John 1:13

John 1:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• New International Version (NIV)children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Context of John 1:13

11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. 14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”

John 1:13 word by word

οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν.Read the interlinear

• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• notοὐou · noG3756
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• norοὐδέoude · norG3761
• desireθέλημαthelēma · will/desireG2307
• desireσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• of manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• bornγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for John 1:13

• John 3:3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
• James 1:18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
• 1 Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
• 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
• 1 John 3:9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
• 1 John 4:7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
• 1 John 5:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
• John 8:33“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
• Matthew 3:9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
• Romans 9:7Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
• Genesis 25:22But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD,
• Genesis 27:4Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
• Romans 9:10Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.
• Psalms 110:3Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
• Romans 9:1I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
• Romans 10:1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.

Commentaries on John 1:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Which were born, not of blood - Who were regenerated, ̔, not of bloods - the union of father and mother, or of a distinguished or illustrious ancestry; for the Hebrew language makes use of the plural to point out the dignity or excellence of a thing: and probably by this the evangelist intended to show his countrymen, that having Abraham and Sarah for their parents would not entitle them to the blessings of the new covenant; as no man could lay claim to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Which were born - This doubtless refers to the “new birth,” or to the great change in the sinner‘s mind called regeneration or conversion. It means that they did not become the children of God in virtue of their natural birth, or because they were the children of “Jews,” or because they were descended from pious parents. The term “to be born” is often used to denote this change. Compare John 3:3-8; 1 John 2:29. It illustrates clearly and beautifully this…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13born of God: People can escape the darkness only by God’s grace (see 8:12; 12:35–36, 44–46).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1310-13. He was in the world, &c.--The language here is nearly as wonderful as the thought. Observe its compact simplicity, its sonorousness--"the world" resounding in each of its three members--and the enigmatic form in which it is couched, startling the reader and setting his ingenuity a-working to solve the stupendous enigma of Christ ignored in His own world. "The world," in the first two clauses, plainly means the created world, into which He came…Read the comment

Topics related to John 1:13

• Adoption
• Jesus, the Christ
• Regeneration

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Adoption
• Behold
• Believe
• Blood
• Dwell
• Flesh
• Guile
• Light

Commentaries on John 1

• 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