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Amplified Bible

John 15:15

"I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Friends;   God;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Scofield Reference Index - Fellowship;   Separation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Abiding in Christ;   Christ;   Christ's;   Divine;   Fellowship-Estrangement;   Friends of Christ;   Friendship;   Friendship-Friendlessness;   Mysteries-Revelations;   Nearness to God;   Revelations, Devine;   Secret Things;   Vine;   The Topic Concordance - Bearing Fruit;   Choosing/chosen;   Comfort;   Enemies;   Friendship;   Hate;   Holy Spirit;   Jesus Christ;   Ordination;   Persecution;   Prayer;   Sending and Those Sent;   Servants;   Sin;   Truth;   Witness;   World;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Christ, the Prophet;   Titles and Names of Saints;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Comforter;   Friend;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Love;   Obedience;   Servant;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christians, Names of;   Friend, Friendship;   Hear, Hearing;   Spirituality;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Union to Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abraham;   Mystery;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Friend, Friendship;   John, the Gospel of;   John, the Letters of;   Son of God;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Children (Sons) of God;   God;   Holy Spirit;   John, Theology of;   Of;   Vine, Vineyard;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abiding;   Character of Christ;   Communion (2);   Consciousness;   Family;   Freedom of the Will;   Friendship;   Hearing;   Humanity of Christ;   Incarnation (2);   Keeping;   Kenosis;   Labour (2);   Life ;   Lord (2);   Love (2);   Man (2);   Prophet;   Quotations (2);   Righteous, Righteousness;   Son of God;   Steward, Stewardship;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Abraham ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Fruit;   Pentecost;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Friend;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Friend;   Keys, Power of;   Lord's Supper (Eucharist);   Of;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 16;   Every Day Light - Devotion for November 17;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for June 16;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
I don't call y'all hired hands anymore. Hired hands don't know the ranch's business, but I've told y'all everything my Daddy told me.
Legacy Standard Bible
No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Bible in Basic English
No longer do I give you the name of servants; because a servant is without knowledge of what his master is doing: I give you the name of friends, because I have given you knowledge of all the things which my Father has said to me.
Darby Translation
I call you no longer bondmen, for the bondman does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things which I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.
New King James Version
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Christian Standard Bible®
I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.
World English Bible
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
Weymouth's New Testament
No longer do I call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all that I have heard from the Father I have made known to you.
King James Version (1611)
Henceforth I call you not seruants, for the seruant knoweth not what his lord doth, but I haue called you friends: for all things that I haue heard of my Father, I haue made knowen vnto you.
Literal Translation
I no longer call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his lord does. But I called you friends, because all things which I heard from My Father I made known to you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Hence forth call I you not seruauntes, for a seruaunt knoweth not what his lorde doeth. But I haue sayde that ye are frendes: For all that I haue herde of my father, haue I shewed vnto you.
Mace New Testament (1729)
henceforth I do not treat you as servants; for the servant is unacquainted with his master's affairs: but I have treated you as friends; for what I have learnt of my father, I have communicated to you.
American Standard Version
No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known unto you.
Revised Standard Version
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Hence forth call I you not servauntes: for the servaunt knoweth not what his Lorde doeth. But you have I called frendes: for all thinges that I have hearde of my father I have opened to you.
Update Bible Version
No longer do I call you slaves; for the slave doesn't know what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
Webster's Bible Translation
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
Young's Literal Translation
no more do I call you servants, because the servant hath not known what his lord doth, and you I have called friends, because all things that I heard from my Father, I did make known to you.
New Century Version
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father.
New English Translation
I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father.
Contemporary English Version
Servants don't know what their master is doing, and so I don't speak to you as my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything that my Father has told me.
Complete Jewish Bible
I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn't know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
English Standard Version
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Henceforth call I you not seruants: for the seruant knoweth not what his master doeth: but I haue called you friends: for all things that I haue heard of my Father, haue I made knowen to you.
George Lamsa Translation
Henceforth I will not call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master does; but I have always called you my friends, because everything that I heard from my Father I made it known to you.
Hebrew Names Version
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
International Standard Version
I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.Genesis 18:17; John 17:26; Acts 20:27;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
No more I call you servants, for the servant knoweth not what doeth his Lord; but my friends have I called you; wherefore all that I have heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.
Murdock Translation
I no longer call you servants; because a servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you my friends; because, whatever I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
New Living Translation
I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
New Life Bible
I do not call you servants that I own anymore. A servant does not know what his owner is doing. I call you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from My Father.
English Revised Version
No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known unto you.
Berean Standard Bible
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
New Revised Standard
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
No longer, do I call you, servants, for, the servant, knoweth not what, his lord, is doing. But, you, I have called, friends, because, all things which I heard from my Father, made I known unto you.
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends. because all things, whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.
King James Version
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Lexham English Bible
No longer do I call you slaves, because the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything that I have heard from my Father I have revealed to you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Hencefoorth call I you not seruautes: for the seruaunt knoweth not what his Lorde doeth. But you haue I called frendes, for all thynges that I haue hearde of my father, haue I made knowen to you.
Easy-to-Read Version
I no longer call you servants, because servants don't know what their master is doing. But now I call you friends, because I have told you everything that my Father told me.
New American Standard Bible
"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Good News Translation
I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Now Y schal not clepe you seruauntis, for the seruaunt woot not, what his lord schal do; but Y haue clepid you freendis, for alle thingis what euere Y herde of my fadir, Y haue maad knowun to you.

