1 John 3:22

1 John 3:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
• New International Version (NIV)and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Context of 1 John 3:22

20Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we can boldly look to God and receive from him anything we ask. We receive it because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23This is his commandment: to believe in his Son, the one named Jesus Christ, and to love each other as he commanded us. 24Those who obey Christ’s commandments live in God, and God lives in them. We know that he lives in us because he has given us the Spirit.

1 John 3:22 word by word

καὶ ὃ ἐὰν αἰτῶμεν λαμβάνομεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηροῦμεν καὶ τὰ ἀρεστὰ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιοῦμεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whatsoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ἐάνean · ifG1437
• we askαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
• we receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• ofπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• we keepτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• commandmentsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• those things that are pleasingἀρεστόςarestos · pleasingG701
• inἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799

Cross-references for 1 John 3:22

• 1 John 5:14We are confident that God listens to us if we ask for anything that has his approval.
• Psalms 10:17You have heard the desire of oppressed people, O Lord. You encourage them. You pay close attention to them
• Psalms 34:4I went to the Lord for help. He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
• Psalms 50:15Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”
• Psalms 66:18If I had thought about doing anything sinful, the Lord would not have listened ⌞to me⌟.
• Psalms 145:18The Lord is near to everyone who prays to him, to every faithful person who prays to him.
• Proverbs 15:29The Lord is far from wicked people, but he hears the prayers of righteous people.
• Proverbs 28:9Surely the prayer of someone who refuses to listen to ⌞God’s⌟ teachings is disgusting.
• Isaiah 1:15So when you stretch out your hands ⌞in prayer⌟, I will turn my eyes away from you. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen because your hands are covered with blood.
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
• Jeremiah 29:12Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
• Jeremiah 33:3Call to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know.
• Matthew 7:7“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
• Matthew 21:22Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
• Mark 11:24That’s why I tell you to have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for, and it will be yours.
• Luke 11:9“So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.

Commentaries on 1 John 3:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Whatsoever we ask - In such a spirit, we receive of him, for he delights to bless the humble, upright, and sincere soul. Because we keep his commandments - Viz., by loving him and loving our neighbor. These are the great commandments both of the old covenant and the new. And whoever is filled with this love to God and man will do those things which are pleasing to him; for love is the very soul and principle of obedience. The word heart is used in the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him - If we are truly his children, and ask in a proper manner. See the notes at Matthew 7:7. Compare Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; Luke 18:1 ff; John 14:13; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14. The declaration here made must be understood with these limitations: (1)that we ask in a proper manner, James 4:3; and, (2)that the thing asked shall be such as will be consistent for God to give; that is, such as he shall see to be best for us, 1…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-24Verses 22-24 When believers had confidence towards God, through the Spirit of adoption, and by faith in the great High Priest, they might ask what they would of their reconciled Father. They would receive it, if good for them. And as good-will to men was proclaimed from heaven, so good-will to men, particularly to the brethren, must be in the hearts of those who go to God and heaven. He who thus follows Christ, dwells in Him as his ark, refuge, and rest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-22Those who truly love (3:16–18) can feel confident that God accepts them. This kind of love shows that their faith is real and that they have new life in Christ (see 4:7–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. we receive--as a matter of fact, according to His promise. Believers, as such, ask only what is in accordance with God's will; or if they ask what God wills not, they bow their will to God's will, and so God grants them either their request, or something better than it. because we keep his commandments--Compare Psa 66:18; 34:15; 145:18, 19. Not as though our merits earned a hearing for our prayers, but when we are believers in Christ, all our works of…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 3:22

• Assurance
• Commandments
• Obedience
• Prayer
• Righteous
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Sin
• Word
• Ethics
• John, the Epistles of
• Prayer

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