John 17:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus extends his prayer beyond the apostles to every future believer, including us, whose faith will rest on the apostles' testimony.
The Context of John 17:20
Still in his prayer at the Last Supper. Jesus acknowledges that his disciples will carry his word to the world, and he intercedes for all who will come to faith through their witness.
What Does John 17:20 Mean?
What tenderness here: Jesus prays not only for the eleven sitting with him but for you, for believers across centuries and continents, people he will never meet in person, whose faces he cannot see. Yet he names us in his prayer to the Father. He sees ahead to a day when his word will be carried by fallible humans into a waiting world, and he lifts that whole future in prayer. He prays for the apostles' message to ring true, for their word to be preserved and heard, for those who hear it to be drawn into faith.
We are held in Jesus' intercession even now. We believe through the word of the apostles, through Scripture, through the witness of the church across the ages. Jesus' prayer on our behalf did not end when he rose from the dead; his intercession continues. We are not an afterthought, a contingency he prayed about just in case. We are part of his vision from the beginning, held in his hands, prayed for by name in the heart of God.
John 17:20 in the Original Language
logos (λόγος), 'word' -- the word or message proclaimed; the truth about Jesus carried and shared
How to Apply John 17:20 Today
You are not incidental to God's plan. Jesus prayed for you before you were born, named you in his intercession, and continues to hold you now. Live as one held in the prayer of Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 17:20
What does John 17:20 mean?
Jesus extends his prayer beyond the apostles to every future believer, including us, whose faith will rest on the apostles' testimony.
What is the context of John 17:20?
Still in his prayer at the Last Supper. Jesus acknowledges that his disciples will carry his word to the world, and he intercedes for all who will come to faith through their witness.
How can I apply John 17:20 today?
You are not incidental to God's plan. Jesus prayed for you before you were born, named you in his intercession, and continues to hold you now. Live as one held in the prayer of Christ.