King James Version

What Does John 15:20 Mean?

John 15:20 in the King James Version says “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will ...” — study this verse from John chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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.”

John 15:20 · KJV

Context

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.

22

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. cloke: or, excuse

Read John 15 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord—Jesus recalls His earlier teaching (John 13:16, Matthew 10:24) using doulos (slave/servant) and kyrios (lord/master). The principle establishes hierarchy and shared experience: slaves cannot expect treatment superior to their master. This isn't abstract theology but practical preparation for persecution.

If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you (εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν/ei eme ediōxan, kai hymas diōxousin)—the conditional assumes reality: they DID persecute Jesus (throughout His ministry—attempts to stone Him, drive Him from towns, now culminating in crucifixion), therefore they WILL persecute disciples. The verb diōkō means to pursue, chase, harass, drive away—systematic hostility, not mere disagreement.

If they have kept my saying, they will keep your's also (εἰ τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν, καὶ τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν/ei ton logon mou etērēsan, kai ton hymeteron tērēsousin)—the verb tēreō means to guard, observe, keep. Jesus acknowledges that those who received His teaching will receive the apostles' teaching. This promise encouraged first-century missionaries: genuine seekers who believed Christ would believe apostolic testimony.

The verse balances realism and hope: expect persecution like your Master suffered, but also expect receptivity where Christ was received. The same message that divides will also save.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jesus spoke this hours before His arrest. The disciples needed preparation for imminent trauma—their Master's crucifixion—and subsequent opposition. Within weeks, they faced the Sanhedrin's threats (Acts 4:1-22, 5:17-42). Within years, systematic persecution scattered the church (Acts 8:1-4) and martyred leaders like Stephen and James.

The principle "servant not greater than lord" appears across Jesus' teaching because disciples struggled with ambition and status-seeking (Matthew 18:1-4, 20:20-28, Luke 22:24-27). Here it reframes suffering: persecution isn't divine abandonment but shared experience with Christ. Paul later develops this: "that I may know him, and the fellowship of his sufferings" (Philippians 3:10).

The balanced prediction (some persecute, some receive) proved true throughout church history. Same apostolic preaching produced both martyrdom and mass conversions. Same Reformation gospel sparked both Inquisition burnings and Continental awakenings.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does viewing persecution as sharing Christ's experience rather than divine punishment transform your response to suffering?
  2. What forms does "persecution" take in contemporary Western contexts versus openly hostile cultures?
  3. How can the promise that some "will keep your saying" encourage faithful witness in the face of opposition?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 29 words
μνημονεύετε1 of 29

“Remember”

G3421

to exercise memory, i.e., recollect; by implication, to punish; also to rehearse

τοῦ2 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

λόγον3 of 29

“saying”

G3056

something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a

οὗ4 of 29

“that”

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

ἐγὼ5 of 29

“I”

G1473

i, me

εἶπον6 of 29

“said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

ὑμῖν7 of 29

“unto you”

G5213

to (with or by) you

Οὐκ8 of 29

“not”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἔστιν9 of 29

“is”

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

δοῦλος10 of 29

“The servant”

G1401

a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)

μείζων11 of 29

“greater than”

G3187

larger (literally or figuratively, specially, in age)

τοῦ12 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

κυρίου13 of 29

“lord”

G2962

supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)

αὐτοῦ14 of 29
G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

εἰ15 of 29

“If”

G1487

if, whether, that, etc

ἐμὲ16 of 29

“me”

G1691

me

διώξουσιν·17 of 29

“persecute”

G1377

compare the base of g1169 and g1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute

καὶ18 of 29

“also”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ὑμᾶς19 of 29

“you”

G5209

you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)

διώξουσιν·20 of 29

“persecute”

G1377

compare the base of g1169 and g1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute

εἰ21 of 29

“If”

G1487

if, whether, that, etc

τὸν22 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

λόγον23 of 29

“saying”

G3056

something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a

μου24 of 29

“my”

G3450

of me

τηρήσουσιν25 of 29

“they have kept”

G5083

to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from g5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from g2892

καὶ26 of 29

“also”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τὸν27 of 29
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὑμέτερον28 of 29

“yours”

G5212

yours, i.e., pertaining to you

τηρήσουσιν29 of 29

“they have kept”

G5083

to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from g5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from g2892

Study Guide

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 15:20 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 15:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Timothy 3:12John 13:16Matthew 10:24Ezekiel 3:71 Corinthians 4:122 Corinthians 4:9

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