1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• New International Version (NIV)If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Context of 1 John 1:9

7But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

1 John 1:9 word by word

ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, πιστός ἐστιν καὶ δίκαιος ἵνα ἀφῇ ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• we confessὁμολογέωhomologeō · to confess/professG3670
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• sinsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• faithfulπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• forgiveἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
• to cleanseκαθαρίζωkatharizō · to cleanG2511
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• unrighteousnessἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93

Cross-references for 1 John 1:9

• Leviticus 26:40“But at last my people will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors for betraying me and being hostile toward me.
• 1 Kings 8:47But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’
• 2 Chronicles 6:37But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’
• Nehemiah 1:6listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!
• Nehemiah 9:2Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors.
• Job 33:27He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.
• Psalms 32:5Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude
• Psalms 51:2Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
• Proverbs 28:13People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
• Daniel 9:4I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.
• Matthew 3:6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
• Mark 1:5All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
• Acts 19:18Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.
• Deuteronomy 7:9Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
• Lamentations 3:23Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
• 1 Corinthians 1:9God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Commentaries on 1 John 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9If we confess our sins - If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; he is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice; so that God can now be just, and yet the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9If we confess our sins - Pardon in the Scriptures, always supposes that there is confession, and there is no promise that it will be imparted unless a full acknowledgment has been made. Compare Psalm 32:1-11;; Luke 15:18 ff; Luke 7:41 ff; Proverbs 28:13. He is faithful - To his promises. He will do what he has assured us he will do in remitting them. And just to forgive us our sins - The word “just” here cannot be used in a strict and proper sense, since…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 5-10 A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9To stay in continual fellowship with God, we need to confess our sins to him. God promises to forgive and cleanse us, and we can trust this promise because God is faithful and just. Christ died for our sins, and his death satisfies God’s justice and removes our guilt.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. confess--with the lips, speaking from a contrite heart; involving also confession to our fellow men of offenses committed against them. he--God. faithful--to His own promises; "true" to His word. just--Not merely the mercy, but the justice or righteousness of God is set forth in the redemption of the penitent believer in Christ. God's promises of mercy, to which He is faithful, are in accordance with His justice. to--Greek, "in order that." His…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 1:9

• Ablution
• Blessing
• Cleanliness
• God
• God Continued...
• Penitent
• Repentance
• Righteous
• Sanctification
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Atonement
• Deceive
• Fellowship
• Forgiveness of sin
• Light
• Unction
• Walk
• Cleanse
• Confession
• Johannine Theology

Commentaries on 1 John 1

• 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
• 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