Bible Strands
John 16:3
They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to His disciples in His final discourse, warning them of imminent persecution. He explains that opponents will expel and kill them while believing they are serving God.
The words — ἔγνωσαν (egnōsan) means "they know," and ὅτι (hoti) means "because." The text states the persecutors will commit violence because they have not known the Father or Jesus.
The thread — This pattern of hostility rooted in divine ignorance runs through John 15:21 and John 8:19, where opponents reject Jesus and the Father. John 17:25 contrasts the world’s failure to know God with Jesus’ direct knowledge of Him.
Why it lands — The text asserts that religious persecution originates from spiritual blindness rather than genuine devotion. It requires readers to distinguish between self-righteous action and knowledge of God before judging or acting.
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
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Cross-references
- John 15:21 But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.
- John 17:25 Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
- John 8:19 “Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
- John 8:55 You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- John 17:3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
- 1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
- Luke 10:22 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
- John 15:23 Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well.