John 15:11

THE MESSAGE

"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

King James Version (1611)
These things haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioy might remaine in you, and that your ioy might be full.

King James Version
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

English Standard Version
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

New American Standard Bible
"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

New Century Version
I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.

Amplified Bible
"I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Legacy Standard Bible
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

Berean Standard Bible
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

Contemporary English Version
I have told you this to make you as completely happy as I am.

Complete Jewish Bible
I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.

Darby Translation
I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and your joy be full.

Easy-to-Read Version
I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy.

Geneva Bible (1587)
These things haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioy might remaine in you, and that your ioy might be full.

George Lamsa Translation
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Good News Translation
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Lexham English Bible
I have spoken these things to you in order that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be made complete.

Literal Translation
I have spoken these things to you that My joy may abide in you, and your joy may be full.

American Standard Version
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Bible in Basic English
I have said these things to you so that I may have joy in you and so that your joy may be complete.

Hebrew Names Version
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

International Standard Version
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.John 16:24; 17:13; 1 John 1:4;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
These have I spoken with you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Murdock Translation
These things have I spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
These thynges haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioy might remayne in you, and that your ioy myght be full.

English Revised Version
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be fulfilled.

World English Bible
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy might remain in you, and your joy might be full.

Weymouth's New Testament
"These things I have spoken to you in order that I may have joy in you, and that your joy may become perfect.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
These thingis Y spak to you, that my ioye be in you, and youre ioye be fulfillid.

Update Bible Version
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full.

Webster's Bible Translation
These things have I spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may be full.

New English Translation
I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.

New King James Version
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

New Living Translation
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

New Life Bible
I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full.

New Revised Standard
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
These things, have I spoken unto you, that, my own joy, in you, may be, and, your joy, may be made full.

Douay-Rheims Bible
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled.

Revised Standard Version
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
These thinges have I spoken vnto you yt my ioye myght remayne in you and that youre ioye might be full.

Young's Literal Translation
these things I have spoken to you, that my joy in you may remain, and your joy may be full.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
These thinges haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioye might remayne in you, and yt youre ioye might be perfecte.

Mace New Testament (1729)
These things have I spoken to you, that you might have some present comfort, and that hereafter your joy might be compleat.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I've told you these things so you might be overflowing with joy. These things are what your soul longs for, and the world tries to keep you away from.

Contextual Overview

⁹"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. ¹¹"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. ¹⁶ "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. ¹⁷ "But remember the root command: Love one another.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

my: Isaiah 53:11, Isaiah 62:4, Jeremiah 32:41, Jeremiah 33:9, Zephaniah 3:17, Luke 15:5, Luke 15:9, Luke 15:23, Luke 15:32, 1 John 1:4

your: John 16:24, John 16:33, John 17:13, Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 5:18, Philippians 1:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 1 Peter 1:8, 2 John 1:12

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 30:9 - rejoice over thee 1 Chronicles 29:9 - David Proverbs 23:15 - even mine Song of Solomon 3:11 - in the day of the Matthew 26:29 - until John 14:25 - have John 15:9 - continue John 16:1 - General Philippians 2:1 - any consolation

Cross-References

Ezekiel 17:7
"‘There was another great eagle with a huge wingspan and thickly feathered. This vine sent out its roots toward him from the place where it was planted. Its branches reached out to him so he could water it from a long distance. It had been planted in good, well-watered soil, And it put out branches and bore fruit, and became a noble vine.

Matthew 13:4
"The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. The Son of Man will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going to listen. At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father. "Are you listening to this? Really listening? "God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field. "Or, God's kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it. "Or, God's kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That's how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won't do any good."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

These things have I spoken unto you,.... Concerning the vine and branches, his abiding in them, and they in him, their fruitfulness from him, and perseverance in him, his love to them, and theirs to him:

that my joy might remain in you; meaning either that joy with which he joyed in and over them, as united to him, and which is of the same nature as the joy of the bridegroom over the bride, and which will always remain and continue the same; or rather that joy which he is the author, object, ground, and matter of, for there is always reason to rejoice in him, even in the most afflictive circumstances of life:

and that your joy might be full; that grace of joy which is implanted in the soul, by the Spirit of God in regeneration, and arises from, and is increased by discoveries of the person, grace, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ; and is "full of glory", 1 Peter 1:8; upon a clear sight of him in this life, and will be entirely full, completely perfected in the other world, when he will be seen as he is,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These things - The discourse in this and the previous chapter. This discourse was designed to comfort them by the promise of the Holy Spirit and of eternal life, and to direct them in the discharge of their duty.

My joy - This expression probably denotes the happiness which Jesus had, and would continue to have, by their obedience, love, and fidelity. Their obedience was to him a source of joy. It was that which he sought and for which he had labored. He now clearly taught them the path of duty, and encouraged them to persevere, notwithstanding he was about to leave them. If they obeyed him, it would continue to him to be a source of joy. Christ rejoices in the obedience of all his friends; and, though his happiness is not dependent on them, yet their fidelity is an object which he desires and in which he finds delight. The same sentiment is expressed in John 17:13.

Your joy might be full - That you might be delivered from your despondency and grief at my departure; that you might see the reason why I leave you, be comforted by the Holy Spirit, and be sustained in the arduous trials of your ministry. See 1 John 1:4; 2 John 1:12. This promise of the Saviour was abundantly fulfilled. The apostles with great frequency speak of the fulness of their joy - joy produced in just the manner promised by the Saviour - by the presence of the Holy Spirit. And it showed his great love, that he promised such joy; his infinite knowledge, that, in the midst of their many trials and persecutions, he knew that they would possess it; and the glorious power and loveliness of his gospel, that it could impart such joy amid so many tribulations. See instances of this joy in Acts 13:52; Romans 14:17; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1Th 2:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Peter 1:8; Romans 5:11; 2 Corinthians 7:4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 15:11. That my joy may remain in you — That the joy which I now feel, on account of your steady, affectionate attachment to me, may be lasting, I give you both warnings and directions, that ye may abide in the faith.

That your joy might be full. — Or, complete - πληρωθη, filled up: a metaphor taken from a vessel, into which water or any other thing is poured, till it is full to the brim. The religion of Christ expels all misery from the hearts of those who receive it in its fulness. It was to drive wretchedness out of the world that Jesus came into it.

Bishop Pearce, by joining εν εμοι to χαρα, and not to μεινη, translates the verse thus: These things have I spoken, that my joy in you may remain-which is according to the meaning given to the first clause.