The Meaning of John 15:20 Explained

John 15:20

KJV: Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

YLT: 'Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; if me they did persecute, you also they will persecute; if my word they did keep, yours also they will keep;

Darby: Remember the word which I said unto you, The bondman is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep also yours.

ASV: Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Remember  the word  that  I  said  unto you,  The servant  is  not  greater than  his  lord.  If  they have persecuted  me,  they will  also  persecute  you;  if  they have kept  my  saying,  they will keep  yours  also. 

What does John 15:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus reminded the disciples of the principle that He had mentioned when washing their feet ( John 13:16). Then He used this principle to encourage them to serve one another. Now He used it to explain why they would experience persecution.
People normally treat a person"s servants as they treat him. Since unbelievers persecuted Jesus, His disciples should expect persecution too. Conversely if some people in the world followed Jesus" teachings, some would also follow His disciples" teachings. This is a more likely interpretation than the one that sees Jesus saying that since they had rejected His teaching they would also reject the disciples" teaching (e.g, NEB). Some in the world did indeed believe Jesus" teachings, and some would believe the disciples" teachings.

Context Summary

John 15:17-27 - Suffering For Jesus' Sake
We have been appointed for the one purpose of bearing imperishable fruit, but our holy service to the world will never be appreciated. The world has its own god and religion. It hates without cause. The more Christlike we are, the closer we shall be identified with His sufferings. There is no limit to the hatred and persecution which the world will vent on those who have ceased to belong to it because of their identification with the Crucified. But through the pitiless storm, we must be glad; there must be no slackening of our love, which will as certainly conquer hate as tomorrow's sun the darkness, John 15:26-27. In each Christian century there has been this double witness of the Spirit in the Church. The voice of the Church has testified to the living Christ, not arguing but attesting; and to each word of testimony the Holy Spirit has borne assenting witness. Christian apologetics are of less importance than the witness of obscure but Spirit-led lives. [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 15:20

Remember [μνημονευετε]
Present active imperative of μνημονευω — mnēmoneuō old verb from μνημων — mnēmōn in John again in John 16:4, John 16:21. See John 13:16 for this word. If they persecuted me Condition of first class. They certainly did persecute (first aorist active of διωκω — diōkō to chase like a wild beast like the Latin persequor, our “persecute”) Jesus (John 5:16). They will persecute those like Jesus. Cf. John 16:33; Mark 10:30; Luke 21:12; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:9; Galatians 4:29; 2 Timothy 3:12 for proof that this prophecy came true. But the alternative is true and is stated by Jesus with a like condition of the first class, “if they kept my word” The world does praise the word of Jesus, but dreads to follow it. [source]
Persecuted [ἐδίωξαν]
The verb means originally to put to flight; thence to run swiftly in order to overtake or attain, as the goal or the competitor in the race. Thus Sophocles (“Electra,” 738): “He urged his swift steeds vehemently with shouts that pierced their ears, and makes for him ( διώκει ).” Compare I follow after ( διώκω , Philemon 3:12). Hence to pursue with hostile intent, and, generally, to molest, harass, persecute. Persecute is from the equivalent Latin persequor, to follow up, and is used earlier, in the sense of pursue, while pursue, in turn, is used in the sense of persecute. Thus Wyc, Matthew 5:44, for men pursuing you. Sir Thomas More (“Utopia”), “Whiles their enemies rejoicing in the victory have persecuted (i.e., pursued ) them.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 15:20

