John 17:20
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Original Language Analysis
περὶ
for
G4012
περὶ
for
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
2 of 17
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
ἀλλὰ
but
G235
ἀλλὰ
but
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
7 of 17
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
καὶ
them also
G2532
καὶ
them also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 17
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
περὶ
for
G4012
περὶ
for
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
9 of 17
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πιστευσόντων
which shall believe
G4100
πιστευσόντων
which shall believe
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
11 of 17
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
διὰ
through
G1223
διὰ
through
Strong's:
G1223
Word #:
12 of 17
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λόγου
word
G3056
λόγου
word
Strong's:
G3056
Word #:
14 of 17
something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a
αὐτῶν
their
G846
αὐτῶν
their
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
15 of 17
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Acts 2:41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.Acts 4:4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.Ephesians 4:11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;Romans 16:26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Historical Context
Jesus spoke this prayer in the upper room on the night of His betrayal (c. AD 30), hours before His crucifixion. The eleven disciples present (Judas had left) would soon become the apostolic witnesses whose testimony—first oral, then written in the New Testament—would be the means by which all subsequent generations come to faith.
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing Christ prayed specifically for you (as a future believer) affect your assurance of salvation?
- What responsibility do believers bear to faithfully transmit "their word"—the apostolic gospel—to the next generation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word—Jesus expands His high priestly prayer beyond the eleven disciples to include all future believers. The Greek pisteuontōn (πιστευόντων, "those who will believe") is a present participle emphasizing continuous, ongoing faith across generations. The phrase through their word (διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν) establishes apostolic testimony as the foundation for Christian faith—we believe because of the eyewitness proclamation preserved in Scripture.
This verse demolishes any notion that Jesus prayed only for an elite spiritual class. Every believer from Pentecost to the present age stands included in Christ's intercession. The phrase dia tou logou ("through the word") underscores the instrumental means of saving faith: the proclaimed and written gospel. As Paul later wrote, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).