17:8a

For: The word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as For here means “because.” It introduces the reason that the disciples knew that Jesus’ message was from God. Here is another way to translate this word:

because (NET Bible)

I have given them the words You gave Me: This clause indicates that Jesus taught the disciples the things that God the Father wanted him to teach them. The Greek text emphasizes the phrase the words You gave Me. For example:

I gave them the teachings you gave me (New Century Version)
-or-
every message that you gave me I have given them (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
what I have given them are the teachings that you gave to me
-or-
it is the message that you told me that I told them

17:8b

and they have received them: This clause indicates that the disciples believed and obeyed what Jesus taught them. The Greek text emphasizes the word they, perhaps to contrast with others who did not believe. For example:

and they accepted them (New Century Version)
-or-
and they, ⌊unlike others,⌋ believed this message

17:8c

They knew with certainty that I came from You: This expression indicates that the disciples knew that Jesus had come from God. They understood correctly that what Jesus said about himself was true. The Greek text emphasizes the phrase from You. Here are other ways to translate this expression:

and they absolutely know that you are the one I came-from (Kankanaey Back Translation)
-or-
and they know that it is true that it is from you that I came

17:8d

and they believed that You sent Me: This clause indicates that the disciples believed that God the Father had sent Jesus into the world. Jesus implied that their belief was correct. The Greek text emphasizes the words You and Me, especially You. It is significant that it was God the Father who sent Jesus. Here is another way to translate this clause:

and they believe that you are the one who sent me (Uma Back Translation)

General Comment on 17:8c–d

These two clauses mean nearly the same thing. They repeat the same idea for emphasis. Some languages have other ways of emphasizing and can combine these two statements. For example:

They knew for certain that I really came from you ⌊as your messenger⌋ .

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