John 14:20
in John 14On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
KJV
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
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This verse in John 14
Commentary
21 notes on this verseIf it is merely because he loves and is loved that the Son is in God the Father, and if by the same law we are in the Son and he in us, and no different bond of union is discernible—whether we consider that which binds the Son to the Father or us to him and him to us—then in what sense, or on what principle, I ask you, does Jesus say that "in that day" we shall know the mystery of this?…"For in that day you shall know," he says, "that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you."
This site's exposition
I will not leave you as orphans
on John 14:18-20
Orphans translates orphanous, children left with no father, and Jesus promises to come to them Himself. The world loses sight of Him while the disciples see Him, and they live because He lives. On that day they will know they are in Him.
This site's exposition
On that day you will know
Readers differ on which day is meant. John Chrysostom and Albert Barnes take it as the days after the resurrection, when the risen Lord settled their faith. Augustine of Hippo takes it as the life to come, when believers will see what they now believe.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"In that day," He says, "ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." In what day, but in that whereof He said, "Ye shall live also"? For then will it be that we can see what we believe. For even now is He in us, and we in Him: this we believe now, but then shall we also know it; although what we know even now by faith, we shall know then by actual vision. For as long as we are in the body, as it now is, to wit, corruptible, and encumbering to the soul, we live at a distance from the Lord; for we walk by faith, not by sight. Then accordingly it will be by sight, for we shall see Him as He is. For if Christ were not even now in us, the apostle would not say, "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead indeed because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness." But that we are also in Him even then, He makes sufficiently clear, when He says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches." Accordingly in that day, when we shall be living the life, whereby death shall be swallowed up, we shall know that He is in the Father, and we in Him, and He in us; for then shall be completed that very state which is already in the present begun by Him, that He should be in us, and we in Him.
It follows: In that day (the day of which He saith, ye shall live also) ye shall know, i. e. whereas now ye believe, then ye shall see, that I am in the Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. For when we shall have attained to that life in which death is swallowed up, then shall be finished that which is now begun by Him, that He should be in us, and we in Him.
Now how it is that we are in Him through the sacrament of the flesh and blood bestowed upon us, He Himself testifies, saying, And the world will no longer see Me, but ye shall see Me; because I live ye shall live also; because I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. If He wished to indicate a mere unity of will, why did He set forth a kind of gradation and sequence in the completion of the unity, unless it were that, since He was in the Father through the nature of Deity, and we on the contrary in Him through His birth in the body, He would have us believe that He is in us through the mystery of the sacraments? and thus there might be taught a perfect unity through a Mediator, whilst, we abiding in Him, He abode in the Father, and as abiding in the Father abode also in us; and so we might arrive at unity with the Father, since in Him Who dwells naturally in the Father by birth, we also dwell naturally, while He Himself abides naturally in us also.
(viii. de Trin) Or He means by this, that whereas He was in the Father by the nature of His divinity, and we in Him by means of His birth in the flesh; He on the other hand should be believed to be in us by the mystery of the Sacrament: as He Himself testified above: Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in Him. (supr. 6:54)
A commentator
Cyril of AlexandriaCommentary on the Gospel of John, Book 9 · Written before 444.
proposed
The meaning of the passage before us is somewhat hard to reach, and as it were demands that the inquiry applied to it be keen, and imposes very considerable delay on our discourse: howbeit we believe that Christ will once more direct us into truth. Now some, albeit among the number of those once supposed among the impious heretics to be of eminence, refusing malignantly to confess that the Son is of the essence of God the Father, and is therefore in Him, conceive that the union is an accidental one and not one of nature; and in fact they have written----belching forth thereby what proceeds from their own minds, not from the Holy Spirit----that, forasmuch as the Son is loved by the Father, and Himself loves the Father in return, it is after this sort that He is in Him. And these demented men bring as a proof hard to overthrow, the words attached to the clause before us, to wit concerning us and Him; and indeed they say, resting withal their blasphemies on the staff of a reed, that as we are said to be in Him, and have Him in ourselves, and are not united to Him in the matter of our essence, but the manner of the union is determined by our capacity to love and be loved in return; so the Son also, one of them would say, is not at all within the essence of God the Father, but being wholly distinct in the matter of His nature, and being quite differently characterised, is understood to be in the Father solely by virtue of the law of love. […]
13 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers3 voices
(Hom. lxxv. 2) Or, in that day, on which I shall rise again, ye shall know. For His resurrection it was that established their faith. Then the powerful teaching of the Holy Spirit began. His saying, I am in the Father, expresses His humility; the next, And ye in Me, and I in you, His humanity and God's assistance to Him. Scripture often uses the same words in different senses, as applied to God and to men.
When someone sweeps clean their soul in the name of Christ, Christ dwells in them and God dwells in Christ. From that time onward, that person becomes one of three persons—himself; Christ, who dwells in him; and God, who dwells in Christ.
