John 17 · Verse 9

John 17:9

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
John 17:9, King James Version

John 17:9 in other translations

BSBI ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours.
WEBI pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
ASVI pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine:
YLT‘I ask in regard to them; not in regard to the world do I ask, but in regard to those whom Thou hast given to me, because Thine they are,
DARBYI demand concerning them; I do not demand concerning the world, but concerning those whom thou hast given me, for they are thine,
BBEMy prayer is for them: my prayer is not for the world, but for those whom you have given to me, because they are yours
WebsterI pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given to me; for they are thine.

What does John 17:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 17:9-14
9-14. I pray for them--not as individuals merely, but as representatives of all such in every succeeding age (see on Joh 17:20). not for the world--for they had been given Him "out of the world" (Joh 17:6), and had been already transformed into the very opposite of it. The things sought for them, indeed, are applicable only to such.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 9,10. I pray for them. In view of their dangers and trials, he sought the protection and blessing of God on them. His prayer was always answered.

Not for the world. The term world here, as elsewhere, refers to wicked, rebellious, vicious men. The meaning of this expression here seems to be this: Jesus is praying for his disciples. As a reason why God should bless them, he says that they were not of the world; that they had been taken out of the world; that they belonged unto God. The petition was not offered for wicked, perverse, rebellious men, but for those who were the friends of God and were disposed to receive his favours. This passage, then, settles nothing about the question whether Christ prayed for sinners. He then prayed for his disciples, who were not those who hated him and disregarded his favours. He afterward extended the prayer for all who should become Christians, Jn 17:20. When on the cross he prayed for his crucifiers and murderers, Lk 23:34.

For they are thine. This is urged as a reason why God should protect and guide them. His honour was concerned in keeping them; and we may always fill our mouths with such arguments when we come before God, and plead that his honour will be advanced by keeping us from evil, and granting us all needful grace.

I am glorified in them. I am honoured by their preaching and lives. The sense of this passage is, "Those who are my disciples are thine. That which promotes my honour will also promote thine. I pray, therefore, that they may have needful grace to honour my gospel, and to proclaim it among men."

(o) "I pray not for the world" 1Jn 5:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 I pray not for the world - I am not yet come to that part of my intercession: see Joh 17:20. I am now wholly employed for my disciples, that they may be properly qualified to preach my salvation to the ends of the earth. Jesus here imitates the high priest, the second part of whose prayer, on the day of expiation, was for the priests, the sons of Aaron: see on Joh 17:1 (note). These words may also be understood as applying to the rebellious Jews. God's wrath was about to descend upon them, and Christ prays that his own followers might be kept from the evil, Joh 17:15. But he does not thus pray for the world, the rebellious Jews, because the cup of their iniquity was full, and their judgment slumbered not.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 17:6-10

Christ prays for those that are his. Thou gavest them me, as sheep to the shepherd, to be kept; as a patient to the physician, to be cured; as children to a tutor, to be taught: thus he will deliver up his charge. It is a great satisfaction to us, in our reliance upon Christ, that he, all he is and has, and all he said and did, all he is doing and will do, are of God. Christ offered this prayer for his people alone…

Read the full comment on John 17:6-10 →

John 17:9 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.

ἘγὼEgōI myselfG1473
περὶpericoncerningG4012
αὐτῶνautōnthemG846
ἐρωτῶ·erōtōam praying;G2065
οὐouNotG3756
περὶpericoncerningG4012
τοῦtoutheG3588
κόσμουkosmouworldG2889
ἐρωτῶerōtōdo I prayG2065
ἀλλὰallabutG235
περὶpericoncerningG4012
ὧνhōnthose whomG3739
δέδωκάςdedōkasYou have givenG1325
μοι,moiMe,G3165
ὅτιhotiforG3754
σοίsoiYoursG4771
εἰσιν·eisinthey are;G1510

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

Cross references for John 17:9

  • Hebrews 9:24

    For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

  • John 17:2

    As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

  • John 17:6

    I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

  • Luke 22:32

    But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

  • 1 John 5:19

    And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

  • 1 John 2:1-2

    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

  • John 17:20

    Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

  • 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 16:26-27

    At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

  • Revelation 20:15

    And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

  • Revelation 13:8

    And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

  • Hebrews 7:25

    Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
pray for.
14:16; 16:26,27; Lu 22:32; 8:34; Heb 7:25; 9:24; 1Jo 2:1,2; 5:19
Re 12:9; 13:8; 20:15

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

Context

  • John 17:8

    For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

  • John 17:9

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

  • John 17:10

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

Read all of John 17

John 17:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo ruego por ellos: no ruego por el mundo, sino por los que me diste; porque tuyos son:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, je fais des demandes pour eux; je ne fais pas de demandes pour le monde, mais pour ceux que tu m’as donnés, parce qu’ils sont à toi
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich bitte für sie; nicht bitte ich für die Welt, sondern für die, welche du mir gegeben hast, denn sie sind dein,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego pro eis rogo; non pro mundo rogo, sed pro his quos dedisti mihi: quia tui sunt: