English Standard Version
John 3:16
16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- New International Version (NIV)For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Context of John 3:16
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Read all of John 3John 3:16 word by word
οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- lovedἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
- the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
- he gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- only begottenμονογενήςmonogenēs · uniqueG3439
- Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- whosoeverπᾶςpas · allG3956
- believethπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- shouldἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
- notμήmē · notG3361
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- everlastingαἰώνιοςaiōnios · eternalG166
- lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
Cross-references for John 3:16
- Luke 2:14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
- Romans 5:8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
- 1 John 4:9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
- John 1:14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- Genesis 22:12He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
- Mark 12:6He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
- Romans 5:10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
- Romans 8:32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
- John 3:15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
- Matthew 9:13Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
- 1 Timothy 1:15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
Commentaries on John 3:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For God so loved the world - Such a love as that which induced God to give his only begotten son to die for the world could not be described: Jesus Christ does not attempt it. He has put an eternity of meaning in the particle ̔, so, and left a subject for everlasting contemplation, wonder, and praise, to angels and to men. The same evangelist uses a similar mode of expression, 1 John 3:1; : Behold, What Manner of love, , the Father hath bestowed upon us…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For God so loved - This does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, but that he had benevolent feelings toward them, or was “earnestly desirous” of their happiness. God hates wickedness, but he still desires the Happiness of those who are sinful. “He hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” A parent may love his child and desire his welfare, and yet be strongly opposed to the conduct of that child. When we approve the conduct of another, this is the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The truth that God loved the world is basic to Christian understanding (1 John 4:9–10). God's love extends beyond the limits of race and nation, even to those who oppose him (see “The World” Theme Note). The Son came to save, not to condemn, people who often choose spiritual darkness (3:17, 19–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 14-1614-16. And as Moses, &c.--Here now we have the "heavenly things," as before the "earthly," but under a veil, for the reason mentioned in Joh 3:12. The crucifixion of Messiah is twice after this veiled under the same lively term--"uplifting," Joh 8:28; 12:32, 33. Here it is still further veiled--though to us who know what it means, rendered vastly more instructive--by reference to the brazen serpent. The venom of the fiery serpents, shooting through the…Read the comment
Topics related to John 3:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 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
- 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
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