Limitless Word
But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
John 17:13 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
  • KJV And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
  • BSB But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
  • NKJV But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
  • NLT “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Jesus speaks these things aloud so that his disciples may share fully in his joy. His prayer is meant for their encouragement.

Overview

As he returns to the Father, Jesus prays openly in his disciples' hearing so they may possess his own joy in full measure. The joy is not worldly happiness but the deep gladness of fellowship with God that endures through trial. This shows that Christ's high-priestly intercession is intended to strengthen and gladden his people, not only to address the Father.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 14

  • Heb 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  • Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
  • John 15:11I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
  • John 3:29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.
  • John 16:22–24Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
  • 1 Jn 1:4And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
  • Ps 43:4Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy. I will praise you on the harp, God, my God.
  • John 16:33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
  • John 13:3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God,
  • Neh 8:10Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”
  • Ps 126:5Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
  • Rom 14:17for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
  • 2 Jn 1:12Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
  • Acts 13:52The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 17:13YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.

How John 17:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.