Contextual Overview

9"I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. 10"If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. 11"I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. 12"This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. 13"No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. 14"You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. 15"I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.16"You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you. 17"This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I call: John 15:20, John 12:26, John 13:16, John 20:17, Galatians 4:6, Philemon 1:16, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1:1, Revelation 1:1

friends: James 2:23

all: John 4:19, John 17:6-8, John 17:26, Genesis 18:17-19, 2 Kings 6:8-12, Psalms 25:14, Amos 3:7, Matthew 13:11, Luke 10:23, Acts 20:27, Romans 16:25, Romans 16:26, 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:5, Colossians 1:26, 1 Peter 1:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 33:11 - his friend Numbers 12:8 - dark speeches Deuteronomy 18:18 - he shall Deuteronomy 29:29 - secret Judges 13:23 - he have showed 1 Samuel 9:27 - Bid the servant 1 Samuel 20:2 - show it me 1 Kings 1:27 - and thou 1 Kings 4:5 - the king's 2 Kings 4:27 - hid it from me 2 Chronicles 6:16 - keep 2 Chronicles 9:2 - all 2 Chronicles 20:7 - thy friend Job 15:8 - the secret Proverbs 3:32 - his Proverbs 18:24 - there Song of Solomon 1:9 - O my Song of Solomon 5:1 - friends Isaiah 41:8 - my friend Isaiah 48:6 - showed Jeremiah 23:18 - counsel Daniel 2:23 - and hast Matthew 20:17 - took Luke 8:9 - What Luke 8:21 - My mother John 3:32 - what John 5:20 - and showeth John 8:26 - and I John 12:49 - General John 16:12 - yet John 16:23 - ask Romans 1:1 - a servant 1 Corinthians 2:16 - But Hebrews 1:2 - spoken

Cross-References

Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great."
Genesis 15:2
Abram said, "Lord GOD, what reward will You give me, since I am [leaving this world] childless, and he who will be the owner and heir of my house is this [servant] Eliezer from Damascus?"
Genesis 15:7
And He said to him, "I am the [same] LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance."
Genesis 15:9
So God said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."
Genesis 15:13
God said to Abram, "Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.
Genesis 15:16
"Then in the fourth generation your descendants shall return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (finished)."
Genesis 15:19
[the land of] the Kenites and the Kenizzites and the Kadmonites
Genesis 23:4
"I am a stranger and a sojourner (resident alien) among you; give (sell) me property for a burial place among you so that I may bury my dead [in the proper manner]."
Genesis 23:19
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah to the east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 35:29
Isaac's spirit departed and he died and was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death], an old man full of days (satisfied, fulfilled); his sons Esau and Jacob buried him [in the cave of Machpelah with his parents Abraham and Sarah].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Henceforth I call you not servants,.... As they and the rest of the people of God had been, under the legal dispensation; for though they were children, yet differed nothing from servants; and were very much influenced and impressed with a servile spirit, a spirit of bondage unto fear, being kept under tutors and governors by a severe discipline; but now Christ being come in the flesh, and being about to lay down his life, and make reconciliation for them, henceforward he would not use, treat, or account them as servants:

for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth; designs to do, or is about to do; he is not made privy to all his counsels and purposes; these are only opened to him as necessity requires; which was pretty much the case of the Old Testament church, who, comparatively speaking, were used as servants; and had not the knowledge of the mysteries of grace, and of the counsels of God, as they are now laid open under the Gospel dispensation:

but I have called you friends; that is, accounted, reckoned of them, used them as his friends and familiar acquaintance; whom he told all his mind unto, and would go on to treat them as such; by leading them more and more, as they were able to bear it, into the designs of his grace, and the doctrines of his Gospel: just as Abraham was called the friend of God, and proved to be so, by his not concealing from him the thing he was about to do:

for all things I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you; not all that he knew as the omniscient God, for there was no necessity that all such things should be made known to them; but all things which he had delivered to him as man and Mediator, by his Father, respecting the salvation of men; all things which he himself was to do and suffer, in order to obtain eternal redemption; and the whole of the Gospel, as to the essential and substantial parts of it, they were to preach; for otherwise, there were some things which as yet they were not able to bear, and were reserved to another time, to be made known unto them by his Spirit.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I call you not servants - This had been the common title by which he addressed them Matthew 10:24-25; John 12:26; John 13:13; but he had also before this, on one occasion, called them friends Luke 12:4, and on one occasion after this he called them servants, John 15:20. He here means that the ordinary title by which he would hence forth address them would be that of friends.

The servant knoweth not ... - He receives the command of his master without knowing the reason why this or that thing is ordered. It is one of the conditions of slavery not to be let into the counsels and plans of the master. It is the privilege of friendship to be made acquainted with the plans wishes, and wants of the friend. This instance of friendship Jesus had given them by making them acquainted with the reasons why he was about to leave them, and with his secret wishes in regard to them. As he had given their this proof of friendship, it was proper that he should not withhold from them the title of friends.

His lord - His Master.

I have called you friends - I have given you the name of friends. He does not mean that the usual appellation which he had given them had been than of friends, but that such was the title which he had now given them.

For all things ... - The reason why he called them friends was that he had now treated them as friends. He had opened to them his mind; made known his plans; acquainted them with the design of his coming, his death, his resurrection, and ascension; and, having thus given them the clearest proof of friendship, it was proper that he should give them the name.

That I have heard ... - Jesus frequently represents himself as commissioned or sent by God to accomplish an important work, and as being instructed by him in regard to the nature of that work. See the notes at John 5:30. By what he had heard of the Father, he doubtless refers to the design of God in his coming and his death. This he had made known to them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 15:15. Henceforth I call you not servants — Which he at least indirectly had done, John 13:16; Matthew 10:24-25; Luke 17:10.

I have called you friends — I have admitted you into a state of the most intimate fellowship with myself; and have made known unto you whatsoever I have heard from the Father, which, in your present circumstances, it was necessary for you to be instructed in.


 
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