# John 17.17

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 15. <span class="rl-speech">I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.</span>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.</span> (John 17:15-19, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 15. <span class="rl-speech">I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.</span>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.</span> (John 17:15-19, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 15. <span class="rl-speech">I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.</span>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. <sup>sanctified: or, truly sanctified</sup></span> (John 17:15-19, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 15. <span class="rl-speech">I do not ask that Thou mayest take them out of the world, but that Thou mayest keep them out of the evil.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">'Of the world they are not, as I of the world am not;</span>
>
> **17. <span class="rl-speech">sanctify them in Thy truth, Thy word is truth;</span>**
>
> 18. <span class="rl-speech">as Thou didst send me to the world, I also did send them to the world;</span> 19. <span class="rl-speech">and for them do I sanctify myself, that they also themselves may be sanctified in truth.</span> (John 17:15-19, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G0225 - aletheia](/codex/g0225-aletheia/), *aletheia* (Strong's G225). Also appears in: [Mark 12](/codex/mark-12/), [Luke 22.54-62](/codex/luke-22-54-62/), [John 1.14](/codex/john-1-14/).
- [G3056 - logos](/codex/g3056-logos/), *logos* (Strong's G3056). Also appears in: [Matthew 7.24-27](/codex/matthew-7-24-27/), [Matthew 8.5-12](/codex/matthew-8-5-12/), [Matthew 8.16](/codex/matthew-8-16/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Argument from Sanctity](/codex/argument-from-sanctity/), via [John 17.17-19](/codex/john-17-17-19/)
- [Argument from the Reliability of Reason](/codex/argument-from-the-reliability-of-reason/)
- [Bible Contradictions Objection Defeater](/codex/bible-contradictions-objection-defeater/)
- [Fitness Beats Truth Argument](/codex/fitness-beats-truth-argument/)
- [Satanic Fabrication Objection Defeater](/codex/satanic-fabrication-objection-defeater/)

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 17](/codex/john-17/)
- [Sanctification](/codex/sanctification/)
- [Theories of Truth](/codex/theories-of-truth/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0225 - aletheia](/codex/g0225-aletheia/)
- [G2889 - kosmos](/codex/g2889-kosmos/)
- [H0001 - ab](/codex/h0001-ab/)
- [H0571 - emet](/codex/h0571-emet/)
- [H8034 - shem](/codex/h8034-shem/)

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