1 John 2:4

1 John 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Context of 1 John 2:4

2Jesus died as a sacrifice to take the punishment for our sin. Then God could forgive us. Jesus did that not only for us. He did it for all people in the world, so that God could forgive them for their sins. 3This is how we can be sure that we know God: If we obey God's commands, we know that we belong to him. Someone may say, ‘I belong to God.’ But if he does not obey God's commands, that person is telling a lie. He is not living in the way that God's true message teaches us. 5But anyone who obeys God's message shows that he really loves God completely. So this is how we know that we belong to God. 6If we say that we are living in God's true way, then we must live in the way that Jesus lived.

1 John 2:4 word by word

Ὁ λέγων ὅτι ἔγνωκα αὐτὸν καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ μὴ τηρῶν, ψεύστης ἐστίν, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀλήθεια οὐκ ἔστιν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• I knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• keepethτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• notμήmē · notG3361
• commandmentsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a liarψεύστηςpseustēs · liarG5583
• the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• notοὐou · noG3756
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• himοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Cross-references for 1 John 2:4

• 1 John 2:9A person may say that he is living in the light. But if that person hates another believer, then he is telling a lie. He is still living in the dark.
• 1 John 1:6Do you say that you share in the life that God gives? If you say that, but if you still live in the dark, you are telling a lie. You are not living in God's true way.
• 1 John 4:20Someone may say, ‘I love God.’ But if he says that and he hates another Christian, he is telling a lie. He sees other believers but he does not love them. So he surely cannot love God that he has not seen.
• James 2:14My Christian brothers, you say that you believe in God. Then you must show this in the things that you do. If not, your faith will not help you. It will not save you.
• Hosea 8:2Israel's people call out to me for help. They say, “We know you as our God.”

Commentaries on 1 John 2:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He that saith, I know him - This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their personal unholiness. They are all liars, and no truth of God is in them.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4He that saith, I know Him - He who professes to be acquainted with the Saviour, or who professes to be a Christian. And keepeth not his commandments - What he has appointed to be observed by his people; that is, he who does not obey him. Is a liar - Makes a false profession; professes to have that which he really has not. Such a profession is a falsehood, because there can be no true religion where one does not obey the law of God.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-11Verses 3-11 What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-6Obedience is one clear indication that we know Christ and belong to him. If we do not obey Christ, it is obvious that we do not belong to him or love him. As we obey Christ and his commandments, our love for God and our knowledge of him will grow toward completeness and maturity. We will walk as Jesus walked, united with God and showing love for others.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. I know--Greek, "I have knowledge of (perfect) Him." Compare with this verse 1Jo 1:8.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 2:4

• Blindness
• Confession
• Hypocrisy
• Obedience
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Acknowledge
• Advocate
• Lie
• Stumble
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of
• Truth

Commentaries on 1 John 2

• 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