1 John 5:19

1 John 5:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
• New International Version (NIV)We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Context of 1 John 5:19

17All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death. 18We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life. 21Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:19 word by word

οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν καὶ ὁ κόσμος ὅλος ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ κεῖται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• we areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• liethκεῖμαιkeimai · to lay/be appointedG2749
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• wickednessπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190

Cross-references for 1 John 5:19

• 1 John 5:10(The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.
• 1 John 4:4You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
• Romans 8:16The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.
• 2 Timothy 1:12Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.
• John 15:18“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first.
• Romans 1:28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.
• Romans 3:9What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,
• Galatians 1:4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,
• James 4:4Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy.
• 1 John 5:18We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.
• John 12:31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
• John 14:30I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,
• John 16:11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

Commentaries on 1 John 5:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19We know that we are of God - Have the fullest proof of the truth of Christianity, and of our own reconciliation to God through the death of his Son. The whole world lieth in wickedness - ͅ ͅ · Lieth in the wicked one - is embraced in the arms of the devil, where it lies fast asleep and carnally secure, deriving its heat and power from its infernal fosterer. What a truly awful state! And do not the actions, tempers, propensities, opinions and maxims of all…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19And we know that we are of God - We who are Christians. The apostle supposed that true Christians might have so clear evidence on that subject as to leave no doubt on their own minds that they were the children of God. Compare 1 John 3:14; 2 Timothy 1:12. And the whole world - The term “world” here evidently means not the material world, but the people who dwell on the earth, including all idolaters, and all sinners of every grade and kind. Lieth in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-21Verses 18-21 All mankind are divided into two parties or dominions; that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked one. True believers belong to God: they are of God, and from him, and to him, and for him; while the rest, by far the greater number, are in the power of the wicked one; they do his works, and support his cause. This general declaration includes all unbelievers, whatever their profession, station, or situation, or by whatever…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. world lieth in wickedness--rather, "lieth in the wicked one," as the Greek is translated in 1Jo 5:18; 1Jo 2:13, 14; compare 1Jo 4:4; Joh 17:14, 15. The world lieth in the power of, and abiding in, the wicked one, as the resting-place and lord of his slaves; compare "abideth in death," 1Jo 3:14; contrast 1Jo 5:20, "we are in Him that is true." While the believer has been delivered out of his power, the whole world lieth helpless and motionless still in…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 5:19

• Depravity of Man

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Idol
• Hope
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of

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