While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus highlights a subtle but crucial distinction between "keeping" them in His Father's name and actively "guarding" them. While He preserved them in God's truth, He also actively watched over them like a vigilant guard, emphasizing that Judas's fall wasn't due to a lapse in Christ's protection, but a personal choice toward destruction.
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is concluding his prayer with his disciples, reviewing his earthly ministry. He’s highlighting how he has faithfully protected and preserved the disciples whom the Father gave him, all except for Judas, whose betrayal was foretold in Scripture. This leads into his plea for the Father to continue protecting them even after Jesus’ departure.
Jesus uses two distinct words to describe His care for His disciples. What's the difference, and why does it matter?
Jesus distinguishes between two actions in His care for the disciples:
Jesus states He preserved them and guarded them. He highlights His continuous, active role in their spiritual well-being while He was with them.
Judas is called the 'son of perdition.' What does this unique title reveal about his fate and God's sovereignty?
The phrase 'son of perdition' is a powerful idiom. It doesn't just mean someone who will be destroyed, but someone whose very nature and destiny are destruction.
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Understand the original words
apōleia · Greek Noun
A designation for a person destined for ruin or eternal separation from God due to their rejection of Him. It indicates one who embodies or is characterized by destruction.
graphē · Greek Noun
The written Word of God, considered to be inspired, authoritative, and infallible. It is the record of God's will and plan, which must be accomplished in human history as He has decreed.
Jesus' prayer in John 17 occurs just hours before his betrayal and arrest. Understanding this context highlights the immense weight of his words as he entrusts his disciples to the Father's care, knowing one would fall and betray him, yet trusting in God's ultimate plan and the fulfillment of Scripture.
~40 BC
Herod the Great Reigns
Rome appoints Herod the Great as the client king of Judea, ushering in a period of relative stability but also growing tension between Jewish religious authorities and Roman rule.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, beginning his earthly life under Roman occupation and Jewish tradition. His early life and ministry will unfold within this complex political and religious landscape.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry and Discipleship
Jesus calls his twelve disciples, including Judas Iscariot, teaching them and preparing them for their future mission. This period is marked by growing crowds and increasing opposition from religious leaders.
c. AD 30— this verse
The Last Supper
During the Passover meal, Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, revealing that one of them will betray him. He institutes the Lord's Supper as a memorial and offers this prayer in John 17.
c. AD 30
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus to the authorities, leading to his arrest. This event fulfills prophecy and directly leads to Jesus' crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected on the third day, demonstrating his victory over sin and death.
c. AD 30-33
Early Church Formation
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, and the early church begins to grow, spreading the gospel despite persecution.
This Psalm is directly alluded to by Jesus in John 13:18 as being fulfilled in Judas's betrayal, showing a prophecy of treachery that finds its fulfillment in this Gospel passage.
John 18:9This passage directly links back to Jesus' prayer in John 17, showing His fulfillment of His own prayer for the disciples He had guarded.
Acts 1:20This passage quotes Psalm 109:8 to describe Judas's fate, echoing the 'son of perdition' language and the fulfillment of Scripture in his downfall.
2 Thessalonians 2:3This verse uses the similar phrase 'man of lawlessness' (or 'son of destruction' in some translations) to describe a figure destined for ruin, paralleling the description of Judas.
Philippians 3:19This verse speaks of those whose 'end is destruction,' highlighting the ultimate fate of those who oppose God, a concept that resonates with the 'son of perdition' mentioned by Jesus.
vincentJohn 17:12: "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."
In the worldOmit.I kept (ἐτήρουν)Imperfect tense. I continued to keep. The I is emphatic: I kept them, now do Thou keep them.I kept (ἐτήρουν)Rev., rightly, I guarded. The A.V. overlooks the distinction between the two words for keeping. The former word means, I preserved them; the latter,…
jfbJohn 17:12: "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."
- I kept—guarded.them in thy name—acting as Thy Representative on earth.none of them is lost, but the son of perdition—It is not implied here that the son of perdition was one of those whom the Father had given to the Son, but rather the contrary (Joh 13:18) [Webster and Wilkinson]. It is ju…
Jesus highlights a subtle but crucial distinction between "keeping" them in His Father's name and actively "guarding" them. While He preserved them in God's truth, He also actively watched over them like a vigilant guard, emphasizing that Judas's fall wasn't due to a lapse in Christ's protection, but a personal choice toward destruction.
Jesus is concluding his prayer with his disciples, reviewing his earthly ministry. He’s highlighting how he has faithfully protected and preserved the disciples whom the Father gave him, all except for Judas, whose betrayal was foretold in Scripture. This leads into his plea for the Father to continue protecting them even after Jesus’ departure.
Jesus is concluding his prayer with his disciples, reviewing his earthly ministry. He’s highlighting how he has faithfully protected and preserved the disciples whom the Father gave him, all except for Judas, whose betrayal was foretold in Scripture. This leads into his plea for the Father to continue protecting them even after Jesus’ departure.
"While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled." — Jesus highlights a subtle but crucial distinction between "keeping" them in His Father's name and actively "guarding" them. While He preserved them in God's truth, He also actively watched over them…
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Last reviewed October 2026