What does John 15:13 mean?

John 15:13 (KJV) reads: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — This verse is from John in the New Testament. Read the full in-depth commentary at thelivingsword.org/commentary/john/15/13.

What is the context of John 15:13?

John 15:13 is found in John chapter 15, verse 13. John is part of the New Testament. Read the full chapter at thelivingsword.org/read/john/15.

Commentary on John 15:13 — The Living Sword

Q: What does "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his …" mean in the Bible?

This is John 15:13 from the King James Version. Read the full in-depth commentary and application notes at The Living Sword Bible: thelivingsword.org/commentary/john/15/13.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 (King James Version)

This page contains an in-depth Bible commentary on John 15:13 — covering historical context, meaning, and application. The full AI-powered commentary is available in the interactive Bible reader.

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About this Passage

John 15:13 is verse 13 of chapter 15 in the Book of John, part of the New Testament. In the King James Version (1611), it reads: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13 (King James Version): "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 appears in the Book of John, New Testament, chapter 15, verse 13. The Book of John was written by Obadiah (c. 586 BC (after Jerusalem's fall) or c. 845 BC). Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament — just 21 verses — containing a single message of judgment against the nation of Edom (descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob). When Babylon sacked Jerusalem in 586 BC, the Edomites cheered, looted, and handed over fleeing Israelites. Obadiah declares that this treachery against a brother nation will not go unpunished. The central spiritual Key themes in John include: judgment, pride, Edom, day of the Lord. To study John 15:13 in depth — including word-by-word analysis in the original Greek, cross-references, multiple translations (KJV, WEB, Geneva, ASV, YLT, Darby), and AI-powered commentary — visit The Living Sword Bible at thelivingsword.org.

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