John 15:20
New International Version
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

New Living Translation
Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.

English Standard Version
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Berean Standard Bible
Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

Berean Literal Bible
Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

King James Bible
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

New King James Version
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

New American Standard Bible
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also.

NASB 1995
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

NASB 1977
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Legacy Standard Bible
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Amplified Bible
Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Christian Standard Bible
Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Remember the word I spoke to you: A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.

American Standard Version
Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Contemporary English Version
Remember how I told you that servants are not greater than their master. So if people mistreat me, they will mistreat you. If they do what I say, they will do what you say.

English Revised Version
Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Remember what I told you: 'A servant isn't greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they did what I said, they will also do what you say.

Good News Translation
Remember what I told you: 'Slaves are not greater than their master.' If people persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too.

International Standard Version
Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Majority Standard Bible
Remember the word that I spoke to you: ?No servant is greater than his master.? If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

NET Bible
Remember what I told you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too.

New Heart English Bible
Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Webster's Bible Translation
Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Weymouth New Testament
Bear in mind what I said to you, 'A servant is not superior to his master.' If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

World English Bible
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his lord; if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will also keep yours;

Berean Literal Bible
Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Young's Literal Translation
'Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; if me they did persecute, you also they will persecute; if my word they did keep, yours also they will keep;

Smith's Literal Translation
Remember the word which I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they expelled me, they will also expel you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Remember my saying that I told you: The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

New American Bible
Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

New Revised Standard Version
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Remember the word which I said to you, that no servant is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Remember the word that I have spoken to you, that there is no servant greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also; if they have kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Godbey New Testament
Remember the word which I spoke to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Haweis New Testament
Remember the word which I spake unto you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also; if they have observed my words, they will observe your?s also.

Mace New Testament
remember what I told you, "the servant is not greater than his master." if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have been spies upon my discourse, they will be so upon yours.

Weymouth New Testament
Bear in mind what I said to you, 'A servant is not superior to his master.' If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Worrell New Testament
Remember the word which I spake to you, 'A servant is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Worsley New Testament
Remember what I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Hatred of the World
19If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. 20Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. 21But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.…

Cross References
Matthew 10:24-25
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. / It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

Luke 6:40
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

John 13:16
Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. / If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

1 John 3:13
So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

Matthew 24:9
Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Mark 13:13
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

Luke 21:12
But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

Hebrews 11:36-38
Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. / They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. / The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.


Treasury of Scripture

Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

word.

John 5:16
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

John 7:32
The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

John 8:59
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

if they have kept.

1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Isaiah 53:1-3
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? …

Ezekiel 3:7
But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

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John 15
1. The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine.
18. The hatred of the world.
26. The office of the Holy Spirit.














Remember the word that I spoke to you
This phrase calls the disciples to recall Jesus' teachings, emphasizing the importance of memory in spiritual life. The Greek word for "remember" is "μνημονεύω" (mnēmoneuō), which implies an active, deliberate recalling. In the Jewish tradition, remembering is a sacred act, often associated with God's covenantal promises. Jesus is urging His followers to hold His words in their hearts, as they are foundational to their faith and mission.

‘A servant is not greater than his master.’
Here, Jesus reiterates a principle He previously taught in John 13:16. The Greek word for "servant" is "δοῦλος" (doulos), meaning bondservant or slave, indicating a position of humility and submission. The term "master" is "κύριος" (kyrios), often used for Lord, signifying authority and leadership. This phrase underscores the relationship between Jesus and His disciples, reminding them of their role in following His example, even in suffering.

If they persecuted Me
The word "persecuted" comes from the Greek "διώκω" (diōkō), meaning to pursue or harass. Historically, persecution was a common experience for early Christians, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the reality of opposition, linking their experiences to His own. This connection offers comfort, as their suffering is not in vain but part of their identification with Christ.

they will persecute you as well
This continuation of the previous thought reinforces the inevitability of persecution for those who follow Christ. The early church faced significant trials, from social ostracism to martyrdom. Jesus' words serve as both a warning and a promise, affirming that the disciples' experiences are a testament to their faithfulness and alignment with Him.

if they kept My word
The phrase "kept My word" uses the Greek "τηρέω" (tēreō), meaning to guard or observe. This implies a careful, attentive adherence to Jesus' teachings. Historically, those who accepted Jesus' message often faced societal and religious challenges. The call to "keep" His word is a call to steadfastness and loyalty, even amidst adversity.

they will keep yours as well
This assurance highlights the continuity between Jesus' mission and that of His disciples. The success of their ministry is tied to their faithfulness to His teachings. The early church's growth, despite persecution, is a testament to this promise. Jesus assures His followers that their labor in spreading the Gospel will bear fruit, as others will respond to their message just as some responded to His.

(20) Remember the word that I said unto you.--Comp. John 13:16, where the saying is used in a different sense; and Matthew 10:24, where it is used in the same connection in which we find it here.

If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying . . .--The meaning is exactly that which is expressed in the rendering of the English version. The two things are necessarily united, as Christ and His disciples are united. His word is their word. The relation of the world to the one would be that which it had been to the other.

Verse 20. - Remember the word which I spake to you (see Matthew 10:24, but especially John 13:16, where Christ used the proverb), The servant is not greater than his lord. In John 13:16 the idea was used to enforce the spirit of humility and mutual service; it applies also here, but in another sense. The disciples are not to expect better treatment from the world than their Lord met with. If they (used of "the world 7, in its special concrete manifestations; "they" of Nazareth and Capernaum and Jerusalem correspond with the "they" of Lycaonia, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and Rome) persecuted me, they will persecute - drive away from them - you also. The "if" is remarkably explicit; there is no doubt about it in Christ's case, and the supposition is one of definite and acknowledged fact, and the conditional sentence most positively assures them of antagonism and persecution. It is probable, though not certainly known, that these disciples all endured a living martyrdom, if not a cruel death in his cause. Then follows a sentence which has by some unwisely been supposed to be ironical, and by others to refer to another subject. If they - others, or many, or some - kept (i.e. "observed," "obeyed," not as Bengel supposed, "laid in wait," or "kept maliciously") my word, they will keep yours also Why should irony be interpolated here? Surely the whole con[act with the world was not an utter failure. Christ did win persons from all classes, and they loved him, with a passionate love; and so the apostles, and all who "go forth to bear fruit," may hope for some victories, and will travail in birth with the souls of men.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Remember
Μνημονεύετε (Mnēmoneuete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3421: From a derivative of mneme; to exercise memory, i.e. Recollect; by implication, to punish; also to rehearse.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word
λόγου (logou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

that
οὗ (hou)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

spoke
εἶπον (eipon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to you:
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

‘No
Οὐκ (Ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

servant
δοῦλος (doulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.

is
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

greater than
μείζων (meizōn)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

master.’
κυρίου (kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

If
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

they persecuted
ἐδίωξαν (ediōxan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

Me,
ἐμὲ (eme)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

they will persecute
διώξουσιν (diōxousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

as well;
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

they kept
ἐτήρησαν (etērēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

word,
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

they will keep
τηρήσουσιν (tērēsousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

yours
ὑμέτερον (hymeteron)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5212: Your, yours. From humeis; yours, i.e. Pertaining to you.

as well.
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.


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NT Gospels: John 15:20 Remember the word that I said (Jhn Jo Jn)
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