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John 17:19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself,
After the Last Supper, Jesus prays. He just said he and his apostles were sent into the world.
John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
John 17:19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
And, on behalf of them, I myself sanctify myself so that they exist also themselves having been sanctified in truth.
Greek
Greek Word Order
Jesus can purify himself and us by washing us in the truth.
Lost in Translation
Most of the emphasis in this verse is lost in translation. Jesus uses the subject pronoun "I myself" as the one who sactifies himself. He then uses the subject pronoun "they" to emphasize the apostles. The tenses and verb forms here are also interesting and lost in translation. Jesus is sanctifying himself in the present tense so that his apostles can live already having been sanctified. The first verb "to be" has the sense of "exist", also in the present tense. It is mistranslated as a helper verb, forming a passive, but that is not its role in Greek. The participle "sanctified" is passive, but it is also the past perfect tense, an action completed in the past. Both ideas come from its verb ending, but must be translated using helper verbs in English, "having been sanctified".
The preposition before "truth" is mistranslated in the KJV and eliminated in the NIV. It is not "through" but "in". The feeling being that they are cleansed by truth as we are cleansed by water. In Greek, "truth" means what is real as opposed to appearances. The word means literally, "not hidden", so it conveys the strong sense of something "obvious" as opposed to a mysterious "truth".
Vocabulary (Greek word by word)
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "also". After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also". Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also" and "just".
ὑπὲρ [17 verses](prep) "For..sake" is hyper (huper), which means "over" (of place), "above" (in a state of rest), "off" (ships at sea), "over" and "across" (in a state of motion), "over", "beyond", "on behalf of one" (metaphor), "for", "instead of", "in the name of", "as a representative of" (in an entreaty), "for" and "because of" (of the cause or motive), "concerning", "exceeding", "above" and "beyond" (of measure), "above" and "upwards" (of numbers), "before" and "earlier than" (of time), "over much" and "beyond measure" (as an adverb), "for" and "in deference of" (doing a thing) and "above measure".
αὐτῶν [720 verses](adj pl masc gen) "Their" is autos, is the genitive case of the third person pronoun. The word also means "the same", "one's true self" and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord".
[ἐγὼ] [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I". It also means "I at least", "for my part", "indeed" and "for myself".
ἁγιάζω [6 verses] (1st sg pres ind act) "Sanctify" is hagiazo, which means "to separate from profane things and dedicate to God", "to dedicate people to God", "to purify" and "to cleanse externally or internally". This may be a special form of hagizo which means "to hallow", "to dedicate" and "to make sacred", commonly by burning a sacrifice. It may also be a verb from of the noun hagos, which means "a thing that creates awe".
ἐμαυτόν, [15 verses] (pron sg masc acc) "Myself" is emautou, which means "of me" and "of myself".
ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place", "there", "where", "when", but when beginning a phrase "so that", "in order that", "when" and "because".
ὦσιν .[614 verses](3rd pl pres subj act) "Might be" is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case", of circumstance and events "to happen" and "is possible". With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to". With the dative, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "Also" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "also". After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also". Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also" and "just".
αὐτοὶ [32 verses](pron/adj pl masc nom) "They" is the nominative case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same", "one's true self" and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord".
ἡγιασμένοι [6 verses] (part pl perf mp masc nom) "Sanctified" is hagiazo, which means "to separate from profane things and dedicate to God", "to dedicate people to God", "to purify" and "to cleanse externally or internally". This may be a special form of hagizo which means "to hallow", "to dedicate" and "to make sacred", commonly by burning a sacrifice. It may also be a verb form of the noun hagos, which means "a thing that creates awe".
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power", "during" and "with". With the accusative, it means "into", "on" and "for". Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during".
ἀληθείᾳ. [19 verses] (noun sg fem dat) "Truth" is aletheia, which means literally "the state of not being hidden", "truth" and "reality". It was also applied to "real events" and "the realization of a dream". Applied to people, it means "truthfulness" and "sincerity". The opposite of a lie or appearance. The Greek concept of truth was that it was defined by its opposition to that which is concealed. This goes back to a daughter of Zeus, Aletheia, whose opposites were Dolos (Trickery), Apate (Deception) and the Pseudologoi (Lies).
