1 John 2:4

1 John 2:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Context of 1 John 2:4

2He is the atonement for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world. 3Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this— 6whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.

1 John 2:4 word by word

Ὁ λέγων ὅτι ἔγνωκα αὐτὸν καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ μὴ τηρῶν, ψεύστης ἐστίν, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀλήθεια οὐκ ἔστιν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• I knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• keepethτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• notμήmē · notG3361
• commandmentsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a liarψεύστηςpseustēs · liarG5583
• the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• notοὐou · noG3756
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• himοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Cross-references for 1 John 2:4

• 1 John 2:9The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in the darkness.
• 1 John 1:6If we say we have fellowship with Him and keep walking in the darkness, we are lying and do not practice the truth.
• 1 John 4:20If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
• James 2:14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can such faith save him?
• Hosea 8:2Will they cry out to Me, ‘My God, we—Israel—knew You’?

Commentaries on 1 John 2:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He that saith, I know him - This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their personal unholiness. They are all liars, and no truth of God is in them.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4He that saith, I know Him - He who professes to be acquainted with the Saviour, or who professes to be a Christian. And keepeth not his commandments - What he has appointed to be observed by his people; that is, he who does not obey him. Is a liar - Makes a false profession; professes to have that which he really has not. Such a profession is a falsehood, because there can be no true religion where one does not obey the law of God.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-11Verses 3-11 What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-6Obedience is one clear indication that we know Christ and belong to him. If we do not obey Christ, it is obvious that we do not belong to him or love him. As we obey Christ and his commandments, our love for God and our knowledge of him will grow toward completeness and maturity. We will walk as Jesus walked, united with God and showing love for others.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. I know--Greek, "I have knowledge of (perfect) Him." Compare with this verse 1Jo 1:8.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 2:4

• Blindness
• Confession
• Hypocrisy
• Obedience
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Acknowledge
• Advocate
• Lie
• Stumble
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of
• Truth

Commentaries on 1 John 2

• 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