I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
Parallel translations
- WEB I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
- KJV I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
- NKJV I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
- NASB I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one.
- NLT I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
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 prays not that the disciples be removed from the world but that they be kept from the evil one. Believers are to remain in the world while protected from Satan.
Overview
This verse shapes a Christian understanding of life in the world: not withdrawal or escape, but mission with divine protection. Jesus asks the Father to guard his people from the evil one, Satan, as they live out their calling. It balances engagement with the world and separation from its evil, and assures believers of God's keeping power against spiritual assault.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 121:7The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.
- 1 Jn 5:18We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
- Matt 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
- 2 Th 3:3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
- 1 Chr 4:10And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted the request of Jabez.
- Gal 1:4who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
- Luke 11:4And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
- Isa 38:18–19For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
- Phil 1:20–26I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- Ps 30:9“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?
- Luke 8:38–39The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
- 2 Tim 4:8From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
- Gen 48:16the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
- Isa 57:1The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are swept away, while no one considers that the righteous are guided from the presence of evil.
- Matt 5:37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 17:15 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.