Amplified Bible
John 3:16
16“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- New International Version (NIV)For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Context of John 3:16
14Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever]. “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. 18Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].
Read all of John 3John 3:16 word by word
οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- lovedἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
- the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
- he gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- only begottenμονογενήςmonogenēs · uniqueG3439
- Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- whosoeverπᾶςpas · allG3956
- believethπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- shouldἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
- notμήmē · notG3361
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- everlastingαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
- lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
Cross-references for John 3:16
- Luke 2:14“Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.”
- Romans 5:8But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].
- 1 John 4:9By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.
- John 1:14And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).
- Genesis 22:12The Lord said, “Do not reach out [with the knife in] your hand against the boy, and do nothing to [harm] him; for now I know that you fear God [with reverence and profound respect], since you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son [of promise].”
- Mark 12:6He still had one man left to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
- Romans 5:10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].
- Romans 8:32He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
- John 3:15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever].
- Matthew 9:13Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I desire compassion [for those in distress], and not [animal] sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].”
- 1 Timothy 1:15This is a faithful and trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance and approval, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.
Commentaries on John 3:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For God so loved the world - Such a love as that which induced God to give his only begotten son to die for the world could not be described: Jesus Christ does not attempt it. He has put an eternity of meaning in the particle ̔, so, and left a subject for everlasting contemplation, wonder, and praise, to angels and to men. The same evangelist uses a similar mode of expression, 1 John 3:1; : Behold, What Manner of love, , the Father hath bestowed upon us…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For God so loved - This does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, but that he had benevolent feelings toward them, or was “earnestly desirous” of their happiness. God hates wickedness, but he still desires the Happiness of those who are sinful. “He hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” A parent may love his child and desire his welfare, and yet be strongly opposed to the conduct of that child. When we approve the conduct of another, this is the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The truth that God loved the world is basic to Christian understanding (1 John 4:9–10). God's love extends beyond the limits of race and nation, even to those who oppose him (see “The World” Theme Note). The Son came to save, not to condemn, people who often choose spiritual darkness (3:17, 19–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1614-16. And as Moses, &c.--Here now we have the "heavenly things," as before the "earthly," but under a veil, for the reason mentioned in Joh 3:12. The crucifixion of Messiah is twice after this veiled under the same lively term--"uplifting," Joh 8:28; 12:32, 33. Here it is still further veiled--though to us who know what it means, rendered vastly more instructive--by reference to the brazen serpent. The venom of the fiery serpents, shooting through the…Read the comment
Topics related to John 3:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 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
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- 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
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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