John 17:8

KJV

For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G3754} I have given {G1325} unto them {G846} the words {G4487} which {G3739} thou gavest {G1325} me {G3427}; and {G2532} they {G846} have received {G2983} them, and {G2532} have known {G1097} surely {G230} that {G3754} I came out {G1831} from {G3844} thee {G4675}, and {G2532} they have believed {G4100} that {G3754} thou {G4771} didst send {G649} me {G3165}.

Complete Jewish Bible

because the words you gave me I have given to them, and they have received them. They have really come to know that I came from you, and they have come to trust that you sent me.

Berean Standard Bible

For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

American Standard Version

for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In this profound segment of His High Priestly Prayer, Jesus affirms to the Father that He has faithfully transmitted the divine words entrusted to Him, and crucially, that His disciples have not only received these words but have also come to a firm and certain knowledge of His divine origin and mission. This verse highlights the successful communication of divine truth from the Father through the Son to the disciples, establishing the foundation of their genuine faith and setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent prayer for their protection and unity amidst the challenges they would soon face.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** John 17 forms the apex of Jesus' Farewell Discourse, transitioning from His final teachings to His disciples in [John 13-16](/john/13 "John 13-16 - Jesus' Farewell Discourse") to an intimate, intercessory prayer to the Father. This chapter is often called Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer" as He intercedes for Himself, His disciples, and future believers. Verse 8 specifically falls within Jesus' prayer for His immediate disciples (verses 6-19), where He recounts their faithfulness and His successful ministry among them. It serves as a foundational statement, validating the disciples' spiritual readiness and the effectiveness of Jesus' revelatory work before He prays for their sanctification, protection, and unity in the verses that follow. The flow of thought moves from the disciples' reception of truth to Jesus' petition for their perseverance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' prayer takes place in Jerusalem, likely in the upper room or en route to the Garden of Gethsemane, on the eve of His crucifixion. This was a time of intense Passover celebration, a period laden with messianic expectations among the Jewish people. The disciples, being devout Jews, would have been steeped in the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus' claims of divine origin ("I came out from thee") and divine commission ("thou didst send me") directly challenged and reinterpreted traditional Jewish understandings of God's interaction with humanity, presenting a unique and radical claim to deity and messianic authority. Their acceptance of these "words" (ῥήματα) was a profound step of faith, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to a personal conviction that identified Jesus as the promised One, sent by God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent in John's Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the **divine origin and authority of Jesus' words**, emphasizing that His teachings are not His own but are directly from the Father (a theme echoed in [John 12:49](/john/12-49 "John 12:49 - Jesus Speaks the Father's Words") and [John 14:10](/john/14-10 "John 14:10 - The Father in Jesus")). Secondly, it highlights the **disciples' genuine reception and belief**, portraying their faith as a deep, experiential knowledge and conviction, not just intellectual acknowledgment. This contrasts with those who heard but did not believe, as seen throughout John's narrative. Thirdly, it establishes the **foundational truth of Jesus' unique relationship with the Father**—His coming forth from God and being sent by God—as the bedrock of true saving faith. This dual emphasis on Jesus' divine nature and His divine mission is central to the Johannine understanding of salvation and discipleship, echoing the prologue of [John 1](/john/1 "John 1 - The Word Became Flesh").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **given (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** From G1325, this verb signifies to "give" in a very wide application, properly or by implication, literally or figuratively. In this context, it refers to Jesus' faithful transmission of the Father's message to His disciples. It implies a deliberate and authoritative impartation of divine truth, not merely a casual sharing of information. Jesus acted as the perfect conduit for God's revelation.
* **received (Greek, _lambánō'_):** From G2983, this word means to "take" or "get hold of," often implying an active, objective, or active grasping. Unlike simply hearing, "received" here denotes an intentional and internal appropriation of the words. The disciples didn't just passively listen; they actively took these truths into themselves, making them their own. This reception is foundational to their subsequent knowledge and belief.
* **known (Greek, _ginṓskō'_):** From G1097, this verb means to "know" in a deep, experiential, and often relational sense, rather than just intellectual understanding. Coupled with the adverb "surely" (G230, _alēthōs'_), meaning "truly" or "verily," it emphasizes a profound, undeniable certainty. The disciples' knowledge of Jesus' divine origin was not speculative but a settled conviction born of revelation and personal encounter, leading to firm belief.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me;":** Jesus asserts His role as the faithful mediator of divine revelation. He received "words" (ῥήματα, G4487), which signify not just individual utterances but the entire body of truth, teaching, and revelation from the Father. He, in turn, passed these on to His disciples without alteration or omission, demonstrating His perfect obedience and the divine authority inherent in His message.
* **"and they have received [them],":** This clause highlights the disciples' active and positive response to Jesus' teaching. Their "receiving" implies more than just hearing; it denotes an acceptance, an internalizing, and an embracing of the truths Jesus conveyed. This reception was a crucial step in their spiritual journey, demonstrating their openness to God's revelation.
* **"and have known surely that I came out from thee, ":** Building on their reception of the words, the disciples attained a deep, certain knowledge. The phrase "known surely" (ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς) indicates an experiential, undeniable understanding. They recognized Jesus' divine origin, that He proceeded from the very presence and being of the Father. This was not a mere intellectual conclusion but a spiritual conviction of His unique, pre-existent relationship with God.
* **"and they have believed that thou didst send me.":** This final clause articulates the culmination of their spiritual journey: faith in Jesus' divine commission. They not only knew His origin but also believed in His purpose—that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, sent by the Father to accomplish His redemptive plan. This belief in His divine sending (ἀποστέλλω, G649) is central to the saving faith described throughout John's Gospel.

