John 15 · Verse 25

John 15:25

But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
John 15:25, King James Version

John 15:25 in other translations

BSBBut this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
WEBBut this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’
ASVBut this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
YLTbut--that the word may be fulfilled that was written in their law--They hated me without a cause.
DARBYBut that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, They hated me without a cause.
BBEThis comes about so that the writing in their law may be made true, Their hate for me was without cause.
WebsterBut this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

What does John 15:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 15:22-25

22-25. (See on Joh 9:39-41). If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin--comparatively none; all other sins being light compared with the rejection of the Son of God. now they have no cloak for their sin--rather, "pretext."

Read the full comment on John 15:22-25 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. In their law, Ps 35:19. All the Old Testament was sometimes called the law. The meaning here is that the same thing happened to him which did to the psalmist. The same words which David used respecting his enemies would express, also, the conduct of the Jews and their treatment of the Messiah. In both cases it was without cause. Jesus had broken no law, he had done no injury to his country or to any individual. It is still true that sinners hate him in the same way. He injures no one, but, amid all their hatred, he seeks their welfare; and, while they reject him in a manner for which they can give no reason in the day of judgment, he still follows them with mercies and entreats them to return to him. Who has ever had any reason to hate the Lord Jesus? What injury has he ever done to any one of the human race? What evil has he ever said or thought of any one of them? What cause or reason had the Jews for putting him to death? What reason has the sinner for hating him now? What reason for neglecting him? No one can give a reason for it that will satisfy his own conscience, none that has the least show of plausibility. Yet no being on earth has ever been more hated, despised, or neglected, and in every instance it has been "without a cause." Reader, do you hate him? If so, I ask you WHY? Wherein has he injured you? or why should you think or speak reproachfully of the benevolent and pure Redeemer?

(c) "They hated me without cause" Ps 35:19, 69:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 Written in their law - See on Joh 10:34 (note). These words are taken from Psa 69:4. This psalm is applied to Christ, Joh 2:17; Joh 19:28; to the vengeance of God against Judea, Act 1:20. The psalm seems entirely prophetic of Christ. His deep abasement is referred to, Psa 69:2-5; his prayer for his disciples and followers, Psa 69:6; that for himself, in the garden of Gethsemane, Psa 69:15-19; his crucifixion, Psa 69:20-22; the vengeance of God against the Jews, from Psa 69:23-29; the glorious manner in which he gets out of all his sufferings, Psa 69:30; the abolition of the Mosaic rites and ceremonies, Psa 69:31, compared with Isa 66:3; and, finally, the establishment of the Gospel through the whole world, in Psa 69:33 and following verses. The reader will do well to consult the psalm before he proceeds.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 15:18-25

How little do many persons think, that in opposing the doctrine of Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, they prove themselves ignorant of the one living and true God, whom they profess to worship! The name into which Christ's disciples were baptized, is that which they will live and die by. It is a comfort to the greatest sufferers, if they suffer for Christ's name's sake. The world's ignorance is the true cause…

Read the full comment on John 15:18-25 →

John 15:25 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.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽But [this is]G235
ἵναinathatG2443
πληρωθῇplērōthēamay be fulfilledG4137
ὁhotheG3588
λόγοςlogoswordG3056
ὁho<the>G3588
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
νόμῳnomōlawG3551
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
γεγραμμένοςgegrammenoswrittenG1125
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐμίσησάνemisēsanThey hatedG3404
μεmeMeG3165
δωρεάν.¶dōreanwithout cause.’G1432

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

Cross references for John 15:25

  • Psalms 109:3

    They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

  • Psalms 69:4

    They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

  • Psalms 35:19

    Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

  • Luke 24:44

    And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:7

    Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

  • Galatians 2:21

    I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

  • Romans 3:24

    Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:8

    Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

  • Revelation 21:6

    And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

  • Psalms 7:4

    If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

  • John 10:34

    Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

  • Revelation 22:17

    And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the.
10:34; 19:36; Lu 24:44; Ro 3:19
They.
Ps 7:4; 35:19; 69:4; 109:3
without.
Mt 10:8; Ro 3:24; 2Co 11:7; Ga 2:21; 2Th 3:8; Re 21:6; 22:17
All in Gr.

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

Context

  • John 15:24

    If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • John 15:25

    But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

  • 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:

Read all of John 15

John 15:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas para que se cumpla la palabra que está escrita en su ley: Que sin causa me aborrecieron.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais c’est afin que fût accomplie la parole qui est écrite dans leur loi: « Ils m’ont haï sans cause ».
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber auf daß das Wort erfüllt würde, das in ihrem Gesetz geschrieben steht: "Sie haben mich ohne Ursache gehaßt".
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed ut adimpleatur sermo, qui in lege eorum scriptus est: Quia odio habuerunt me gratis.