underscoring that His power, truth, and very essence are not self-derived but flow directly from the Father's own being. This statement is a profound theological affirmation of Jesus' divine sonship and His perfect alignment with the Father's will and nature.

#### Literary Devices
John 17:7 employs several powerful literary devices. It functions as a **Theological Declaration**, presenting a fundamental truth about the relationship between Jesus and the Father, and the disciples' understanding of it. The phrase "Now they have known" acts as a **Climax** in the narrative of the disciples' spiritual journey, indicating a moment of profound realization and maturity in their faith. The comprehensive nature of "all things whatsoever thou hast given me" followed by "are of thee" uses **Assertion** to firmly establish the divine origin of Jesus' entire ministry, leaving no room for doubt regarding His authority and truthfulness. This structure underscores the perfect **Unity** between Father and Son, a recurring theme in John's Gospel, where Jesus consistently points to the Father as the source of His being and mission.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 17:7 serves as a theological cornerstone, affirming the profound unity and shared essence between God the Father and God the Son. It articulates the fundamental truth that Jesus' entire being, authority, and mission are not self-generated but are perfectly and completely derived from the Father. This verse underscores the concept of divine revelation, where Jesus is the perfect medium through whom humanity can truly know God. The disciples' "knowing" signifies that they have grasped this essential truth, which is foundational to their faith and their future mission as apostles. This experiential knowledge of Jesus' divine origin is the bedrock upon which their understanding of salvation and the nature of God is built.

* [John 14:10](/john/14-10 "Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Him")
* [John 8:28](/john/8-28 "Jesus does nothing of Himself")
* [Matthew 11:27](/matthew/11-27 "All things delivered to Jesus by the Father")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 17:7 invites believers today to cultivate the same deep, experiential knowledge of Jesus that His first disciples attained. If "all things whatsoever" Jesus possessed and taught came directly from the Father, then His words are absolute truth, His commands are divine directives, and His promises are utterly reliable. This verse calls us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to a profound, relational understanding of Christ's divine authority and origin. It assures us that when we trust in Jesus, we are trusting in God Himself, for Jesus perfectly represents and reveals the Father. Our faith is not built on human wisdom or fleeting emotions, but on the unshakeable foundation of divine truth. This understanding should deepen our worship, strengthen our obedience, and fuel our confidence in every aspect of our Christian walk, knowing that the One we follow is truly "of God."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding that "all things whatsoever" Jesus has are "of the Father" deepen your trust in His words and teachings?**
* **In what ways can you move from merely intellectual knowledge of Jesus to a more profound, experiential "knowing" of Him in your daily life?**
* **How does the divine origin of Jesus' ministry, as affirmed in this verse, impact your view of His authority in your life and in the world?**

### FAQ
**What does "Now they have known" truly imply about the disciples' understanding?**

Answer: The phrase "Now they have known" (using the Greek word *ginōskō*) implies a deep, personal, and experiential understanding, not merely intellectual assent or factual information. It signifies that through their time with Jesus—witnessing His miracles, hearing His teachings, and observing His life—the disciples had come to a profound, settled conviction that everything about Jesus, His power, His words, and His very being, originated directly from God the Father. It's a relational knowledge gained through intimacy and lived experience, indicating a significant spiritual maturation on their part.

**What are the "all things whatsoever" that the Father gave to Jesus?**

Answer: The "all things whatsoever" refers to the totality of Jesus' divine essence, authority, mission, and message. This includes His words and teachings, which are not His own but the Father's ([John 12:49](/john/12-49 "Jesus speaks the Father's words")); the power to perform miracles ([John 5:19](/john/5-19 "The Son does what the Father does")); the authority to judge ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "The Father has given all judgment to the Son")); the very life He possesses ([John 5:26](/john/5-26 "The Son has life in Himself, as the Father has")); and even the disciples themselves, whom the Father "gave" to Him ([John 17:6](/john/17-6 "The Father's Gift of Disciples to Jesus")). In essence, it encompasses everything that defines Jesus' unique relationship with the Father and His redemptive work on earth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 17:7, though spoken by Jesus before His crucifixion, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the post-resurrection reality and the ongoing ministry of the ascended Christ. The disciples' "knowing" that all Jesus received was "of the Father" becomes the foundational truth for the entire New Testament witness. Jesus is not merely a prophet or a teacher, but the perfect and complete revelation of God, the One through whom the Father's will, character, and redemptive plan are fully disclosed. His resurrection and ascension definitively proved that His claims, His authority, and His very being were indeed "of God," validating every word He spoke and every miracle He performed. As the [image of the invisible God](/colossians/1-15 "Christ, the Image of the Invisible God"), Jesus perfectly embodies and reveals the Father, making God known in a way no one else could ([John 1:18](/john/1-18 "The Only God Has Made Him Known")). His atoning sacrifice and victorious resurrection, empowered by the Father, confirm that He is the divinely appointed Savior and Lord, the One to whom [all authority in heaven and on earth has been given](/matthew/28-18 "The Great Commission and Christ's Authority"). Thus, John 17:7 points to the glorious truth that in Christ, we encounter God Himself, fully revealed and perfectly accomplishing His redemptive purposes.

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 7:16

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

John 7:17

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

John 16:15

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

John 10:29

My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

John 10:30

I and [my] Father are one.

John 17:10

And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

John 8:28

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.