John 17:21

That they all may be one;

After the Last Supper, Jesus prays. He just said he asks about all who trust.

Spoken to:: Father
KJV issues:: 7

KJV

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

NIV

John 17:21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

What His Listeners Heard

So that all might be one, even as you, Father, within me and I within you; so that also they themselves may be within us; so that this society might trust because you yourself sent me out.

Greek

Greek Word Order

ἵνα πάντες ἓν ὦσιν, καθὼς σύ, πατήρ, ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν σοί,
So that all one might be even as you, Father, within me and I within you;

ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἡμῖν ὦσιν,
so that also they themselves within us; may be

ἵνα ὁ κόσμος πιστεύῃ ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας.
so that this society might trust because you yourself me sent out.

Jesus invites us to share goals with the Divine, His goal with us and our goals with Him.

Lost in Translation

There are three "so that" conjunctions in this verse, so it is a series of explanations of the meaning of "one". However, the last "that" is a different Greek word that means "because". This last clause is the final explanation of the unity: that Jesus was sent out by his father.

The "all" that begins this verse refers to "those who trust in the apostle's message". The concept of "one" here is interesting because its form is neuter singular, which doesn't match the masculine plural subject. This means unity, a united group. So the "one" is a new thing.

This unity is defined here as being "within" each other. This structure, with the personal pronouns, is frequently used to mean "in my/your/our hands" or "in my/your/our power". So the Father is in Jesus's hands. Jesus is in the Father's hands and we are in their hands.

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

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".

πάντες [212 verses](adj pl masc nom) "They all" is pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds" and "anything". In the adverbial form, it means "every way", "on every side", "in every way" and "altogether".

ἓν [85 verses]([85 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular.

ὦσιν, [614 verses](3rd pl pres subj act) "May 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.

καθὼς [36 verses] (adv) "How" is kathos, which means "even as", "how" and, in relating to time, "as" and "when".

σὺ [36 verses](pron 2nd sg nom) "Thee/you" is su, which means "you" in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject.

πατήρ, [191 verses](noun sg masc voc) "Father" is pater, which means "father", "grandfather", "author", "parent" and "forefathers".

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".

ἐμοὶ [96 verses](pron 1st sg masc/fem dat) "Me" is moi (emoi), which can be the object of some prepositions and as the object of a verb means "to me", "for me" and "by me".

κἀγὼ [34 verses](conj, pron 1st sg masc nom ) "And...I" is kago, a contraction of kai-ego. It also appears as a contraction of other forms of the pronoun, kamoi (dative) and kame (acc). "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". "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".

σοὶ [81 verses](pron 2nd sg dat) "Thee" is soi which is the singular, second-person pronoun, "you" in the form of an indirect pronoun.

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".

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".

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".

ἡμῖν [15 verses](pron 1st pl masc/fem dat) "Us" is from hemin, which is the first person plural dative pronoun, "to us".

ὦσιν, [614 verses](3rd pl pres subj act) "May 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.

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".

ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

κόσμος [63 verses](noun sg masc nom) "World" is kosmos, which mean "order", "good order", "ruler", "civilization", "world order", "universe" and "the world of men". It is a form of the verb kosmeô, which means "to order", "to arrange", "to rule", "to adorn" (especially women) and "to equip". It especially means controlling and arranging an army.

πιστεύῃ [69 verses](verb 3rd sg pres subj act "May believe" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person", "to believe in someone's words", "to comply", "to feel confident in a thing" and "to entrust in a thing".

ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that", "seeing that" and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what", "because", "since" and "wherefore".

σὺ [36 verses](pron 2nd sg nom) "Thee/you" is su, which means "you" in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject.

με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means "me".

ἀπέστειλας. [60 verses](2nd sg aor ind act) "Thou hast sent" is apostello, which means "to send off", "to send away" or "to dispatch".

KJV — word by word

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.

all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every" and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything". As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side" and "altogether".

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 -- 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" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.

one; -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

as -- "As" is from a Greek word that means which means "even as", "how" and, in relating to time, "as" and "when"

thou, -- The "you" here in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use repeats the idea of who is speaking, "you". Saying "you yourself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "yourself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself".

Father, -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

art -- There is no verb "art" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among", with a dative object as the one here.

me, -- The "me" is in the indirect object form of the first-person pronoun, so usually "to me", "for me" and "by me". A dative object of a preposition implies no movement, but in a fixed position, events that occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed.

and I -- This is from "and I", a contraction of the conjunction "and" and the first person pronoun, "I/me". This "I" is a subject. Since the verb is already in the first person, subjective pronoun, the addition of this pronoun is like saying "and I myself", emphasizing the first-person speaker.

missing "myself" -- (MW) The -go represents the first-person, subjective pronoun, "I". The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself".

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among", with a dative object as the one here.

thee, -- The word for "thee" is the indirect object form of the singular, second-person pronoun in the form of an indirect object, which usually requires a preposition in English, like "to you".

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 -- The word translated as "they" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural. The form is the third person, plural in the form of the subject 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".

also -- 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".

may -- The Greek word translated as "may" 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."

be -- The verb "is" 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.

one - (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "one" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among", with a dative object as the one here.

us: - "To us" is the first person plural pronoun, "we", "us", as an indirect object.

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.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those") than the English "the". See this article for more

world -- Jesus uses the word translated as "the world" to mean "the world order" and "civilization", specifically its "rulers" or its organization. Today, we use the word "society" or "regime" in this sense. More about this word in this article about related words.

may -- 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".

believe -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "believe" does not apply to religious belief as much but trusting or relying upon other people, especially their words. Jesus usually uses it in contexts, such as the one here, that apply to trusting words.

that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what", "because", "since" and "wherefore". This is not the word translated as "that" above.

thou -- The "you" here in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use repeats the idea of who is speaking, "you". Saying "you yourself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "yourself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself".

hast -- (WT) This helping verb "hast" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

sent --- (CW) The "send" here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch". It is the source of our word "apostle". This word is not the simple "send" but a more complex one that means "send out" or "send from".

me. -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.

NIV — word by word

of them-- (WF) This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

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 -- 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.

one; -- The Greek word translated as "one" means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". As in English, it can be used as a pronoun, meaning a single person.

Father, -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

just as -- "As" is from a Greek word that means which means "even as", "how" and, in relating to time, "as" and "when".

you, -- The "you" here is the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use repeats the idea of who is speaking, "you". Saying "you yourself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "yourself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself".

are--- There is no verb "are" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among", with a dative object as the one here.

am -- There is no verb "am" here in the Greek source but it is implied by the noun in the form of a subject having no verb associated with it.

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among", with a dative object as the one here.

you, -- The word for "thee" is the indirect object form of the singular, second-person pronoun in the form of an indirect object, which usually requires a preposition in English, like "to you".

missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "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.

May - 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".

they -- The word translated as "they" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person pronoun. The form is the third person, plural in the form of the subject 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".

in -- The word translated as "in" means "in", "within", "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time) or "among", with a dative object as the one here.

us: - "To us" is the first person plural pronoun, "we", "us", as an indirect object.

so that -- The word translated as "so 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.

that -- (CW) The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." This is not the word translated as "that" above.

you -- The "you" here in the second-person pronoun in form of a singular subject. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use repeats the idea of who is speaking, "you". Saying "you yourself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "yourself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "you yourself".

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

sent --- (CW) The "send " here is a word that means "to send off" and "dispatch". It is the source of our word "apostle". This word is not the simple "send" but a more complex one that means "send out" or "send from".

Greek

Greek Word Order

Lost in Translation

Vocabulary (Greek word by word)

KJV — word by word

NIV — word by word

Related Verses