1 John 5:18

1 John 5:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
• New International Version (NIV)We 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
• New Living Translation (NLT)We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

Context of 1 John 5:18

16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

1 John 5:18 word by word

οἴδαμεν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ γεννηθεὶς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τηρεῖ ἑαυτόν, καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς οὐχ ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• We knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• whosoeverπᾶςpas · allG3956
• is bornγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• sinnethἁμαρτάνωhamartanō · to sinG264
• notοὐou · noG3756
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• keepethτηρέωtēreō · to keep: protectG5083
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• wicked oneπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• touchethἅπτωhaptomai · to touchG680
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for 1 John 5:18

• 1 John 5:1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
• 1 John 2:29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
• 1 John 3:9Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
• 1 John 4:6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
• John 1:13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• John 3:2This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
• James 1:18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
• 1 Peter 1:23having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
• 1 John 5:21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
• 1 John 3:3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
• Psalms 17:4Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
• Psalms 18:23I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity.
• Psalms 39:1I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”
• Psalms 119:101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.
• Proverbs 4:23Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
• John 15:4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Commentaries on 1 John 5:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Whosoever is born of God sinneth not - This is spoken of adult Christians; they are cleansed from all unrighteousness, consequently from all sin, 1 John 1:7-9. Keepeth himself - That is, in the love of God, Judges 1:21, by building up himself on his most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost; and that wicked one - the devil, toucheth him not - finds nothing of his own nature in him on which he can work, Christ dwelling in his heart by faith.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not - Is not habitually and characteristically a sinner; does not ultimately and finally sin and perish; cannot, therefore, commit the unpardonable sin. Though he may fall into sin, and grieve his brethren, yet we are never to cease to pray for a true Christian: we are never to feel that he has committed the sin which has never forgiveness, and that he has thrown himself beyond the reach of our prayers. This…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. 1818. (1Jo 3:9.) We know--Thrice repeated emphatically, to enforce the three truths which the words preface, as matters of the brethren's joint experimental knowledge. This 1Jo 5:18 warns against abusing 1Jo 5:16, 17, as warranting carnal security. whosoever--Greek, "every one who." Not only advanced believers, but every one who is born again, "sinneth not." he that is begotten--Greek aorist, "has been (once for all in past time) begotten of God"; in the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 5:18

• Holiness
• Perfection
• Regeneration
• Righteousness
• Satan
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• God
• Bear; Born
• Begotten
• Hope
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of
• Satan

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