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 King James Version (NKJV)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.

Context of 1 John 5:18

16If any man shall see his brother sin a sin which is not to death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not to death. There is a sin to death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not to death. We know that whoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20And we know that the Son of God hath come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even 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

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

Cross-references for 1 John 5:18

• 1 John 5:1Whoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten by him.
• 1 John 2:29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
• 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 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.
• 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 3:2The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
• James 1:18Of his own will he hath begotten us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• 1 Peter 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
• 1 John 5:21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
• 1 John 3:3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
• Psalms 17:4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
• Psalms 18:23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.
• Psalms 39:1I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
• Psalms 119:101I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
• Proverbs 4:23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
• John 15:4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye 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
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Idol
• 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