John 15 · Verse 11

John 15:11

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:11, King James Version

John 15:11 in other translations

BSBI have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
WEBI have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
ASVThese things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
YLTthese things I have spoken to you, that my joy in you may remain, and your joy may be full.
DARBYI have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and your joy be full.
BBEI have said these things to you so that I may have joy in you and so that your joy may be complete.
WebsterThese things have I spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

What does John 15:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 15:9-11

9-11. continue ye in my love--not, "Continue to love Me," but, "Continue in the possession and enjoyment of My love to you"; as is evident from the next words.

Read the full comment on John 15:9-11 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. These things. The discourse in this and the previous chapter. This discourse was designed to comfort them by the promise of the Holy Spirit and of eternal life, and to direct them in the discharge of their duty.

My joy. This expression probably denotes the happiness which Jesus had, and would continue to have, by their obedience, love, and fidelity. Their obedience was to him a source of joy. It was that which he sought and for which he had laboured. He now clearly taught them the path of duty, and encouraged them to persevere, notwithstanding he was about to leave them. If they obeyed him, it would continue to him to be a source of joy. Christ rejoices in the obedience of all his friends; and, though his happiness is not dependent on them, yet their fidelity is an object which he desires and in which he finds delight. The same sentiment is expressed in Jn 17:13.

Your joy might be full. That you might be delivered from your despondency and grief at my departure; that you might see the reason why I leave you, be comforted by the Holy Spirit, and be sustained in the arduous trials of your ministry. See 1Jn 1:4, 2Jn 1:12. This promise of the Saviour was abundantly fulfilled. The apostles with great frequency speak of the fulness of their joy--joy produced in just the manner promised by the Saviour-- by the presence of the Holy Spirit. And it showed his great love, that he promised such joy; his infinite knowledge, that, in the midst of their many trials and persecutions, he knew that they would possess it; and the glorious power and loveliness of his gospel, that it could impart such joy amid so many tribulations. See instances of this joy in Acts 13:52; Rev 14:17, 2Cor 2:3, Gal 5:22, 1Thes 1:6, 2:19, 20, 3:9, 1Pet 1:8, Rom 5:11 2Cor 7:4.

(l) "that your joy" Jn 16:24, 17:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 That my joy may remain in you - That the joy which I now feel, on account of your steady, affectionate attachment to me, may be lasting, I give you both warnings and directions, that ye may abide in the faith. That your joy might be full - Or, complete - πληρωθη, filled up: a metaphor taken from a vessel, into which water or any other thing is poured, till it is full to the brim. The religion of Christ expels all misery from the hearts of those who receive it in its fullness. It was to drive wretchedness out of the world that Jesus came into it. Bishop Pearce, by joining εν εμοι to χαρα, and not to μεινῃ, translates the verse thus: These things have I spoken, that my joy in you may remain - which is according to the meaning given to the first clause.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 15:9-17

Those whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy. All that love the Saviour should continue in their love to him, and take all occasions to show it. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, but the joy of those who abide in Christ's love is a continual feast. They are to show their love to him…

Read the full comment on John 15:9-17 →

John 15:11 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.

ΤαῦταTautaThese thingsG3778
λελάληκαlelalēkaI have spokenG2980
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ἵναinathatG2443
ἡhē<the>G3588
χαρὰcharajoyG5479
ἡhē<the>G3588
ἐμὴemēof MineG1473
ἐνeninG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
ᾖēmay beG1510
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡhētheG3588
χαρὰcharajoyG5479
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
πληρωθῇ.plērōthēamay be full.G4137

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

Cross references for John 15:11

  • Romans 15:13

    Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

  • John 17:13

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

  • John 16:24

    Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

  • 1 Peter 1:8

    Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

  • 1 John 1:4

    And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

  • John 16:33

    These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

  • 2 John 1:12

    Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16

    Rejoice evermore.

  • Luke 15:32

    It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:24

    Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

  • Luke 15:9

    And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

  • Ephesians 5:18

    And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
my.
Isa 53:11; 62:4; Jer 32:41; 33:9; Zep 3:17; Lu 15:5,9,23,32; 1Jo 1:4
your.
16:24,33; 17:13; Ro 15:13; 2Co 1:24; Eph 5:18; Php 1:25; 1Th 5:16
1Pe 1:8; 2Jo 1:12

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

Context

  • John 15:10

    If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

  • John 15:11

    These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

  • John 15:12

    This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Read all of John 15

John 15:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Estas cosas os he hablado, para que mi gozo esté en vosotros, y vuestro gozo sea cumplido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je vous ai dit ces choses, afin que ma joie soit en vous, et que votre joie soit accomplie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dies habe ich zu euch geredet, auf daß meine Freude in euch sei und eure Freude völlig werde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc locutus sum vobis: ut gaudium meum in vobis sit, et gaudium vestrum impleatur.