1 John 3:17

American Standard Version (1901)

But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὅς δʼ ἂν ἔχῃ τὸν βίον τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ θεωρῇ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχοντα, καὶ κλείσῃ τὰ σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, πῶς ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐν αὐτῷ;

Transliteration

Whoever d'an echē the bion of the kosmou, and theōrē the adelphon of him chreian echonta, and kleisē the splanchna of him from him, how the agapē of Theou menei in him?

Grammar Details

• *d'an*: particle combination - but whoever
• *echē*: present active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might have
• *bion*: accusative, masculine, singular - livelihood/goods
• *kosmou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of world
• *theōrē*: present active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might see
• *adelphon*: accusative, masculine, singular - brother
• *chreian*: accusative, feminine, singular - need
• *echonta*: present active participle, accusative, masculine, singular - having
• *kleisē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might shut
• *splanchna*: accusative, neuter, plural - bowels/affections
• *agapē*: nominative, feminine, singular - love
• *Theou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of God
• *menei*: present active, 3rd singular - abides

Word Meanings

• *echē*: might have/possess/hold
• *bion*: livelihood/goods/means of living
• *kosmou*: world/universe/worldly system
• *theōrē*: might see/behold/observe
• *adelphon*: brother/fellow believer
• *chreian*: need/necessity/lack
• *echonta*: having/possessing
• *kleisē*: might shut/close
• *splanchna*: bowels/affections/compassion/heart
• *agapē*: love/charity
• *menei*: abides/remains/continues

Referenced Verses

• 1 John 4:20 : 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.
• Heb 13:16 : 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
• Prov 19:17 : 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
• Isa 58:7-9 : 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall by thy rearward. 9 Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly; 10 and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday;
• Deut 15:7-9 : 7 If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother; 8 but thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need [in that] which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a base thought in thy heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou give him nought; and he cry unto Jehovah against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto. 11 For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land.
• 2 Cor 9:5-9 : 5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. 6 But this [I say], He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 [ Let] each man [do] according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: 9 as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.
• 1 Tim 6:17-18 : 17 Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
• Jas 2:15 : 15 If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,
• Prov 12:10 : 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
• Prov 28:9 : 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
• Luke 3:11 : 11 And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.
• 2 Cor 8:9 : 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.
• 2 Cor 8:14-15 : 14 but by equality: your abundance [being a supply] at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your want; that there may be equality: 15 as it is written, He that [gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [gathered] little had no lack.
• 1 John 5:1 : 1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.