John 17:19
New International Version
For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

New Living Translation
And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

English Standard Version
And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Berean Standard Bible
For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.

Berean Literal Bible
and for them I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

King James Bible
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

New King James Version
And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

New American Standard Bible
And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

NASB 1995
“For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

NASB 1977
“And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Legacy Standard Bible
For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Amplified Bible
For their sake I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.

Christian Standard Bible
I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I sanctify Myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth.

American Standard Version
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Contemporary English Version
I have given myself completely for their sake, so they may belong completely to the truth.

English Revised Version
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I'm dedicating myself to this holy work I'm doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy.

Good News Translation
And for their sake I dedicate myself to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you.

International Standard Version
It is for their sakes that I sanctify myself, so that they, too, may be sanctified by the truth.

NET Bible
And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.

New Heart English Bible
For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.

Weymouth New Testament
and on their behalf I consecrate myself, in order that they may become perfectly consecrated in truth.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.

World English Bible
For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and I sanctify Myself for them, that they also may be sanctified in truth themselves.

Berean Literal Bible
and for them I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Young's Literal Translation
and for them do I sanctify myself, that they also themselves may be sanctified in truth.

Smith's Literal Translation
And for them I render myself holy, that they also be rendered holy in the truth;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it is for them that I sanctify myself, so that they, too, may be sanctified in truth.

New American Bible
And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.

New Revised Standard Version
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And for their sakes, I am sanctifying myself, so that they also may be sanctified in the truth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And I sanctify myself for them, that they shall be sanctified in the truth.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and for them I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.

Godbey New Testament
and I sanctify myself in their behalf, in order that they may also be sanctified through the truth.

Haweis New Testament
And for them I devote myself, that they also might be sanctified by the truth.

Mace New Testament
and for their sakes I consecrate myself, that they also might be consecrated by the truth.

Weymouth New Testament
and on their behalf I consecrate myself, in order that they may become perfectly consecrated in truth.

Worrell New Testament
and in their behalf I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Worsley New Testament
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Prayer for the Disciples
18As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth. 20I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,…

Cross References
Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:14
because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 2:11
For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Ephesians 5:25-26
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Romans 15:16
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

John 10:36
then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?

John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.


Treasury of Scripture

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

for.

Isaiah 62:1
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

2 Corinthians 4:15
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

I sanctify.

John 10:36
Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

1 Corinthians 1:2
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

that.

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

sanctified through the truth.

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John 17
1. Jesus prays to his Father.














For them I sanctify Myself
In this phrase, Jesus speaks of His dedication to the mission given by the Father. The term "sanctify" means to set apart for a holy purpose. Jesus, though sinless, sets Himself apart for the work of redemption. This act is a fulfillment of His role as the High Priest, as seen in Hebrews 7:26-27, where He offers Himself as a sacrifice. The context of this statement is the Upper Room Discourse, where Jesus prays for His disciples, emphasizing His role in their spiritual journey. The sanctification of Jesus is a precursor to His crucifixion, where He fully dedicates Himself to the will of God for the salvation of humanity.

so that they too may be sanctified
The purpose of Jesus' sanctification is for the benefit of His followers. The disciples, and by extension all believers, are to be set apart for God's purposes. This reflects the call to holiness found in Leviticus 20:7-8, where God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. The sanctification of believers is a process of being made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. This phrase underscores the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice, enabling believers to live lives that reflect God's holiness.

by the truth
The truth here refers to the Word of God, as Jesus previously stated in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." The truth is the divine revelation found in Scripture, which guides and transforms believers. This aligns with Jesus' declaration in John 14:6, where He states, "I am the way and the truth and the life." The truth is not only a set of doctrines but is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. The sanctification of believers is achieved through their relationship with Christ and adherence to His teachings, which are the ultimate truth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is praying to the Father on behalf of His disciples. He is the central figure in this passage, emphasizing His role in sanctification.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' prayer. They are the ones for whom Jesus sanctifies Himself, indicating their need for sanctification to fulfill their mission.

3. Sanctification
A key event and process in this verse, referring to being set apart for holy purposes. Jesus' sanctification is both an act and a model for His followers.

4. The Truth
Represents the Word of God and the reality of God's nature and purposes. It is the means by which the disciples are sanctified.

5. The Upper Room
The setting of this prayer, part of Jesus' farewell discourse, where He prepares His disciples for His impending departure.
Teaching Points
The Model of Sanctification
Jesus sanctifies Himself as a model for His followers. Believers are called to follow His example by living lives set apart for God's purposes.

The Role of Truth
Sanctification is achieved through the truth of God's Word. Believers must immerse themselves in Scripture to be transformed and set apart.

Purposeful Living
Sanctification is not an end in itself but a means to fulfill God's mission. Believers are sanctified to be effective witnesses in the world.

Holiness in Daily Life
Sanctification involves daily choices to live according to God's standards, reflecting His holiness in every aspect of life.

Dependence on Christ
Jesus' prayer highlights the necessity of relying on His work and truth for sanctification, reminding believers of their dependence on Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of John 17:19?

2. How does John 17:19 emphasize the importance of sanctification in a believer's life?

3. What does "sanctify Myself" reveal about Jesus' role in our sanctification process?

4. How does John 17:19 connect to Leviticus 20:7 on holiness?

5. How can believers actively pursue sanctification in their daily lives?

6. In what ways does Jesus' sanctification impact our mission in the world?

7. What does "sanctify" mean in the context of John 17:19?

8. How does John 17:19 relate to Jesus' mission on earth?

9. Why is Jesus sanctifying Himself in John 17:19?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from John 17?

11. How can we live in truth and love through God?

12. What does 'All Truth Is God's Truth' mean?

13. What does the Bible say about sanctification?

14. What does the Bible say about holiness and sanctification?
What Does John 17:19 Mean
For them

• Jesus is crystal-clear about His motive: everything He is doing in this prayer is “for them,” the people the Father has given Him (John 17 : 6).

