If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

JOHN 15:22KJV
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John 15:22 (KJV)

What does John 15:22 mean?

In John 15:22, Jesus says that his coming and speaking have left his opponents without an excuse for their sin. His words mark a difference between their situation before he came and their situation after they heard him.

Jesus is speaking to his followers about people who oppose him. The KJV’s “cloke” pictures something used to cover or conceal; here it means an excuse offered to cover wrongdoing. Jesus connects their responsibility to what they have heard from him.

The Greek behind John 15:22

  • “cloke” — πρόφασις (prophasis): The word can mean an excuse or a reason put forward to cover another purpose. Here it points to a defense for their sin, rather than a literal garment.
  • “sin” — ἁμαρτία (hamartia): The word refers to wrongdoing. In this sentence, the singular form presents “sin” as the matter for which they have no excuse.

Why John 15:22 matters

  • Jesus is addressing a particular response to him. The nearby reference to people hating both Jesus and his Father in verse 23 helps explain the setting of his words about sin.
  • The statement “they had not had sin” can be misunderstood as saying that those people had never done anything wrong. In context, Jesus is speaking about the sin connected with his coming and speaking to them.
  • Jesus places weight on his own words as well as his actions. In verse 24, he makes a similar point about the works he did among them.

Where else these words appear

“cloke” Greek G4392 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
  • Luke 20:47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
  • Philippians 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

“If” Greek G1508 · used in 87 verses

  • Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
  • Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
  • Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

“now” Greek G3568 · used in 133 verses

  • Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
  • Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
  • 2 Corinthians 13:2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: