1 John 4:4

1 John 4:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
• New International Version (NIV)You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Context of 1 John 4:4

2By this ye know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ hath come in the flesh is from God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not from God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, of which ye have heard that it should come; and even now already it is in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore they speak from the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:4 word by word

ὑμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστε, τεκνία, καὶ νενικήκατε αὐτούς, ὅτι μείζων ἐστὶν ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν ἢ ὁ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ.Read the interlinear

• Yeὑμεῖςhumeis · youG5210
• areἐστέeste · you areG2075
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• childrenτεκνίονteknion · childrenG5040
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• overcomeνικάωnikaō · to conquerG3528
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• greaterμείζωνmeizōn · greaterG3187
• isἐστίesti · he isG2076
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youὑμῖνhumin · to youG5213
• thanἤē · orG2228
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for 1 John 4:4

• 1 John 4:6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
• 1 John 3:9Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
• 1 John 5:19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
• 1 John 2:13I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
• 1 John 5:4For whoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
• Romans 8:37But, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
• Revelation 12:11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death.
• 1 John 4:13By this we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
• 1 John 3:24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit who he hath given to us.
• John 10:28And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.
• John 14:17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
• John 17:23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
• Romans 8:10And if Christisin you, the bodyisdead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
• 1 Corinthians 6:13Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
• 2 Corinthians 6:16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Commentaries on 1 John 4:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Ye are of God - Ye are under the influence of the Divine Spirit, and have overcome them - your testimony, proceeding from the Spirit of Christ, has invalidated theirs which has proceeded from the influence of Satan; for greater is the Holy Spirit which is in you, than the spirit which is in the world.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Ye are of God - You are of his family; you have embraced his truth, and imbibed his Spirit. Little children - Notes, 1 John 2:1. And have overcome them - Have triumphed over their arts and temptations; their endeavors to draw you into error and sin. The word them in this place seems to refer to the false prophets or teachers who collectively constituted antichrist. The meaning is, that they had frustrated or thwarted all their attempts to turn them away…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-6Those who belong to God can tell the difference between spiritual truth and error (4:4). The presence of the Holy Spirit teaches them (3:23–24; see 2:20, 27; John 14:15–26; 16:5–15). Yet John gives clear tests that Christians can use so that there will be no confusion. These tests are a beginning point for identifying true teachers, not a complete list. John designed them to answer the false teachings that were spreading in the churches of the people he…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Ye--emphatical: Ye who confess Jesus: in contrast to "them," the false teachers. overcome them--(1Jo 5:4, 5); instead of being "overcome and brought into (spiritual) bondage" by them (2Pe 2:19). Joh 10:8, 5, "the sheep did not hear them": "a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." he that is in you--God, of whom ye are. he that is in the word--the spirit of Antichrist, the devil, "the prince of…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 4:4

• Adoption
• Blessing
• Righteousness
• Temptation
• War

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Benevolence
• Fear
• Love
• Perfect
• Child; Children
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of

Commentaries on 1 John 4

• 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