King James Version

What Does John 17:11 Mean?

John 17:11 in the King James Version says “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own n... — study this verse from John chapter 17 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:11 · KJV


Context

9

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10

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

11

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world—Jesus marks the temporal transition at His crucifixion's threshold. The Greek ouketi (οὐκέτι, 'no longer') emphasizes finality: His earthly ministry concludes in hours. Yet His disciples remain en tō kosmō (ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, 'in the world'), exposed to the hostile system He conquered but they must navigate.

Holy Father, keep through thine own name (Πάτερ ἅγιε τήρησον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου)—The only place Jesus addresses God as 'Holy Father' in Scripture. Tēreō (τηρέω) means 'guard, protect, preserve'—the same word used for keeping commandments. Jesus petitions divine custody in the name, meaning by the Father's revealed character and authority. That they may be one, as we are (ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν καθὼς ἡμεῖς)—Unity modeled on Trinitarian union, not organizational merger but relational harmony rooted in shared divine life. This is covenant security: believers kept by God's name, not their performance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prayer (John 17) occurred in the upper room or en route to Gethsemane on Thursday evening, Nisan 14, AD 30. Jesus prayed audibly so disciples would remember His intercession after His departure. The petition for unity anticipates the church's birth at Pentecost (Acts 2) and addresses divisions already emerging in apostolic circles (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). First-century believers faced expulsion from synagogues (John 16:2) and needed assurance of divine preservation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jesus's prayer 'Holy Father, keep through thine own name' assure you of security when facing hostile spiritual opposition?
  2. What does unity 'as we are' (Trinitarian oneness) look like practically in your church, and how does it differ from mere organizational conformity?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 34 words
καὶ1 of 34

And

G2532

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

οὐκ2 of 34
G3756

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

ἔτι3 of 34

no more

G2089

"yet," still (of time or degree)

εἰμὶ4 of 34

I am

G1510

i exist (used only when emphatic)

ἐν5 of 34

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ6 of 34
G3588

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

κόσμῳ7 of 34

the world

G2889

orderly arrangement, i.e., decoration; by implication, the world (including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally))

καὶ8 of 34

And

G2532

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

οὗτοι9 of 34

these

G3778

the he (she or it), i.e., this or that (often with article repeated)

ἐν10 of 34

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ11 of 34
G3588

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

κόσμῳ12 of 34

the world

G2889

orderly arrangement, i.e., decoration; by implication, the world (including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally))

εἰσίν13 of 34

are

G1526

they are

καὶ14 of 34

And

G2532

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

ἐγὼ15 of 34

I

G1473

i, me

πρὸς16 of 34

to

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

σὲ17 of 34

thee

G4571

thee

ἔρχομαι18 of 34

come

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

Πάτερ19 of 34

Father

G3962

a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)

ἅγιε20 of 34

Holy

G40

sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)

τήρησον21 of 34

keep

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

αὐτοὺς22 of 34

those

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

ἐν23 of 34

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῷ24 of 34
G3588

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

ὀνόματί25 of 34

name

G3686

a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)

σου26 of 34

thine own

G4675

of thee, thy

οὕς27 of 34

whom

G3739

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

δέδωκάς28 of 34

thou hast given

G1325

to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)

μοι29 of 34

me

G3427

to me

ἵνα30 of 34

that

G2443

in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)

ὦσιν31 of 34

they may be

G5600

(may, might, can, could, would, should, must, etc.; also with g1487 and its comparative, as well as with other particles) be

ἓν32 of 34

one

G1520

one

καθὼς33 of 34

as

G2531

just (or inasmuch) as, that

ἡμεῖς34 of 34

we

G2249

we (only used when emphatic)


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 17:11 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 17:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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