The Meaning of John 15:13 Explained

John 15:13

KJV: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

YLT: greater love than this hath no one, that any one his life may lay down for his friends;

Darby: No one has greater love than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends.

ASV: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Greater  love  hath  no man  than  this,  that  a man  lay down  his  life  for  his  friends. 

What does John 15:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Love for a friend reaches its zenith when one willingly sacrifices his or her life for that friend. Jesus had spoken of His love for His disciples ( John 15:12). He would shortly show them how great it was by making the supreme sacrifice for them. After that, they would not only have His command but also His example to follow.
Really Jesus did more than lay down His life for His friends. He died for His enemies (cf. Matthew 5:43-47; Romans 5:8-10). However in the context of this audience His statement was true as it stands. The most a person can do for a friend is to die for him or her.

Context Summary

John 15:10-16 - "i Have Called You Friends"
We must estimate the Father's love to Jesus before we can measure His love to us. We are told to love one another with the same love, but enabling power is needed, or we can never fulfill His command. Our love is not like His, unless it is prepared to sacrifice itself even unto death. Not servants, but friends! The first stage is that of the bondservant, who does what he is told, not because he understands, but because he has no option. Friendship involves obedience on our part; and on His part the making known of the deep things of God. Even the Son learned obedience by the things which He suffered. It is by implicit obedience alone that we can pass into the closer intimacy of friendship and ultimately of sonship. There is no limit to what the Father will do for those whom His Son calls "friends." [source]

Chapter Summary: John 15

1  The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine
18  The hatred of the world
26  The office of the Holy Spirit

Greek Commentary for John 15:13

Than this [ταυτης]
Ablative case after the comparative adjective μειζονα — meizona and feminine agreeing with της αγαπης — tēs agapēs (love) understood. That a man lay down his life Object clause (non-final use of ινα — hina in apposition with the ablative pronoun ταυτης — tautēs and the second aorist active subjunctive of τιτημι — tithēmi). For the phrase see John 10:11 of the good shepherd. Cf. 1 John 3:16; Romans 5:7. For his friends “In behalf of his friends” and so “in place of his friends.” “Self-sacrifice is the high-water mark of love” (Dods). For this use of υπερ — huper see John 11:50; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:14.; Romans 5:7. [source]
Greater love hath no man than this, that [ἵνα]
Some of the more subtle phases of John's thought cannot be apprehended without a careful study of this often-recurring conjunction. It is still claimed by some grammarians that it is used to mark, not only design and end, but also result. But it may fairly be claimed that its predominant sense is intent, purpose, purport, or object. Hence that, as representing ἵνα , is to be taken in the sense of to the end or intent that; in order that. Here the use of the word is very subtle and suggestive, as well as beautiful. No man hath greater love than this (love), which, in its original conception, was intended and designed to reach to the extent of sacrificing life for a friend. Christ, therefore, here gives us more than a mere abstract comparison and more than a merely human gauge of love. He measures love according to its divine, original, far-reaching intent. [source]
Lay down his life []
See on John 10:11. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 15:13

