1 John 3:14

1 John 3:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
• New International Version (NIV)We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

Context of 1 John 3:14

12and not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? Because Cain’s deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, believers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death. 15Everyone who hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer [by God’s standards]; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.

1 John 3:14 word by word

ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι μεταβεβήκαμεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν, ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τοὺς ἀδελφούς· ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν μένει ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• we have passedμεταβαίνωmetabainō · to departG3327
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• deathὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• we loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• notμήmē · notG3361
• abidethμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for 1 John 3:14

• 1 John 2:3And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings).
• 1 John 5:2By this we know [without any doubt] that we love the children of God: [expressing that love] when we love God and obey His commandments.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if the earthly tent [our physical body] which is our house is torn down [through death], we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
• Luke 15:24for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.
• John 5:24“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.
• Ephesians 2:1And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins,
• 1 John 2:10The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin].
• 1 John 3:23This is His commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, just as He commanded us.
• 1 John 4:7Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].
• Psalms 16:3As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, They are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
• Matthew 25:40The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’
• John 13:35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”
• John 15:12“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Ephesians 1:15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,
• Colossians 1:4for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] love which you have for all the saints (God’s people);

Commentaries on 1 John 3:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - Death and life are represented here as two distinct territories, states, or kingdoms, to either of which the inhabitants of either may be removed. This is implied in the term , from , denoting change of place, and , I go. It is the same figure which St. Paul uses, Colossians 1:13; : Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. The believers…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - From spiritual death (Notes, Ephesians 2:1) to spiritual life; that is, that we are true Christians. Because we love the brethren - The sentiment here is, that it is an infallible evidence of true piety if we love the followers of Christ as such. See this sentiment illustrated in the notes at John 13:35. But how easy it would seem to be to apply such a test of piety as this! Who cannot judge accurately of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ. This love is the special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born again. But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God. We know that we are passed from death to life: we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which love to our brethren…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Having love for our fellow Christians is clear evidence that we have been born again and will have eternal life instead of death and judgment (see Romans 6:23; James 5:20; Revelation 21:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. We--emphatical; hated though we be by the world, we know what the world knows not. know--as an assured fact. passed--changed our state. Col 1:13, "from the power of darkness ... translated into the kingdom of His dear Son." from death unto life--literally, "out of the death (which enthrals the unregenerate) into the life (of the regenerate)." A palpable coincidence of language and thought, the beloved disciple adopting his Lord's words. because we…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 3:14

• Assurance
• Commandments
• Fellowship
• Hatred
• Love
• Malice
• Regeneration
• Righteous
• Righteousness
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Assurance
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Regeneration
• Sin
• Word
• Brotherly Kindness; Brotherly Love
• Ethics

Commentaries on 1 John 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings