1 John 5:8

1 John 5:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
• New International Version (NIV)the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
• English Standard Version (ESV)the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

Context of 1 John 5:8

6Jesus Christ — he is the one who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood — and these three are in agreement. 9If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son. 10The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son.

1 John 5:8 word by word

τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸ αἷμα, καὶ οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν εἰσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• there areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
• that bear witnessμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• the waterὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
• the bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520

Cross-references for 1 John 5:8

• 1 John 5:7For there are three that testify:
• 1 John 5:6Jesus Christ — he is the one who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
• Matthew 26:26As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”
• Matthew 28:19Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• John 15:26“When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father — he will testify about me.
• Romans 8:16The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
• Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit,
• Acts 2:2Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.
• 2 Corinthians 1:22He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.
• Hebrews 13:12Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify the people by his own blood.
• 1 Peter 3:21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
• Mark 14:56For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree.
• Acts 15:15And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

Commentaries on 1 John 5:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The Spirit, and the water, and the blood - This verse is supposed to mean "the Spirit - in the word confirmed by miracles; the water - in baptism, wherein we are dedicated to the Son, (with the Father and the Holy Spirit), typifying his spotless purity, and the inward purifying of our nature; and the blood - represented in the Lord's Supper, and applied to the consciences of believers: and all these harmoniously agree in the same testimony, that Jesus…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And there are three that bear witness in earth - This is a part of the text, which, if the reasoning above is correct, is to be omitted. The genuine passage reads, 1 John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record (or witness, ͂ marturountes) - the Spirit, and the water, and the blood.” There is no reference to the fact that it is done “in earth.” The phrase was introduced to correspond with what was said in the interpolated passage, that there are three…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-8Verses 6-8 We are inwardly and outwardly defiled; inwardly, by the power and pollution of sin in our nature. For our cleansing there is in and by Christ Jesus, the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Some think that the two sacraments are here meant: baptism with water, as the outward sign of regeneration, and purifying from the pollution of sin by the Holy Spirit; and the Lord's supper, as the outward sign of the shedding Christ's…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8there are three that testify: The Holy Spirit came down on Jesus at his baptism (see John 1:32–34). The water refers to the water in which John baptized Jesus (see Matthew 3:13–15; Mark 1:9–11). The blood refers to the blood Jesus shed when he died on the cross (see Mark 15:37–39). These three (the Spirit, the water, and the blood) together proclaim that Jesus is God’s Son (1 John 5:6). After the phrase three that testify, a few very late manuscripts add…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. agree in one--"tend unto one result"; their agreeing testimony to Jesus' Sonship and Messiahship they give by the sacramental grace in the water of baptism, received by the penitent believer, by the atoning efficacy of His blood, and by the internal witness of His Spirit (1Jo 5:10): answering to the testimony given to Jesus' Sonship and Messiahship by His baptism, His crucifixion, and the Spirit's manifestations in Him (see on 1Jo 5:6). It was by His…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 5:8

• Blood
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Idol
• Agree
• Blood and Water
• Criticism of the Bible
• Hope
• John, the Epistles of
• Sacrifice
• Trinity
• testimony, testify, witness, eyewitness, evidence

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