1 John 5:17

1 John 5:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
• New Living Translation (NLT)All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

Context of 1 John 5:17

15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 16If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

1 John 5:17 word by word

πᾶσα ἀδικία ἁμαρτία ἐστίν, καὶ ἔστιν ἁμαρτία οὐ πρὸς θάνατον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• unrighteousnessἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288

Cross-references for 1 John 5:17

• 1 John 3:4Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
• Deuteronomy 5:32So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.
• Deuteronomy 12:32See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
• 1 John 5:16If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
• Isaiah 1:18“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
• Ezekiel 18:26If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die.
• Romans 5:20The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
• James 1:15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
• James 4:7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Commentaries on 1 John 5:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17All unrighteousness is sin - , Every act contrary to justice is sin - is a transgression of the law which condemns all injustice.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17All unrighteousness is sin … - This seems to be thrown in to guard what he had just said, and there is “one” great and enormous sin, a sin which could not be forgiven. But he says also that there are many other forms and degrees of sin, sin for which prayer may be made. Everything, he says, which is unrighteous - ̓́ adikia- everything which does not conform to the holy law of God, and which is not right in the view of that law, is to be regarded as sin…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 Upon all this evidence, it is but right that we believe on the name of the Son of God. Believers have eternal life in the covenant of the gospel. Then let us thankfully receive the record of Scripture. Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. The Lord Christ invites us to come to him in all circumstances, with our supplications and requests, notwithstanding the sin that besets us. Our…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17there is sin that does not lead to death: Sins that do not involve complete rejection of faith can lead to repentance and restoration (see James 5:20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. "Every unrighteousness (even that of believers, compare 1Jo 1:9; 3:4. Every coming short of right) is sin"; (but) not every sin is the sin unto death. and there is a sin not unto death--in the case of which, therefore, believers may intercede. Death and life stand in correlative opposition (1Jo 5:11-13). The sin unto death must be one tending "towards" (so the Greek), and so resulting in, death. Alford makes it to be an appreciable ACT of sin, namely…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 5:17

• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Idol
• Hope
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of
• righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness

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