1 John 3:22

1 John 3:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
• New International Version (NIV)and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Context of 1 John 3:22

20whenever our heart convicts us [in guilt]; for God is greater than our heart and He knows all things [nothing is hidden from Him because we are in His hands]. 21Beloved, if our heart does not convict us [of guilt], we have confidence [complete assurance and boldness] before God; and we receive from Him whatever we ask because we [carefully and consistently] keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight [habitually seeking to follow His plan for us]. 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. 24The one who habitually keeps His commandments [obeying His word and following His precepts, abides and] remains in Him, and He in him. By this we know and have the proof that He [really] abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us [as a gift].

1 John 3:22 word by word

καὶ ὃ ἐὰν αἰτῶμεν λαμβάνομεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηροῦμεν καὶ τὰ ἀρεστὰ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιοῦμεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whatsoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ἐάνean · ifG1437
• we askαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
• we receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• ofπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• we keepτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• commandmentsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• those things that are pleasingἀρεστόςarestos · pleasingG701
• inἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799

Cross-references for 1 John 3:22

• 1 John 5:14This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.
• Psalms 10:17O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble and oppressed; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to hear,
• Psalms 34:4I sought the Lord [on the authority of His word], and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
• Psalms 50:15Call on Me in the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.”
• Psalms 66:18If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me];
• Psalms 145:18The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth (without guile).
• Proverbs 15:29The Lord is far from the wicked [and distances Himself from them], But He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous [that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].
• Proverbs 28:9He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man], Even his prayer is repulsive [to God].
• Isaiah 1:15So when you spread out your hands [in prayer, pleading for My help], I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you offer many prayers, I will not be listening. Your hands are full of blood!
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.
• Jeremiah 29:12Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you.
• Jeremiah 33:3‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’
• Matthew 7:7“ Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.
• Matthew 21:22And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
• Mark 11:24For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.
• Luke 11:9“So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Commentaries on 1 John 3:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Whatsoever we ask - In such a spirit, we receive of him, for he delights to bless the humble, upright, and sincere soul. Because we keep his commandments - Viz., by loving him and loving our neighbor. These are the great commandments both of the old covenant and the new. And whoever is filled with this love to God and man will do those things which are pleasing to him; for love is the very soul and principle of obedience. The word heart is used in the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him - If we are truly his children, and ask in a proper manner. See the notes at Matthew 7:7. Compare Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; Luke 18:1 ff; John 14:13; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14. The declaration here made must be understood with these limitations: (1)that we ask in a proper manner, James 4:3; and, (2)that the thing asked shall be such as will be consistent for God to give; that is, such as he shall see to be best for us, 1…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-24Verses 22-24 When believers had confidence towards God, through the Spirit of adoption, and by faith in the great High Priest, they might ask what they would of their reconciled Father. They would receive it, if good for them. And as good-will to men was proclaimed from heaven, so good-will to men, particularly to the brethren, must be in the hearts of those who go to God and heaven. He who thus follows Christ, dwells in Him as his ark, refuge, and rest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-22Those who truly love (3:16–18) can feel confident that God accepts them. This kind of love shows that their faith is real and that they have new life in Christ (see 4:7–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. we receive--as a matter of fact, according to His promise. Believers, as such, ask only what is in accordance with God's will; or if they ask what God wills not, they bow their will to God's will, and so God grants them either their request, or something better than it. because we keep his commandments--Compare Psa 66:18; 34:15; 145:18, 19. Not as though our merits earned a hearing for our prayers, but when we are believers in Christ, all our works of…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 3:22

• Assurance
• Commandments
• Obedience
• Prayer
• Righteous
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Sin
• Word
• Ethics
• John, the Epistles of
• Prayer

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