New International Version
John 3:16
16For 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.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should 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
14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 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. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
- Romans 5:8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
- 1 John 4:9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
- John 1:14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- Genesis 22:12“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
- Mark 12:6“He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
- Romans 5:10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
- Romans 8:32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
- John 3:15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
- Matthew 9:13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- 1 Timothy 1:15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
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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