1 John 5:19

1 John 5:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
• New International Version (NIV)We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Context of 1 John 5:19

17All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death. 18We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:19 word by word

οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν καὶ ὁ κόσμος ὅλος ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ κεῖται.Read the interlinear

• We knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• we areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• is under the powerκεῖμαιkeimai · to lay/be appointedG2749
• ofἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190

Cross-references for 1 John 5:19

• 1 John 5:10Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
• 1 John 4:4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
• Romans 8:16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
• 2 Timothy 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
• John 15:18If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.
• Romans 1:28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
• Romans 3:9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.
• Galatians 1:4who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
• James 4:4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
• 1 John 5:18We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
• John 12:31Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
• John 14:30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me.
• John 16:11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.

Commentaries on 1 John 5:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19We know that we are of God - Have the fullest proof of the truth of Christianity, and of our own reconciliation to God through the death of his Son. The whole world lieth in wickedness - ͅ ͅ · Lieth in the wicked one - is embraced in the arms of the devil, where it lies fast asleep and carnally secure, deriving its heat and power from its infernal fosterer. What a truly awful state! And do not the actions, tempers, propensities, opinions and maxims of all…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19And we know that we are of God - We who are Christians. The apostle supposed that true Christians might have so clear evidence on that subject as to leave no doubt on their own minds that they were the children of God. Compare 1 John 3:14; 2 Timothy 1:12. And the whole world - The term “world” here evidently means not the material world, but the people who dwell on the earth, including all idolaters, and all sinners of every grade and kind. Lieth in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 All mankind are divided into two parties or dominions; that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked one. True believers belong to God: they are of God, and from him, and to him, and for him; while the rest, by far the greater number, are in the power of the wicked one; they do his works, and support his cause. This general declaration includes all unbelievers, whatever their profession, station, or situation, or by whatever…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. world lieth in wickedness--rather, "lieth in the wicked one," as the Greek is translated in 1Jo 5:18; 1Jo 2:13, 14; compare 1Jo 4:4; Joh 17:14, 15. The world lieth in the power of, and abiding in, the wicked one, as the resting-place and lord of his slaves; compare "abideth in death," 1Jo 3:14; contrast 1Jo 5:20, "we are in Him that is true." While the believer has been delivered out of his power, the whole world lieth helpless and motionless still in…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 5:19

• Depravity of Man

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Idol
• Hope
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of

Commentaries on 1 John 5

• 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