KJV — word by word
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also". After words implying sameness "as".
for -- "For...sakes" is a preposition that means "over", "beyond", "concerning", "on behalf of" and "instead of", with many other specific uses.
their -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition. As a preposition's object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
sakes - This completes the idea of the preposition.
I -- This is from the pronoun "I" being used here. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I". Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself".
sanctify -- This word is perhaps, an unusual form of a Greek verb meaning "to dedicate to God" and "to sanctify" usually by burning an offering. It may also be a verb form of a Greek noun, meaning "a thing that creates awe". In a good sense, this can mean holy or sacred, but it also means accursed. Another way to think about this word is that it describes something set apart only for God.
myself, -- The Greek reflexive pronoun is translated as "myself". It is used primarily as the object of a preposition. As a genitive object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that", "when", "in order that", "when" or "because." It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
also -- The Greek word translated as "also" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also". After words implying sameness "as".
might -- This helping verb "might" indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- (CW) The verb "be" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. This is not used to create a passive since the endings of Greek verbs determine the voice. Translating it as "exist" is less confusing.
missing "themselves" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "they themselves".
sanctified -- (WT, WV) The "sanctified" here means to "purify" for dedication to the Divine, "to dedicate to God" and "to sanctify", usually by burning an offering. The noun form means "a thing that creates awe". Another way to think about this word is that it describes something set apart only for God. It is a participle, in the past perfect tense, in a passive form so "having been purified".
through -- (CW) The word translated as "through" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among" with a dative object as the one here. When referring to time, it means "during". It can mean "on", "at" or "by", in the sense of "near". This is not the word usually translated as "through".
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
truth. -- The literal meaning of the Greek word for "truth" is "not hidden". It means what is real as opposed to how things seem. Applied to people, it means "truthfulness" and "sincerity". The opposite of a lie or appearance.
NIV — word by word
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also". After words implying sameness "as".
For -- "For" is a preposition that means "over", "beyond", "concerning", "on behalf of" and "instead of", with many other specific uses.
them-- The word translated as "them" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the genitive form. It is used as a possessive or the object of a verb or preposition. As a preposition's object it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
I -- This is from the pronoun "I" is used here. When it has no verb, the verb "is" or the previous verb is assumed. When the subject of the sentence is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I". Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.
missing "myself" -- (MW) The subject pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself".
sanctify -- This word is, perhaps, an unusual form of a Greek verb meaning "to dedicate to God" and "to sanctify" usually by burning an offering. It may also be a verb form of a Greek noun, meaning "a thing that creates awe". In a good sense, this can mean holy or sacred, but it also means accursed. Another way to think about this word is that it describes something set apart only for God.
myself, -- The Greek reflexive pronoun is translated as "myself". It is used primarily as the object of a preposition. As a genitive object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause "that", "when", "in order that", "when" or "because". It is used as an introduction to a command, where it isn't translated.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
missing "themselves" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "they themselves".
too -- The Greek word translated as "too" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also". After words implying sameness "as".
may -- This helping verb "may " indicates that the verb indicates a possibility, the subjunctive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
be -- (CW) The verb "be" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. This is not used to create a passive since the endings of Greek verbs determine the voice. Translating it as "exist" is less confusing.
missing "in" -- (MW) The untranslated word "in" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among" with a dative object as the one here. When referring to time, it means "during". It can mean "on", "at" or "by", in the sense of "near". This is not the word usually translated as "through".
truly -- (WF) The literal meaning of the Greek word for "truly" is the noun, "truth" which literally means "not hidden". It means what is real as opposed to how things seem. Applied to people, it means "truthfulness" and "sincerity". The opposite of a lie or appearance. It is not an adverb.
sanctified -- (WT, WV) The "sanctifed" here means to "purify" for dedication to the Divine, "to dedicate to God" and "to sanctify" usually by burning an offering. The noun form means "a thing that creates awe". Another way to think about this word is that it describes something set apart only for God. It is a participle, in the past perfect tense, in a passive form so "having been purified".
Related Verses
Jhn 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world,
Jhn 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth
Jhn 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Jhn 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world,