I tell you
This phrase indicates a direct and personal communication from Jesus to His audience. The Greek "λέγω ὑμῖν" (lego hymin) suggests an authoritative declaration. Jesus, as the Son of God, speaks with the authority of the Father. This is not a message passed down through intermediaries but a direct revelation from the divine. It highlights the personal relationship Jesus seeks with His followers, as He speaks directly to them.

if anyone
The Greek "ἐάν τις" (ean tis) opens the promise to all individuals, without restriction. This inclusivity is significant in the context of Jesus' ministry, which often broke social and religious barriers. The invitation is universal, extending beyond the Jewish audience to all humanity. It reflects the heart of the Gospel, which is open to every person regardless of background, ethnicity, or status.

keeps
The word "keeps" is translated from the Greek "τηρήσῃ" (tērēsē), which means to guard, observe, or hold fast. It implies more than mere obedience; it suggests a deep, ongoing commitment to live by Jesus' teachings. This is a call to discipleship, where one actively preserves and practices the word of Christ in daily life. It is a dynamic, living relationship with His teachings, not a passive or occasional observance.

My word
"Word" here is "λόγον" (logon) in Greek, referring to the teachings and commandments of Jesus. In the broader Johannine context, "word" also connects to the Logos, the divine Word made flesh (John 1:1). Jesus' word is not just instruction but the revelation of God Himself. To keep His word is to align oneself with the divine truth and life that Jesus embodies and communicates.

he will never see death
The promise "he will never see death" is profound, with "οὐ μὴ θεωρήσῃ θάνατον" (ou mē theōrēsē thanaton) in Greek. This does not imply physical immortality but speaks to the spiritual reality of eternal life. In the context of the Gospel of John, death often symbolizes separation from God. Jesus promises that those who keep His word will not experience this ultimate separation. Instead, they will partake in eternal life, a life in communion with God that transcends physical death. This assurance is central to the Christian hope, rooted in the resurrection and the life that Jesus offers.

Another interpretation of the phrase rendered "He shall never see death," is "he shall not see death for ever"--i.e., "he shall indeed die, but that death shall only be in this world, it shall not be in the world which is for ever." This is the thought in the collect in "The Order for the Burial of the Dead ". . . "our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall not die eternally."

The following are the only passages in St. John where exactly the same formula is used, and a comparison of them will make it clear that it means, as does the Hebrew formula on which it is based, that which we express by "never," or "certainly never." "by no means ever," for the negative is in its strongest form (John 4:14, John 8:52 in this John 10:28; John 11:26; John 13:8). The first and last of these passages refer to subjects ("shall never thirst," "shall never wash my feet"), which do not admit any possibility of doubt. The others are all parallel to the present text, in thought as well as in word. In all there is the fuller meaning that for the believer who now has spiritual life, and continues to live in communion with God, there cannot be death. "He shall never see death." What we think of as death is but a sleep. (See Note on John 11:11.) Death has been swallowed up of life, and physical death is thought of, in its true sense, as an entering into life. . . .