#### Literary Devices
John 17:8 employs several significant literary devices. **Repetition** of the concept of "giving" and "receiving" emphasizes the divine chain of revelation: Father gives to Son, Son gives to disciples, disciples receive. This highlights the faithfulness of both Jesus and His followers. The phrase "known surely" acts as an **intensifier**, underscoring the depth and certainty of the disciples' understanding, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to a profound, experiential conviction. The verse also functions as a **summary statement**, encapsulating the success of Jesus' earthly ministry in terms of revealing the Father and cultivating genuine faith in His chosen ones. Furthermore, the entire prayer is a form of **intercession**, with this verse providing the theological basis for Jesus' subsequent petitions for His disciples.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 17:8 serves as a theological cornerstone, affirming the absolute truthfulness and divine authority of Jesus' message. It establishes a direct chain of revelation from God the Father, through Jesus the Son, to humanity. This highlights the indispensable role of Jesus as the sole revealer of the Father, emphasizing that true knowledge of God comes only through Him. The disciples' reception and belief underscore the necessity of a responsive heart to divine truth, demonstrating that faith is not merely intellectual agreement but a profound, experiential knowing and trusting in Jesus' divine origin and mission. This verse also implicitly teaches the unity of purpose between the Father and the Son, a foundational Trinitarian truth woven throughout John's Gospel.

* [John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God Except the Son")
* [John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")
* [1 John 5:20](/1_john/5-20 "1 John 5:20 - Knowing the True God Through Jesus Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 17:8 offers profound insights for our own spiritual journey. Just as Jesus faithfully delivered the Father's words to His disciples, so too has God's Word been preserved and given to us through Scripture. Our response should mirror that of the disciples: not merely hearing or reading, but actively "receiving" these words, allowing them to penetrate our hearts and minds. This active reception leads to a deeper, surer "knowledge" of who Jesus truly is—the One who came out from God and was sent by God. As we embrace this truth, our faith in His divine identity and mission will deepen, becoming the unshakable foundation of our lives. This verse calls us to a profound engagement with God's revelation, trusting in its divine origin and allowing it to transform our understanding and our walk with Christ. It reminds us that genuine faith is rooted in the acceptance of Jesus as the unique Son of God, the commissioned Messiah.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I actively "receive" the words of Jesus in my daily life, beyond just intellectual understanding?**
* **In what ways has my "knowledge" of Jesus' divine origin and mission deepened over time?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more profound and certain belief in who Jesus is and why He was sent?**
* **How does my understanding of Jesus' relationship with the Father impact my own relationship with God?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean that Jesus "came out from thee" and " thou didst send me"?**

Answer: These two phrases emphasize distinct yet complementary aspects of Jesus' divine nature and mission. "I came out from thee" (ἐξῆλθον παρὰ σοῦ) speaks to Jesus' pre-existence and divine origin. It signifies that He shares the very essence and being of the Father, having proceeded from Him eternally. This highlights His deity and unique relationship as the Son of God. "Thou didst send me" (σύ με ἀπέστειλας) refers to His divine commission and incarnation. It means the Father dispatched Jesus into the world with a specific purpose and authority—to reveal God, accomplish salvation, and establish His kingdom. This emphasizes His role as the Messiah, the Father's chosen messenger and agent of redemption. Together, they affirm both Jesus' inherent divinity and His obedient, purposeful mission as the Christ. This dual truth is foundational to understanding who Jesus is and what He accomplished, as seen throughout the Gospel of John, for instance, when Jesus declares, "[I and the Father are one](/john/10-30 "John 10:30 - Jesus and the Father Are One")" or when He speaks of "[doing the will of Him who sent me](/john/4-34 "John 4:34 - Doing the Will of the Father")."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 17:8, while spoken by Jesus about His disciples, profoundly points to Christ Himself as the ultimate fulfillment of divine revelation and the embodiment of obedient mission. Jesus is the "Word" (Logos) who "came out from God" in His very being and was "sent" by the Father to dwell among humanity, full of grace and truth (as articulated in [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He is the perfect revealer, the one through whom "no one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known" ([John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - The Son Reveals the Father")). The disciples' reception of His words and their belief in His divine origin and mission foreshadows the universal call to all humanity to receive and believe in Christ. Their faith, rooted in Jesus' identity as the One sent from God, becomes the pattern for all who would be saved. Ultimately, this verse underscores that Christ is the source of all true knowledge of God, the one who perfectly mediates the Father's truth, and the one whose divine sending culminates in the redemption offered to all who "believe in the name of the only Son of God" ([John 3:18](/john/3-18 "John 3:18 - Belief in the Son")).

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 17:14

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 15:15

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 16:30

Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

John 16:27

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

¶ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

John 8:42

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

1 John 4:14

¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.