Acts 5:3 To lie to the Holy Spirit [πσευσασται σε το πνευμα το αγιον]
Infinitive (aorist middle) of purpose with accusative of general reference The Holy Spirit had been given them to guide them into truth (John 15:13). [source]
1 John 4:21 That [ἵνα]
Not defining the contents of the commandment, but expressing intent. Compare John 13:34, and see on John 15:13. [source]
1 John 3:11 That [ἵνα]
The purport and aim of the message. See on John 15:13. [source]
1 John 3:1 That [ἵνα]
See on John 15:13. [source]
1 John 1:9 To forgive [ἵνα ἀφῇ]
See John 20:23; 1 John 2:12. Primarily the word means to send away, dismiss; hence of sins, to remit, as a debt. Cleansing (1 John 1:7) contemplates the personal character of the sinner; remission, his acts. See on Matthew 6:12; see on James 5:15. To forgive is, literally, that he may forgive. On John's use of ἵνα inorder that, see on John 15:13; see on John 14:31. Forgiveness answers to the essential purpose of His faithful and righteous being. [source]
1 John 3:16 Love [την αγαπην]
“The thing called love” (D. Smith).He for us (εκεινος υπερ ημων — ekeinos huper hēmōn). Εκεινος — Ekeinos as in 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:3, 1 John 3:5, υπερ — huper here alone in this Epistle, though common in John‘s Gospel (John 10:11, John 10:15; John 11:50, etc.) and in 3 John 1:7.Laid down his life First aorist active indicative of τιτημι — tithēmi the very idiom used by Jesus of himself in John 10:11, John 10:17.We ought (ημεις οπειλομεν — hēmeis opheilomen). Emphatic ημεις — hēmeis again. For οπειλω — opheilō see 1 John 2:6. Of course our laying down our lives for the brethren has no atoning value in our cases as in that of Christ, but is a supreme proof of one‘s love (John 13:37.; John 15:13), as often happens. [source]
1 John 3:16 Laid down his life [την πσυχην αυτου ετηκεν]
First aorist active indicative of τιτημι — tithēmi the very idiom used by Jesus of himself in John 10:11, John 10:17.We ought (ημεις οπειλομεν — hēmeis opheilomen). Emphatic ημεις — hēmeis again. For οπειλω — opheilō see 1 John 2:6. Of course our laying down our lives for the brethren has no atoning value in our cases as in that of Christ, but is a supreme proof of one‘s love (John 13:37.; John 15:13), as often happens. [source]
1 John 3:16 We ought [ημεις οπειλομεν]
Emphatic ημεις — hēmeis again. For οπειλω — opheilō see 1 John 2:6. Of course our laying down our lives for the brethren has no atoning value in our cases as in that of Christ, but is a supreme proof of one‘s love (John 13:37.; John 15:13), as often happens. [source]
1 John 4:21 That [ινα]
Sub-final object clause in apposition with εντολην — entolēn as in John 13:34; John 15:13. [source]
2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves that [βλέπετε ἑαυτούς ἵνα]
Ἵνα inorder that, marks the intent of the caution. See on John 15:13. [source]
2 John 1:6 That [ἵνα]
See on John 15:13. [source]
3 John 1:2 Soul [ψυχή]
See on Mark 12:30; see on Luke 1:46. The soul ( ψυχή ) is the principle of individuality, the seat of personal impressions. It has a side in contact with both the material and the spiritual element of humanity, and is thus the mediating organ between body and spirit. Its meaning, therefore, constantly rises above life or the living individual, and takes color from its relation to either the emotional or the spiritual side of life, from the fact of its being the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions, and the bearer and manifester of the divine life-principle ( πνεῦμα ). Consequently ψυχή is often used in our sense of heart (Luke 1:46; Luke 2:35; John 10:24; Acts 14:2); and the meanings of ψυχή souland πνεῦμα spiritoccasionally approach each other very closely. Compare John 12:27, and John 11:33; Matthew 11:29, and 1 Corinthians 16:18. Also both words in Luke 1:47. In this passage ψυχή soulexpresses the soul regarded as moral being designed for everlasting life. See Hebrews 6:19; Hebrews 10:39; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:19. John commonly uses the word to denote the principle of the natural life. See John 10:11, John 10:15; John 13:37; John 15:13; 1 John 3:16; Revelation 8:9; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 16:3. [source]

What do the individual words in John 15:13 mean?

Greater than this love no one has that one the life of him should lay down for the friends
μείζονα ταύτης ἀγάπην οὐδεὶς ἔχει ἵνα τις τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ θῇ ὑπὲρ τῶν φίλων

μείζονα  Greater 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular, Comparative
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
ταύτης  than  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀγάπην  love 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
οὐδεὶς  no  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐδείς 
Sense: no one, nothing.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
τις  one 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ψυχὴν  life 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ψυχή  
Sense: breath.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
θῇ  should  lay  down 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: τίθημι  
Sense: to set, put, place.
φίλων  friends 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: φίλος  
Sense: friend, to be friendly to one, wish him well.

What are the major concepts related to John 15:13?

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