I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just state that the world hates his followers; he links this hatred directly to the divine "word" he has given them. This means their separation and suffering aren't random misfortune, but the direct consequence of embracing God's truth, which inherently clashes with the world's values.
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that he is leaving the world and entrusting them to the Father's care. He explains that the world will hate them because they have received God's word and, like him, are set apart from the world's values and desires. This prayer highlights the reality of spiritual opposition they will face as they carry out God's mission.
Jesus declares He has given His disciples God's Word. What does this mean, and why is it so significant?
Jesus' prayer in John 17 is filled with the divine exchange happening between Him and the Father. In verse 14, Christ states, "I have given them your word." This isn't just a casual mention; it's foundational.
A Divine Deposit
Why does the world hate Jesus' followers? The answer lies in a profound statement about identity.
Jesus doesn't mince words: "the world has hated them." This isn't just about minor disagreements; it's a deep-seated antagonism. The reason? "Because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."
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Belonging to Another Kingdom
Understand the original words
logos · Greek Noun
The divine message or revelation from God to humanity, specifically the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the instrument through which God imparts truth, sanctifies, and calls people into fellowship with Himself.
miseō · Greek Verb
A strong expression of the antagonism felt by the fallen world system toward God, His message, and His people. It signifies the hostility inherent in the conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light.
This verse was spoken by Jesus in His final hours, just before His crucifixion. He was praying for His disciples who would carry on His mission after He was gone, acknowledging that their message and identity would inevitably make them targets of the world's opposition, just as He Himself was.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus taught, healed, and gathered disciples, challenging the religious and political status quo. His message and identity as the Son of God created a division between those who believed and those who opposed Him.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus was crucified and rose again, validating His claims and commission. This event solidified His identity as the Messiah and sent shockwaves through the religious leadership.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus' Farewell Discourse and Prayer
In His final hours, Jesus spoke deeply with His disciples, offering comfort, instruction, and a prayer for their future ministry and protection. John 17 records this intimate, high-priestly prayer.
c. 30 AD onwards
Early Ministry of the Apostles
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, began proclaiming the Gospel. They faced immediate opposition, persecution, and hatred from both Jewish authorities and the wider Greco-Roman world.
c. 40s-60s AD
Expansion of the Early Church
The Christian message spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire, carried by apostles and evangelists. This growth often led to increased friction and persecution from established religious and societal structures.
This passage directly parallels the idea that believers will be hated by the world, explicitly stating 'Do not marvel, my brothers, that the world hates you.' It reinforces the reason given in John 17:14: that believers are no longer part of the world's system.
John 15:18-19Jesus preaches this same concept to his disciples shortly before his arrest. He explains that the world's hatred toward them is a direct consequence of their separation from the world and their allegiance to Him, mirroring the prayer in John 17.
Philippians 3:20This verse speaks of our 'citizenship' being in heaven, highlighting the 'not of this world' aspect. It contrasts our heavenly hope and identity with the earthly realm, explaining why a believer's focus and belonging are fundamentally different from the world's, often leading to misunderstanding and friction.
Romans 12:2This passage is a call for believers not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewal of their minds. It underscores the idea that a transformed mind and life are inherently set apart from the world's ways, which can inevitably lead to the world's opposition.
calvinJohn 17:14-19: "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
- I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them; because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15. I ask not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17. Sanctify them by thy truth: thy word is truth. 18.…
clarkeJohn 17:14: "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
I have given them thy word - Or, thy doctrine - τον λογον σου. In this sense the word λογος is often used by St. John. And the world hath hated them - The Jewish rulers, etc., have hated them. - Why? Because they received the doctrine of God, the science of salvation, and taught it to others. They knew Jesus to be the Messiah, and as such they proclaimed him…
Jesus doesn't just state that the world hates his followers; he links this hatred directly to the divine "word" he has given them. This means their separation and suffering aren't random misfortune, but the direct consequence of embracing God's truth, which inherently clashes with the world's values.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that he is leaving the world and entrusting them to the Father's care. He explains that the world will hate them because they have received God's word and, like him, are set apart from the world's values and desires. This prayer highlights the reality of spiritual opposition they will face as they carry out God's mission.
Jesus is praying for his disciples, acknowledging that he is leaving the world and entrusting them to the Father's care. He explains that the world will hate them because they have received God's word and, like him, are set apart from the world's values and desires. This prayer highlights the reality of spiritual opposition they will face as they carry out God's mission.
"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." — Jesus doesn't just state that the world hates his followers; he links this hatred directly to the divine "word" he has given them. This means their separation and suffering aren't random misfortune,…
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Last reviewed October 2026