English Standard Version
1 John 3:14
14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
1 John 3:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
- New International Version (NIV)We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
- New King James Version (NKJV)We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.
Context of 1 John 3:14
12We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Read all of 1 John 31 John 3:14 word by word
ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι μεταβεβήκαμεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν, ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τοὺς ἀδελφούς· ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν μένει ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- we have passedμεταβαίνωmetabainō · to departG3327
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- deathὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- we loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
- the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- notμήmē · notG3361
- abidethμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
Cross-references for 1 John 3:14
- 1 John 2:3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
- 1 John 5:2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
- Luke 15:24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
- John 5:24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
- Ephesians 2:1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
- 1 John 2:10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
- 1 John 3:23And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
- 1 John 4:7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
- Psalms 16:3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
- Matthew 25:40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
- John 13:35By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
- John 15:12"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
- Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Ephesians 1:15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
- Colossians 1:4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
Commentaries on 1 John 3:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - Death and life are represented here as two distinct territories, states, or kingdoms, to either of which the inhabitants of either may be removed. This is implied in the term , from , denoting change of place, and , I go. It is the same figure which St. Paul uses, Colossians 1:13; : Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. The believers…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - From spiritual death (Notes, Ephesians 2:1) to spiritual life; that is, that we are true Christians. Because we love the brethren - The sentiment here is, that it is an infallible evidence of true piety if we love the followers of Christ as such. See this sentiment illustrated in the notes at John 13:35. But how easy it would seem to be to apply such a test of piety as this! Who cannot judge accurately of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ. This love is the special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born again. But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God. We know that we are passed from death to life: we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which love to our brethren…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Having love for our fellow Christians is clear evidence that we have been born again and will have eternal life instead of death and judgment (see Romans 6:23; James 5:20; Revelation 21:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. We--emphatical; hated though we be by the world, we know what the world knows not. know--as an assured fact. passed--changed our state. Col 1:13, "from the power of darkness ... translated into the kingdom of His dear Son." from death unto life--literally, "out of the death (which enthrals the unregenerate) into the life (of the regenerate)." A palpable coincidence of language and thought, the beloved disciple adopting his Lord's words. because we…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 3:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 John 3
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries