1 John 3:14

1 John 3:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
• New International Version (NIV)We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

Context of 1 John 3:14

12not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 3:14 word by word

ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι μεταβεβήκαμεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν, ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τοὺς ἀδελφούς· ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν μένει ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• we have passedμεταβαίνωmetabainō · to departG3327
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• deathὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• we loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• notμήmē · notG3361
• abidethμένωmenō · to stayG3306
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for 1 John 3:14

• 1 John 2:3Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
• 1 John 5:2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
• Luke 15:24for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
• John 5:24“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
• Ephesians 2:1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
• 1 John 2:10He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
• 1 John 3:23And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
• 1 John 4:7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
• Psalms 16:3As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
• Matthew 25:40And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
• John 13:35By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
• John 15:12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Ephesians 1:15Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
• Colossians 1:4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;

Commentaries on 1 John 3:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - Death and life are represented here as two distinct territories, states, or kingdoms, to either of which the inhabitants of either may be removed. This is implied in the term , from , denoting change of place, and , I go. It is the same figure which St. Paul uses, Colossians 1:13; : Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. The believers…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - From spiritual death (Notes, Ephesians 2:1) to spiritual life; that is, that we are true Christians. Because we love the brethren - The sentiment here is, that it is an infallible evidence of true piety if we love the followers of Christ as such. See this sentiment illustrated in the notes at John 13:35. But how easy it would seem to be to apply such a test of piety as this! Who cannot judge accurately of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ. This love is the special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born again. But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God. We know that we are passed from death to life: we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which love to our brethren…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Having love for our fellow Christians is clear evidence that we have been born again and will have eternal life instead of death and judgment (see Romans 6:23; James 5:20; Revelation 21:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. We--emphatical; hated though we be by the world, we know what the world knows not. know--as an assured fact. passed--changed our state. Col 1:13, "from the power of darkness ... translated into the kingdom of His dear Son." from death unto life--literally, "out of the death (which enthrals the unregenerate) into the life (of the regenerate)." A palpable coincidence of language and thought, the beloved disciple adopting his Lord's words. because we…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 3:14

• Assurance
• Commandments
• Fellowship
• Hatred
• Love
• Malice
• Regeneration
• Righteous
• Righteousness
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Assurance
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Regeneration
• Sin
• Word
• Brotherly Kindness; Brotherly Love
• Ethics

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