I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Parallel translations
- WEB I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
- BSB I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
- 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 shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
- 1 Jn 5:18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
- Matt 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
- 2 Th 3:3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
- 1 Chr 4:10And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
- Gal 1:4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
- Luke 11:4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
- Isa 38:18–19For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
- Phil 1:20–26According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
- Ps 30:9What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
- Luke 8:38–39Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
- 2 Tim 4:8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
- Gen 48:16The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
- Isa 57:1The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
- Matt 5:37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
- Eccl 9:10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
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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.