1 John

1 John 3:16–18

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 3:16

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

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 John 3:16 1 John 4:9–11 · Ephesians 5:2 · John 13:34 · John 3:16 · Romans 5:8 · John 15:12–13 · Revelation 1:5 · 1 Peter 3:18 · Acts 20:28 · Matthew 20:28 · Ephesians 5:25 · Titus 2:13

1 John 3:17 Hebrews 13:16 · Isaiah 58:7–10 · Deuteronomy 15:7–11 · 1 John 4:20 · Proverbs 19:17 · Luke 3:11 · 2 Corinthians 9:5–9 · James 2:15 · 2 Corinthians 8:14–15 · 1 Timothy 6:17–18 · 2 Corinthians 8:9 · Proverbs 28:9

1 John 3:18 James 2:15–16 · Romans 12:9 · 1 Peter 1:22 · Galatians 5:13 · 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Galatians 6:1–2 · Ephesians 4:1–3 · Matthew 25:41–45 · Ephesians 4:15 · 1 Thessalonians 1:3 · 1 John 2:1 · Ezekiel 33:31

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.