1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• New International Version (NIV)If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Context of 1 John 1:9

7If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:9 word by word

ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, πιστός ἐστιν καὶ δίκαιος ἵνα ἀφῇ ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• we confessὁμολογέωhomologeō · to confess/professG3670
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• sinsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• faithfulπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• forgiveἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
• to cleanseκαθαρίζωkatharizō · to cleanG2511
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• unrighteousnessἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93

Cross-references for 1 John 1:9

• Leviticus 26:40“But when they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their ancestors — their unfaithfulness that they practiced against me, and how they acted with hostility toward me,
• 1 Kings 8:47and when they come to their senses in the land where they were deported and repent and petition you in their captors’ land: “We have sinned and done wrong; we have been wicked,”
• 2 Chronicles 6:37and when they come to their senses in the land where they were deported and repent and petition you in their captors’ land, saying, “We have sinned and done wrong; we have been wicked,”
• Nehemiah 1:6let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned.
• Nehemiah 9:2Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.
• Job 33:27He will look at men and say, “I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
• Psalms 32:5Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah
• Psalms 51:2Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
• Proverbs 28:13The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
• Daniel 9:4I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: Ah, Lord — the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands —
• Matthew 3:6and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
• Mark 1:5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
• Acts 19:18And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices,
• Deuteronomy 7:9Know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commands.
• Lamentations 3:23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
• 1 Corinthians 1:9God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Commentaries on 1 John 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9If we confess our sins - If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; he is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice; so that God can now be just, and yet the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9If we confess our sins - Pardon in the Scriptures, always supposes that there is confession, and there is no promise that it will be imparted unless a full acknowledgment has been made. Compare Psalm 32:1-11;; Luke 15:18 ff; Luke 7:41 ff; Proverbs 28:13. He is faithful - To his promises. He will do what he has assured us he will do in remitting them. And just to forgive us our sins - The word “just” here cannot be used in a strict and proper sense, since…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 5-10 A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9To stay in continual fellowship with God, we need to confess our sins to him. God promises to forgive and cleanse us, and we can trust this promise because God is faithful and just. Christ died for our sins, and his death satisfies God’s justice and removes our guilt.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. confess--with the lips, speaking from a contrite heart; involving also confession to our fellow men of offenses committed against them. he--God. faithful--to His own promises; "true" to His word. just--Not merely the mercy, but the justice or righteousness of God is set forth in the redemption of the penitent believer in Christ. God's promises of mercy, to which He is faithful, are in accordance with His justice. to--Greek, "in order that." His…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 1:9

• Ablution
• Blessing
• Cleanliness
• God
• God Continued...
• Penitent
• Repentance
• Righteous
• Sanctification
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Atonement
• Deceive
• Fellowship
• Forgiveness of sin
• Light
• Unction
• Walk
• Cleanse
• Confession
• Johannine Theology

Commentaries on 1 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
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• 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