Bible Strands
John 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to his chosen disciples in the upper room after washing their feet, following the servant-master principle of verse 16. The immediate referent of "these things" is the foot-washing example he has just given.
The words — The verse deploys two distinct conditionals: εἰ (ei, "if") with the indicative οἴδατε ("you know") treats knowledge as a given, while ἐὰν (ean, "if") with the subjunctive ποιῆτε ("you do") introduces a condition not assumed to be met. Doing is the uncertain, required step.
The thread — Luke 11:28 pairs hearing with obeying as the mark of blessing; James 4:17 makes the gap between knowing and doing a matter of guilt; James 1:25 contrasts the forgetful hearer with the doer of the word.
Why it lands — The verse separates knowledge from obedience and makes the latter the condition for blessing. Knowing the foot-washing lesson without imitating it leaves the condition unfulfilled.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Cross-references
- Luke 11:28 But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
- James 4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
- James 1:25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
- Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
- Exodus 40:16 Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.
- Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
- Luke 12:47 That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
- Psalms 19:11 By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
- Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
- Psalms 119:1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.