Then, he says, from these facts only you will learn that what I said to you was true about which you now have your doubts. I said, "I am in my Father" concerning the equality of nature and the inseparable connection when I will appear …
The Medieval Church4 voices
"In that day you shall know that I am in My Father," that is, when I rise again, then you shall know that I am not separated from the Father, but have one and the same power. "And you in Me," that is, kept by …
On that day you will know that I am in my Father: in which is noted the distinction of persons and the unity of essence; which pertains to the faith of the Trinity; and you in me, and I in you, through grace, and this …
By love, and the observance of His commandments, that will be perfected in us which He has begun, viz. that we should be in Him, and He in us. And that this blessedness may be understood to be promised to all, not to the Apostles only, He adds, He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me.
Now we see the fruit of his return, which is the knowledge of those things which the apostles did not know. For, as we saw, Peter did not know where Christ was going, and so he asked: "Lord, where are you going?" (13:36); and Thomas …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
At that day ye shall know,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
That I am in my Father - After my resurrection, ye shall be more fully convinced of this important truth, that I and the Father are One; for I will live in you by the energy of my Spirit, and ye shall live in me by faith, love, and obedience.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
The short passage before us is singularly rich in "precious promises." Twice our Lord Jesus Christ says, "I will." Twice He says to believers, "You shall." We learn from this passage, that Christ's second coming is meant to be the special comfort of believers. He says to His disciples, "I will not leave you comfortless—I will come to you." Now what is the "coming" here spoken of? It is only fair to say that this is a disputed point among Christians. Many refer it to our Lord's coming to His disciples after His resurrection.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I will not leave you comfortless--in a bereaved and desolate condition; or (as in Margin) "orphans." I will come to you--"I come" or "am coming" to you; that is, plainly by the Spirit, since it was to make His departure to be no bereavement.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
The short passage before us is singularly rich in "precious promises." Twice our Lord Jesus Christ says, "I will." Twice He says to believers, "You shall." We learn from this passage, that Christ's second coming is meant to be the special comfort of believers. He says to His disciples, "I will not leave you comfortless—I will come to you." Now what is the "coming" here spoken of? It is only fair to say that this is a disputed point among Christians. Many refer it to our Lord's coming to His disciples after His resurrection. Many refer it to His invisible coming into the hearts of His people by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Many refer it to His coming by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. It may well be doubted, however, whether any one of these three views conveys the full meaning of our Lord's words, "I will come." The true sense of the expression appears to be the second personal coming of Christ at the end of the world. It is a wide, broad, sweeping promise, intended for all believers, in every age, and not for the Apostles alone—"I will not stay always in heaven—I will one day come back to you." It is like the message which the angels brought to the disciples after the ascension—"This same Jesus shall come in like manner as you have seen Him go." (Acts. 1:11.) It is like the last promise which winds up the Book of Revelation—"Surely I come quickly." (Rev. 22:20.) Just in the same way the parting consolation held out to believers, the night before the crucifixion, is a personal return—"I will come." Let us settle it in our minds that all believers are comparatively "orphans," and children in their minority, until the second advent. Our best things are yet to come. Faith has yet to be exchanged for sight, and hope for certainty. Our peace and joy are at present very imperfect. They are as nothing to what we shall have when Christ returns.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
At that day - In the time when my life shall be fully manifested to you, and you shall receive the assurance that I live. This refers to the time after his resurrection, and to the manifestations which in various ways he would make that he was alive. That I am in my “Father ... - That we are most intimately and indissolubly united. See the notes at Joh 10:38. Ye in me - That there is a union between us which can never be severed. See the notes at Joh 15:1-7.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | en | In | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἐκείνῃ | ekeine | that [very] | G1565 → | 260 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμέρᾳ | hemera | day | G2250 → | 389 times |
| γνώσεσθε | gnosesthe | will know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself [am] | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατρί | patri | Father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| μου | mou | of Mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἐμοὶ | emoi | Me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| κἀγὼ | kago | and I myself | G1473 →G2532 → | 839 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑμῖν.¶ | humin | you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ἐνIn
enG1722 →2738 times
ἐκείνῃthat [very]
ekeineG1565 →260 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἡμέρᾳday
hemeraG2250 →389 times
γνώσεσθεwill know
gnosestheG1097 →221 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐγὼI myself [am]
egoG1473 →839 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πατρίFather
patriG3962 →410 times
μουof Mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἐμοὶMe myself
emoiG1473 →839 times
κἀγὼand I myself
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑμῖν.¶you.
huminG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
it leads to
- Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- 2 Corinthians 5:15
And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
- Romans 6:4–6
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of…
- Colossians 3:3–4
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:10–11
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- Galatians 5:24
Through
John 14:10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father…
it leads to
- John 5:19
So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
- John 10:38
But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in…
- Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
- John 5:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies31
- “Great Is Truth.” The Three Guardsmen
- Asking in His Name
- The Deity of Christ
- Enoch Walked With God
- The Words Emunah and Pistis
- The Fruit of the Spirit
Show the next 6 titles
- How Scripture Shapes Christian Ethics
- Jesus on Himself
- Jesus on Prayer
- Jesus on the Father
- Jesus on the Holy Spirit
- Theological Words
Show the next 6 titles
About John

This page draws on 19 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Aphrahat the Persian Sage, DEMONSTRATION 4.11; Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on John 75; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 14; Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 9; Hilary of Poitiers, ON THE TRINITY 8.15; Hilary of Poitiers, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, John; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Theodore of Mopsuestia, COMMENTARY ON JOHN 6.14.20; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.
