King James Version
What Does John 15:19 Mean?
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
Context
17
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Topics in This Verse
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(19) **If ye were of the world, the world would love his own.**—The force of the expression indicates the utter selfishness of the world’s love. It would love not them, but that in them which was its own. (Comp. Note on John 7:7.)
**I have chosen you out of the world.**—Comp. John 15:16, and Note on John 7:7. There He had told them that the world could not hate them. The very fact of its hatred would prove a moral change in them, by which they had ceased to belong to the world, and had become the children of God. Both thoughts are repeated in 1John 3:13; 1John 4:5.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of John. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
John 15:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to John 15:19
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge