What Does John 15:21 Mean in the King James?
But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
They can attack the nature revealed in Jesus’ name precisely because they do not perceive the One who sent him.
THE MEANING
The harm done to you for carrying Jesus’ nature does not prove that nature is false; the verse locates the hostility in failure to recognize the Sender. A person can oppose the one who is sent without perceiving the One behind him. The verse holds both the harm and the blindness plainly.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Hostility toward you does not prove that the nature you bear is false; this verse says opposition can arise because the Sender is not recognized.
THE ROOT
ὄνομα
onoma
GROWS FROM
ὄνομα (onoma), with the stem ὀνοματ-
Name; also reputation or the person as made known.
“For my name’s sake” reaches beyond a label: the harm comes because Jesus’ nature is present in the one who bears his name. English leaves that link easy to miss, but the verse joins the name opposed to the Sender who is not perceived.
ALSO GROWS
onomazō: To name or call by name.
ὀνομάζω
The act of naming makes a person known; here, Jesus’ name carries his nature into view.
onomastos: Named, renowned.
ὀνομαστός
A person’s renown is what is known about them; this branch draws attention to the character represented by Jesus’ name.
οἴδασιν
oidāsin
GROWS FROM
οἶδα (oida), from the seeing root εἴδω (eidō)
To see or perceive; οἶδα means to know.
The word translated “know” is tied to seeing: the verse describes a failure to perceive the Sender, not merely a lack of facts. That failure sits beside the name they oppose, linking the unseen Sender to the nature revealed in Jesus.
ALSO GROWS
eidon: Saw.
εἶδον
This form preserves the seeing root beneath “know,” bringing the verse’s failure of recognition into focus.
eidos: Form, appearance.
εἶδος
This seeing-related branch helps illuminate the gap: Jesus’ nature is made visible, yet the Sender remains unrecognized.
THE PATTERN
A response to the one sent reaches through the messenger to the one who sent him.
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.THE THREAD
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.The same knowing word appears beside the same sending relationship: they know Jesus and where he is from, yet do not perceive the Sender. That pairing opens the verse’s tension: familiarity with the sent one does not itself mean recognition of the One who sent him.
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