The verse doesn't just state the world hates believers; it reveals why: their identity is fundamentally different because they've received God's word. This divine truth reorients them so completely that their very way of being clashes with the world's values, just as Jesus' did.
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. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in his final moments before his crucifixion, offering a profound, intimate prayer to his Father on behalf of his disciples. He acknowledges that while he is leaving the world, his followers will remain in it to carry on his mission. This verse highlights the core tension they will face: having received God's divine truth, they will inevitably be met with opposition and hatred from a world that rejects that very truth.
Jesus tells his Father, 'I have given them your word.' What does this gift do for His followers, especially when the world pushes back?
In John 17:14, Jesus highlights a crucial aspect of His discipleship: they have been given God's word. This isn't just about receiving information; it's about an impartation of divine truth that fundamentally shapes their identity.
Jesus isn't just talking about His disciples; He explicitly says, 'just as I am not of the world.' What does His unique separation mean for us?
Jesus draws a direct parallel between His own identity and that of His followers: 'just as I am not of the world.' This comparison is foundational to understanding the believer's position and the ensuing conflict.
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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.
ponēros · Greek Adjective/Noun
Refers to Satan, the personal force of malevolence and the adversary of God and His people. It emphasizes the active, deceptive, and destructive work of the enemy in the lives of believers.
kosmos · Greek Noun
Refers to the fallen, rebellious state of humanity and the organized systems of society that are alienated from God and opposed to His kingdom. It encompasses the worldly values, desires, and philosophies that stand in direct contradiction to God's holiness.
Jesus' prayer in John 17 was offered just before His crucifixion, at a moment when His disciples were about to face intense opposition. The 'hatred of the world' He speaks of wasn't a distant future event, but a reality that was already beginning to form and would soon intensify dramatically.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Early Discipleship
Jesus establishes His ministry, teaches, and calls His first disciples. His teachings, often in direct opposition to the religious and social norms of the time, begin to draw the attention and animosity of the ruling powers.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified. His resurrection marks a pivotal moment, affirming His divine claims and empowering His followers for their future mission.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus' Farewell Discourse and Prayer
In the hours before His crucifixion, Jesus delivers profound teachings to His disciples (the Farewell Discourse) and offers a high priestly prayer for them, recorded in John chapters 13-17. This prayer includes His deep concern for their unity, protection, and sanctification.
c. 33 AD onwards
The Early Church and Growing Opposition
Following Jesus' ascension, the disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, begin to spread the Gospel. This message directly challenges the world's values, leading to increasing persecution and hatred from both Jewish authorities and the wider Greco-Roman society.
This passage directly echoes John 17:14, reminding believers not to be surprised by fiery trials, as they are meant to test and refine, highlighting the expected opposition when one lives differently from the world.
1 John 3:13This verse offers a clear explanation for the world's hatred mentioned in John 17:14, stating that believers shouldn't be surprised if the world hates them because their righteous lives stand in contrast to the world's wickedness.
Matthew 10:22This passage from Jesus' own teaching directly relates to the theme of world hatred, prophesying that His followers would be hated by all for His name's sake, underscoring the divine foreknowledge and purpose behind this opposition.
John 15:19This verse, spoken by Jesus earlier in the same Gospel, reinforces the core reason for the world's animosity: believers are chosen out of the world and therefore do not belong to it, making them targets of the world's rejection just as Jesus was.
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…
The verse doesn't just state the world hates believers; it reveals why: their identity is fundamentally different because they've received God's word. This divine truth reorients them so completely that their very way of being clashes with the world's values, just as Jesus' did.
Jesus is in his final moments before his crucifixion, offering a profound, intimate prayer to his Father on behalf of his disciples. He acknowledges that while he is leaving the world, his followers will remain in it to carry on his mission. This verse highlights the core tension they will face: having received God's divine truth, they will inevitably be met with opposition and hatred from a world that rejects that very truth.
Jesus is in his final moments before his crucifixion, offering a profound, intimate prayer to his Father on behalf of his disciples. He acknowledges that while he is leaving the world, his followers will remain in it to carry on his mission. This verse highlights the core tension they will face: having received God's divine truth, they will inevitably be met with opposition and hatred from a world that rejects that very truth.
"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. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the wor…" — The verse doesn't just state the world hates believers; it reveals why: their identity is fundamentally different because they've received God's word. This divine truth reorients them so complete…
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Last reviewed October 2026
