1 John

1 John 3:11–18

¹¹This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹²Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous. ¹³So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

¹⁴We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

¹⁶By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ¹⁷If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

¹⁸Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Read all of 1 John 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 John 3:11

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
This	αὕτη	hautē	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
is	ἐστὶν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
message	ἀγγελία	angelia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G31 a message
you have heard	ἠκούσατε	ēkousate	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G191 I hear, listen
from	ἀπ’	ap’	Preposition	G575 from, away from
beginning	ἀρχῆς	archēs	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G746 ruler, beginning
We should love	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapōmen	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural	G25 I love
one another	ἀλλήλους	allēlous	Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural	G240 one another

1 John 3:12

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
not	οὐ	ou	Adverb	G3756 no, not
like	καθὼς	kathōs	Adverb	G2531 just as, as
Cain	Κάϊν	Kain	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2535 Cain
belonged to	ἦν	ēn	Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
the	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
evil	πονηροῦ	ponērou	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular	G4190 evil, bad, wicked
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
murdered	ἔσφαξεν	esphaxen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4969 I slay
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
brother	ἀδελφὸν	adelphon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G80 a brother
And	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
why	χάριν	charin	Preposition	G5484 on account of
did	ἔσφαξεν	esphaxen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4969 I slay
him	αὐτόν	auton	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
Because	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
deeds	ἔργα	erga	Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural	G2041 work, labor, action, deed
were	ἦν	ēn	Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
evil	πονηρὰ	ponēra	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural	G4190 evil, bad, wicked
while	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
those	τὰ	ta	Article - Nominative Neuter Plural	G3588 the
of	τοῦ	tou	Article - Genitive Masculine Singular	G3588 the
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
brother	ἀδελφοῦ	adelphou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G80 a brother
righteous	δίκαια	dikaia	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural	G1342 just, righteous, impartial

1 John 3:13

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
not	Μὴ	Mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
be surprised	θαυμάζετε	thaumazete	Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G2296 I wonder, admire
brothers	ἀδελφοί	adelphoi	Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural	G80 a brother
if	εἰ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
the	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
world	κόσμος	kosmos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2889 the world, universe
hates	μισεῖ	misei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3404 I hate, detest
you	ὑμᾶς	hymas	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you

1 John 3:14

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
We	Ἡμεῖς	Hēmeis	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
know	οἴδαμεν	oidamen	Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G1492 I know, remember
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
we have passed	μεταβεβήκαμεν	metabebēkamen	Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G3327 I leave, depart, remove, pass over
from	ἐκ	ek	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
death	θανάτου	thanatou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2288 death
to	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
life	ζωήν	zōēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G2222 life
because	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
we love	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapōmen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G25 I love
brothers	ἀδελφούς	adelphous	Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural	G80 a brother
The	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
does not love	ἀγαπῶν	agapōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G25 I love
remains	μένει	menei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3306 I remain, abide
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
death	θανάτῳ	thanatō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G2288 death

1 John 3:15

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Everyone	πᾶς	pas	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
who	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
hates	μισῶν	misōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3404 I hate, detest
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
brother	ἀδελφὸν	adelphon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G80 a brother
is	ἐστίν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
a murderer	ἀνθρωποκτόνος	anthrōpoktonos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G443 a murderer
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
you know	οἴδατε	oidate	Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G1492 I know, remember
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
eternal	αἰώνιον	aiōnion	Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular	G166 eternal, unending
life	ζωὴν	zōēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G2222 life
not	οὐκ	ouk	Adverb	G3756 no, not
reside	μένουσαν	menousan	Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3306 I remain, abide
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
a	πᾶς	pas	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
murderer	ἀνθρωποκτόνος	anthrōpoktonos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G443 a murderer

1 John 3:16

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
By	Ἐν	En	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
this	τούτῳ	toutō	Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
we know	ἐγνώκαμεν	egnōkamen	Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G1097 I come to know, learn, realize
what	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
love	ἀγάπην	agapēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G26 love
laid down	ἔθηκεν	ethēken	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G5087 I put, place
His	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
life	ψυχὴν	psychēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G5590 the soul, life, self
for	ὑπὲρ	hyper	Preposition	G5228 in behalf of, above
us	ἡμῶν	hēmōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
we	ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
ought	ὀφείλομεν	opheilomen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G3784 I owe, ought
to lay down	θεῖναι	theinai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G5087 I put, place
lives	ψυχὰς	psychas	Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural	G5590 the soul, life, self
for	ὑπὲρ	hyper	Preposition	G5228 in behalf of, above
brothers	ἀδελφῶν	adelphōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G80 a brother

1 John 3:17

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	ἂν	an	Particle	G302 an untranslatable word that makes a statement contingent
anyone	ὃς	hos	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
with	ἔχῃ	echē	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2192 I have, hold, possess
earthly	κόσμου	kosmou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2889 the world, universe
possessions	βίον	bion	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G979 life, manner of life, livelihood
sees	θεωρῇ	theōrē	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2334 I behold, look at, experience
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
brother	ἀδελφὸν	adelphon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G80 a brother
need	χρείαν	chreian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G5532 need, necessity, business
withholds	κλείσῃ	kleisē	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2808 I shut, shut up
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
compassion	σπλάγχνα	splanchna	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G4698 bowels, compassion, pity
from	ἀπ’	ap’	Preposition	G575 from, away from
him	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
how	πῶς	pōs	Adverb	G4459 how, in what manner
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
love	ἀγάπη	agapē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G26 love
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
abide	μένει	menei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3306 I remain, abide
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
him	αὐτῷ	autō	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same

1 John 3:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Little children	Τεκνία	Teknia	Noun - Vocative Neuter Plural	G5040 a little child
let us love	ἀγαπῶμεν	agapōmen	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural	G25 I love
not	μὴ	mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
in word	λόγῳ	logō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
speech	γλώσσῃ	glōssē	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
but	ἀλλὰ	alla	Conjunction	G235 but, except
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
action	ἔργῳ	ergō	Noun - Dative Neuter Singular	G2041 work, labor, action, deed
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
truth	ἀληθείᾳ	alētheia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G225 truth