John 14:15 If ye love me [εαν αγαπατε με]
Third-class condition “if ye keep on loving (present active subjunctive, same contract form as indicative) me.” Cf. John 14:23. Ye will keep Future active of τηρεω — tēreō not aorist imperative τηρησατε — tērēsate (keep) as some MSS. have. For this phrase see also John 8:51; John 14:23, John 14:24; John 15:20; 1 John 2:5. Continued love prevents disobedience. [source]
John 15:21 Unto you [εις υμας]
Like the dative υμιν — humin (Textus Receptus) as in the papyri and modern Greek (Robertson, Grammar, p. 594). For my name‘s sake See John 15:20. See this same warning and language in Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13; Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:17). There is little difference in meaning from ενεκεν μου — heneken mou (Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12). Loyalty to the name of Christ will bring persecution as they will soon know (Acts 5:41; Philemon 1:29; 1 Peter 4:14). About the world‘s ignorance of God see Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17; John 16:3. [source]
John 8:51 If a man keep my word [εαν τις τον εμον λογον τηρησηι]
Condition of third class with εαν — ean and constative aorist active subjunctive of τηρεω — tēreō Repeated in John 8:52. See John 8:43 about hearing the word of Christ. Common phrase in John (John 8:51, John 8:52, John 8:55; John 14:23, John 14:24; John 15:20; John 17:6; 1 John 2:5). Probably the same idea as keeping the commands of Christ (John 14:21). He shall never see death Spiritual death, of course. Strong double negative ου μη — ou mē with first aorist active subjunctive of τεωρεω — theōreō The phrase “see death” is a Hebraism (Psalm 89:48) and occurs with ιδειν — idein (see) in Luke 2:26; Hebrews 11:5. No essential difference meant between οραω — horaō and τεωρεω — theōreō See John 14:23 for the blessed fellowship the Father and the Son have with the one who keeps Christ‘s word. [source]
Hebrews 13:7 Remember [μνημονευετε]
Present active imperative of μνημονευω — mnēmoneuō old verb to be mindful of (from μνημων — mnēmōn mindful) with genitive (John 15:20) or accusative (Matthew 16:9). “Keep in mind.” Cf. Hebrews 11:22. Them that had the rule over you Present middle participle of ηγεομαι — hēgeomai with genitive of the person The preaching of these early disciples, apostles, and prophets (1 Corinthians 1:17). And considering the issue of their life No “and” in the Greek, but the relative ων — hōn (whose) in the genitive case after αναστροπης — anastrophēs “considering the issue of whose life.” Present active participle of ανατεωρεω — anatheōreō late compound, to look up a subject, to investigate, to observe accurately, in N.T. only here and Acts 17:23. Εκβασις — Ekbasis is an old word from εκβαινω — ekbainō to go out (Hebrews 11:15, here only in N.T.), originally way out (1 Corinthians 10:13), but here (only other N.T. example) in sense of end or issue as in several papyri examples (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). Imitate their faith Present middle imperative of μιμεομαι — mimeomai old verb (from μιμος — mimos actor, mimic), in N.T. only here, 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 3 John 1:11. Keep on imitating the faith of the leaders. [source]
Revelation 11:8 In [επι]
“Upon,” as in Revelation 11:6, with genitive Clearly Jerusalem in view of the closing clause (οπουεσταυρωτη — hopou- ητις — estaurōthē), though not here called “the holy city” as in Revelation 11:2, and though elsewhere in the Apocalypse Babylon (Rome) is so described (Revelation 14:8; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:18, Revelation 18:19, Revelation 18:21).Which Which very city, not “whichever.”Spiritually (πνευματικος — pneumatikōs). This late adverb from πνευματικος — pneumatikos (spiritual) occurs in the N.T. only twice, in 1 Corinthians 2:14 for the help of the Holy Spirit in interpreting God‘s message and here in a hidden or mystical (allegorical sense). For this use of οπου και ο κυριος αυτων εσταυρωτη — pneumatikos see 1 Corinthians 10:3. Judah is called Sodom in Isaiah 1:9.; Ezekiel 16:46, Ezekiel 16:55. See also Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:23. Egypt is not applied to Israel in the O.T., but is “an obvious symbol of oppression and slavery” (Swete).Where also their Lord was crucified First aorist passive indicative of stauroō to crucify, a reference to the fact of Christ‘s crucifixion in Jerusalem. This item is one of the sins of Jerusalem and the disciple is not greater than the Master (John 15:20). [source]
Revelation 11:8 Where also their Lord was crucified [σταυροω]
First aorist passive indicative of stauroō to crucify, a reference to the fact of Christ‘s crucifixion in Jerusalem. This item is one of the sins of Jerusalem and the disciple is not greater than the Master (John 15:20). [source]
Revelation 11:8 Which [πνευματικως]
Which very city, not “whichever.”Spiritually (πνευματικος — pneumatikōs). This late adverb from πνευματικος — pneumatikos (spiritual) occurs in the N.T. only twice, in 1 Corinthians 2:14 for the help of the Holy Spirit in interpreting God‘s message and here in a hidden or mystical (allegorical sense). For this use of οπου και ο κυριος αυτων εσταυρωτη — pneumatikos see 1 Corinthians 10:3. Judah is called Sodom in Isaiah 1:9.; Ezekiel 16:46, Ezekiel 16:55. See also Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:23. Egypt is not applied to Israel in the O.T., but is “an obvious symbol of oppression and slavery” (Swete).Where also their Lord was crucified First aorist passive indicative of stauroō to crucify, a reference to the fact of Christ‘s crucifixion in Jerusalem. This item is one of the sins of Jerusalem and the disciple is not greater than the Master (John 15:20). [source]

What do the individual words in John 15:20 mean?

Remember the word that I said to you Not is a servant greater than master of him If Me they persecuted also you they will persecute the word of Me they kept - yours they will keep
Μνημονεύετε τοῦ λόγου οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν Οὐκ ἔστιν δοῦλος μείζων κυρίου αὐτοῦ εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν τὸν λόγον μου ἐτήρησαν τὸν ὑμέτερον τηρήσουσιν

Μνημονεύετε  Remember 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: μνημονεύω  
Sense: to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind.
λόγου  word 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
οὗ  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
εἶπον  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
δοῦλος  a  servant 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
μείζων  greater  than 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
κυρίου  master 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐμὲ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐδίωξαν  they  persecuted 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: διώκω  
Sense: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
διώξουσιν  they  will  persecute 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: διώκω  
Sense: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away.
λόγον  word 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐτήρησαν  they  kept 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: τηρέω  
Sense: to attend to carefully, take care of.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑμέτερον  yours 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Plural
Root: ὑμέτερος  
Sense: you, yours.
τηρήσουσιν  they  will  keep 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: τηρέω  
Sense: to attend to carefully, take care of.