• He is acting on behalf of His disciples, and by extension all who will later believe through their word (John 17 : 20).

• This self-giving focus echoes John 10 : 15—“I lay down My life for the sheep”—and Romans 5 : 8, where Christ’s love is demonstrated “while we were still sinners.”

• The phrase positions the coming cross as a substitutionary work, just as Isaiah 53 : 5 foretold: “He was wounded for our transgressions.”


I sanctify Myself

• “Sanctify” has the idea of setting apart for God’s special purpose. Jesus, already perfectly holy, now dedicates Himself to the Father’s saving plan in a unique, once-for-all way.

Hebrews 7 : 26 describes Him as “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners.” By stepping toward the cross He intentionally sets Himself apart as the flawless sacrifice, fulfilling Hebrews 10 : 10—“we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

• His voluntary consecration heightens the wonder of Philippians 2 : 8, where He “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death.”


so that they too

• The goal is not merely His own consecration; it is the transformation of His people.

Ephesians 5 : 25-27 says Christ “gave Himself up for her to sanctify her,” linking His self-offering with believers’ cleansing.

2 Corinthians 5 : 15 reinforces this purpose: “He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves.”


may be sanctified

• The same setting-apart Jesus embraces is now applied to us.

Hebrews 2 : 11 stresses the shared family bond: “Both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family.”

• God’s will, 1 Thessalonians 4 : 3 tells us, “is your sanctification.” Here Jesus ensures that will is accomplished.

• Practically, this means a life progressively conformed to Christ’s likeness (Romans 8 : 29) and separated from the world’s corruption (James 1 : 27).


by the truth

• The means of our sanctification is “the truth,” immediately defined two verses earlier: “Your word is truth” (John 17 : 17).

Psalm 119 : 160 affirms, “The entirety of Your word is truth,” underscoring the substance God uses to reshape us.

2 Timothy 3 : 16-17 explains that Scripture “is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” equipping believers “for every good work.”

• By anchoring us in objective, revealed truth, Jesus protects us from the lies of the evil one (John 17 : 15) and guides us into increasing holiness.


summary

Jesus deliberately sets Himself apart for the cross “for them,” securing our salvation. His consecration has a clear purpose: that we also be set apart for God. This sanctifying work is activated and sustained “by the truth,” the living, unchanging Word of God. In Christ’s self-dedication we find both the foundation and the means for our ongoing transformation into holy, truth-shaped lives.

(19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself.--Comp. Note on John 17:17. The consecration here thought of is that to the work which was immediately before Him--the offering Himself as a sacrifice. The word was in frequent use in the special sense of an offering or sacrifice set apart to God. As a New Testament example of this, comp. Romans 15:16. By this consecration of Himself--which in a wider sense is for all men, but in the special sense is "for their sakes"--He will, as both Priest and Sacrifice, enter into the Holy of Holies of the heavenly temple, and will send the Holy Ghost, who will consecrate them.

That they also might be sanctified through the truth.--Better, as in the margin, . . . . might be truly sanctified. The words "they also" are emphatic, answering to "their sakes" and "myself" in the preceding clause.

Verse 19. - And for their sakes - on their behalf - I sanctify, consecrate, myself. The Father had consecrated him and sent him into the world, but over and above all this there were special and sacrificial acts of love and devotion which he made on behalf of his own. He went up voluntarily into the wilderness to be tempted for them; he wrought for them while it was yet day. He now was ready to commend himself to the supreme will of the Father, and to offer himself through the Spirit in his perfected humanity without spot of sin to God. Ἁγιάζω is equivalent προσφέρω σοὶ θυσίαν, as Chrysostom says, and it is used for הִקְדִּישׁ (Exodus 13:2; Deuteronomy 15:19). Christ is the Priest and the Victim, and the dedication of himself to this climax of his consecrated life is for the sake of the disciples (so Lange, Meyer, Godet, and Westcott). That they also may be sanctified indeed - truly or veritably.

(1) We have to notice that the passive form of the second clause shows that that which the Lord, in its highest form, effects for himself, they receive as a work wrought in them by another.

(2) Using the word ἁγιάζειν in the same sense in both clauses, the consecration effected in the disciples must correspond with Christ's consecration in self-sacrificial love, in abandonment to the power of the Word which has revolutionized their whole being, in entire equipment for their calling, even to the point of hatred and antagonism from the world, and death for his sake. They are indeed to drink of his cup, and be baptized with his baptism. They must be crucified with him and buried with him, and rise again with him, in the activity of their faith.

(3) Ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, without the article, has the sense of "verily and indeed" (Matthew 22:16; 2 Corinthians 7:14; 1 John 3:18, etc.). It is not certain that 2 John I or 3 John I can be thus translated, but the classical usage of this phrase, and also of ἐπ ἀληθείας, leaves little doubt about its use here.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

them
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
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.

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.

sanctify
ἁγιάζω (hagiazō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 37: From hagios; to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate; to venerate.

Myself,
ἐμαυτόν (emauton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1683: Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton'.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

they
αὐτοὶ (autoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
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.

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

may be
ὦσιν (ōsin)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

sanctified
ἡγιασμένοι (hēgiasmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 37: From hagios; to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate; to venerate.

by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] truth.
ἀληθείᾳ (alētheia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 225: From alethes; truth.


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NT Gospels: John 17:19 For their sakes I sanctify myself that (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 17:18
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