John 14 · Verse 17

John 14:17

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:17, King James Version

John 14:17 in other translations

BSBthe Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
WEBthe Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
ASVeven the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.
YLTthe Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it doth not behold him, nor know him, and ye know him, because he doth remain with you, and shall be in you.
DARBYthe Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him nor know him; but ye know him, for he abides with you, and shall be in you.
BBEEven the Spirit of true knowledge. That Spirit the world is not able to take to its heart because it sees him not and has no knowledge of him: but you have knowledge of him, because he is ever with you and will be in you.
WebsterEven the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and will be in you.

What does John 14:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 14:15-17

15-17. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, &c.--This connection seems designed to teach that the proper temple for the indwelling Spirit of Jesus is a heart filled with that love to Him which lives actively for Him, and so this was the fitting preparation for the promised gift. he shall give you another Comforter--a word used only by John; in his Gospel with reference to the Holy Spirit…

Read the full comment on John 14:15-17 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. The Spirit of truth. He is thus called here because he would teach them the truth, or would guide them into all truth, Jn 16:13. He would keep them from all error, and teach them the truth, which, either by writing or preaching, they were to communicate to others.

The world. The term world is often used to denote all who are entirely under the influence of the things of this world --pride, ambition, and pleasure; all who are not Christians, and especially all who are addicted to gross vices and pursuits, 1Cor 1:21, 11:32; Jn 12:31, 2Cor 4:4.

Cannot receive. Cannot admit as a teacher or comforter, or cannot receive in his offices of enlightening and purifying. The reason why they could not do this is immediately added.

Because it seeth him not. The men of the world are under the influence of the senses. They walk by sight, and not by faith. Hence what they cannot perceive by their senses, what does not gratify their sight, or taste, or feeling, makes no impression on them. As they cannot see the operations of the Spirit (Jn 3:8), they judge that all that is said of his influence is delusive, and hence they cannot receive him. They have an erroneous mode of judging of what is for the welfare of man.

Neither knoweth him. To know, in the Scriptures, often means more than the act of the mind in simply understanding a thing. It denotes every act or emotion of the mind that is requisite in receiving the proper impression of a truth. Hence it often includes the idea of approbation, of love, of cordial feeling, Ps 1:6; Ps 37:18, 138:6, Nah 1:7, 2Ti 2:19. In this place it means the approbation of the heart; and as the people of the world do not approve of or desire the aid of the Spirit, so it is said they cannot receive him. They have no love for him, and they reject him. Men often consider his work in the conversion of sinners and in revivals as delusion. They love the world so much that they cannot understand his work or embrace him.

He dwelleth in you. The Spirit dwells in Christians by his sacred influences. There is no personal union, no physical indwelling, for God is essentially present in one place as much as in another; but he works in us repentance, peace, joy, meekness, &c. He teaches us, guides us, and comforts us. Gal 5:22-24. Thus he is said to dwell in us when we are made pure, peaceable, holy, humble; when we become like him, and cherish his sacred influences. The word "dwelleth" means to remain with them. Jesus was to be taken away, but the Spirit would remain. It is also implied that they would know his presence, and have assurance that they were under his guidance. This was true of the apostles as inspired men, and it is true of all Christians that by ascertaining that they have the graces of the Spirits--joy, peace, long-suffering, &c.--they know that they are the children of God, 1Jn 3:24, 5:10.

