1 John 3:22

1 John 3:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
• New International Version (NIV)and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Context of 1 John 3:22

20Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. 23And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

1 John 3:22 word by word

καὶ ὃ ἐὰν αἰτῶμεν λαμβάνομεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηροῦμεν καὶ τὰ ἀρεστὰ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιοῦμεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whatsoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·ἐάνean · ifG1437
• we askαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
• we receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• ofπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• we keepτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• commandmentsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• those things that are pleasingἀρεστόςarestos · pleasingG701
• inἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799

Cross-references for 1 John 3:22

• 1 John 5:14And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
• Psalms 10:17Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
• Psalms 34:4I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
• Psalms 50:15Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
• Psalms 66:18If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
• Psalms 145:18The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
• Proverbs 15:29The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
• Proverbs 28:9God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.
• Isaiah 1:15When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
• Jeremiah 29:12In those days when you pray, I will listen.
• Jeremiah 33:3Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
• Matthew 7:7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
• Matthew 21:22You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
• Mark 11:24I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
• Luke 11:9“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Commentaries on 1 John 3:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22Whatsoever we ask - In such a spirit, we receive of him, for he delights to bless the humble, upright, and sincere soul. Because we keep his commandments - Viz., by loving him and loving our neighbor. These are the great commandments both of the old covenant and the new. And whoever is filled with this love to God and man will do those things which are pleasing to him; for love is the very soul and principle of obedience. The word heart is used in the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him - If we are truly his children, and ask in a proper manner. See the notes at Matthew 7:7. Compare Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; Luke 18:1 ff; John 14:13; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14. The declaration here made must be understood with these limitations: (1)that we ask in a proper manner, James 4:3; and, (2)that the thing asked shall be such as will be consistent for God to give; that is, such as he shall see to be best for us, 1…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-24Verses 22-24 When believers had confidence towards God, through the Spirit of adoption, and by faith in the great High Priest, they might ask what they would of their reconciled Father. They would receive it, if good for them. And as good-will to men was proclaimed from heaven, so good-will to men, particularly to the brethren, must be in the hearts of those who go to God and heaven. He who thus follows Christ, dwells in Him as his ark, refuge, and rest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-22Those who truly love (3:16–18) can feel confident that God accepts them. This kind of love shows that their faith is real and that they have new life in Christ (see 4:7–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. we receive--as a matter of fact, according to His promise. Believers, as such, ask only what is in accordance with God's will; or if they ask what God wills not, they bow their will to God's will, and so God grants them either their request, or something better than it. because we keep his commandments--Compare Psa 66:18; 34:15; 145:18, 19. Not as though our merits earned a hearing for our prayers, but when we are believers in Christ, all our works of…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 3:22

• Assurance
• Commandments
• Obedience
• Prayer
• Righteous
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Sin
• Word
• Ethics
• John, the Epistles of
• Prayer

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