Paragraph 17:6–8

In this paragraph Jesus asks his Father to protect his disciples from Satan’s attacks.

17:6a

I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world: Jesus continued to pray to God while his disciples were listening. He said that he had caused his disciples to know God’s name. That means that he had taught his disciples what God was like. This is one way that Jesus glorified the Father (see 17:4). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I have made you known to those you gave me out of the world (Good News Translation)
-or-
I have revealed you to the people from this world that you gave me
-or-
I showed what you are like to those you gave me from the world (New Century Version)

Your name: This phrase here refers to God’s character, God himself. See the note on name at 3:18c and see how you translated the idea there and in Psalm 29:2. The Greek text here emphasizes the word Your. See the examples just above for other ways to translate this phrase.

those You have given Me: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those usually means “people” or “humans,” although in some contexts it can mean “men.” Here this clause seems to refer to the remaining 11 disciples, so some English translations translate the word as “men.” However, a few scholars think that the word could also refer to Jesus’ other followers. So it is better to translate the Greek word as “people” or a word like those if possible. “People” is closer to the meaning of the Greek word and could include women and children. However, the following verses indicate that Jesus here referred to the 11 disciples he had been talking to. So if you need to use the word “men,” you may do that. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the people whom you gave me (English Standard Version)
-or-
You have given me some followers (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the ones you gave me (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the men you gave me (NET Bible)

You have given Me: This clause is similar to one in 17:2b. There, however, the phrase refers to all believers, while here it probably refers to his remaining 11 disciples. See the note in 17:2b and how you translated the similar idea in that verse. For example:

whom you entrusted to me (Kankanaey Back Translation)

out of the world: This phrase indicates that Jesus’ disciples used to be part of the world (community) of unbelievers. At one time they also did not believe in Jesus. See also 15:19. For example:

from among ⌊the unbelievers in⌋ the world
-or-
from the people ⌊who do not believe in me⌋

General Comment on 17:6a

In some languages it may be natural to rearrange the information in 17:6a, putting the events in chronological order and forming two clauses. For example:

You have given me some followers from this world, and I have shown them what you are like. (Contemporary English Version)

17:6b

They were Yours: This clause indicates that these people belonged to God. Even before they followed Jesus, in some way they were God’s people. The Greek text emphasizes the word Yours. Here is another way to translate this clause:

They belonged to you (Good News Translation)

17:6c

You gave them to Me: This clause refers to the same people referred to in 17:6a. See the note there and how you translated the same idea there. For example:

and you entrusted them to me (Kankanaey Back Translation)

17:6d

and they have kept Your word: The phrase kept Your word means “followed your teaching.” See how you translated a similar phrase in 8:51. Jesus had told the disciples who God was and what God wanted them to do. They listened to him, believed him, and obeyed him. The tense of the verb indicates that they continued to obey him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they have obeyed your word (NET Bible)
-or-
They did what you told them. (God’s Word)
-or-
they have obeyed you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they have obeyed your teaching (New Century Version)

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