(q) "and shall be in you" Rom 8:9, 1Jn 2:27

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 The Spirit of truth - The Spirit, or Holy Ghost, whose essential office is to manifest, vindicate, and apply the truth. The Gospel of Christ may be thus called, because it exposes falsity, removes error, and teaches the knowledge of the true God - shows the way to him, saves from vanity and illusive hopes, and establishes solid happiness in the souls of those who believe. The world cannot receive - By the world, St. John means those who are influenced only by the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life, 1Jn 2:16. Now these cannot receive the Spirit of the truth, because they see him not, have no spiritual discernment, attend to nothing but the dictates of their corrupt passions and affections, and will admit of no influence but what can be an object of their senses. Hence all the deign and irreligion in the world. God, in the operation of his hands, and in the influences of his Spirit, is found every where except in the perverted passions of men. In these alone do men of corrupt minds seek him; here only he is not to be found, and therefore they become infidels and atheists. But ye know him - Ye have already received a measure of the truth, and ye believe in this Spirit. Probably our Lord refers to the knowledge which they should afterwards attain: in this sense the passage has been understood by the Vulgate, Nonnus, and two copies of the Itala, which read, Ye Shall know him. For he dwelleth with you - Or, as the Ethiopic, Vulgate, Nonnus, and six copies of the Itala read, he shall dwell with you, (see above); and this, it is very evident, is the meaning of the evangelist, who not unfrequently uses the present for the future tense. It is certain the Holy Spirit was not yet given to the disciples so as to dwell in them; this St. John himself assures us, Joh 7:39. And it is evidently of that Spirit and its influences, which was not given till the day of pentecost, that our Lord here speaks.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 14:12-17

Whatever we ask in Christ's name, that shall be for our good, and suitable to our state, he shall give it to us. To ask in Christ's name, is to plead his merit and intercession, and to depend upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of Christ's mediation, bought by his merit, and received by his intercession. The word used here, signifies an advocate, counsellor, monitor, and comforter. He would abide with…

Read the full comment on John 14:12-17 →

John 14:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τὸtotheG3588
πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἀληθείας,alētheiasof truth,G225
ὃhowhomG3739
ὁhotheG3588
κόσμοςkosmosworldG2889
οὐounotG3756
δύναταιdunataiis ableG1410
λαβεῖν,labeinto receive,G2983
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
οὐounotG3756
θεωρεῖtheōreiit does seeG2334
αὐτὸautoHimG846
οὐδὲoudenorG3761
γινώσκειginōskeiknowG1097
ὑμεῖςhumeisBut you yourselvesG4771
γινώσκετεginōsketeknowG1097
αὐτό,autoHim,G846
ὅτιhotiforG3754
παρ᾽par᾽withG3844
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
μένειmeneiHe abidesG3306
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐνeninG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
ἔσται.estaiHe will be.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 14:17

  • Ezekiel 36:27

    And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

  • John 16:13

    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

  • 1 John 2:27

    But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

  • 1 John 4:6

    We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16

    Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

  • 2 Timothy 1:14

    That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19

    What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

  • Romans 8:13-14

    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

  • John 14:16

    And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

  • John 14:23

    Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Spirit.
15:26; 16:13; 1Jo 2:27; 4:6
whom.
Pr 14:10; 1Co 2:14; Re 2:17
but.
16,23; Isa 57:15; 59:21; Eze 36:27; Ro 8:9,11,13,14; 1Co 3:16; 6:19
2Co 6:16; Eph 2:22; 3:17; 2Ti 1:14; 1Jo 2:27; 3:24; 4:12,13
shall.
Mt 10:20; Ro 8:10; 1Co 14:15; 2Co 13:5; Ga 4:6; Col 1:27; 1Jo 4:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 14:16

    And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

  • John 14:17

    Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

  • John 14:18

    I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Read all of John 14

John 14:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Al Espíritu de verdad, al cual el mundo no puede recibir, porque no le ve, ni le conoce: mas vosotros le conocéis; porque está con vosotros, y será en vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		l’Esprit de vérité, que le monde ne peut pas recevoir, parce qu’il ne le voit pas et ne le connaît pas; mais vous, vous le connaissez, parce qu’il demeure avec vous, et qu’il sera en vous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		den Geist der Wahrheit, den die Welt nicht empfangen kann, weil sie ihn nicht sieht noch ihn kennt. Ihr aber kennet ihn, denn er bleibt bei euch und wird in euch sein.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Spiritum veritatis, quem mundus non potest accipere, quia non videt eum, nec scit eum: vos autem cognoscetis eum, quia apud vos manebit, et in vobis erit.