3 John 1:13

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

I had many things to write unto thee, but I am {G2309} unwilling to write [them] to thee with ink and pen:

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Πολλὰ εἶχον γράφειν, ἀλλʼ οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράψαι:

Transliteration

Many eichon graphein, but not thelō through melanos and kalamou to you grapsai:

Grammar Details

*Polla*: accusative, neuter, plural - many things
*eichon*: imperfect, active, indicative, 1st person singular - I was having/had
*graphein*: present, active, infinitive - to write
*all*: conjunction - but
*ou*: negative particle - not
*thelō*: present, active, indicative, 1st person singular - I wish/want
*dia*: preposition + genitive - through/by means of
*melanos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of ink
*kalamou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of pen/reed
*soi*: dative, 2nd person singular pronoun - to you
*grapsai*: aorist, active, infinitive - to write

Word Meanings

*eichon*: was having/had/possessed
*graphein*: to write/to be writing
*thelō*: wish/want/desire
*melanos*: ink/black substance
*kalamou*: pen/reed/writing instrument
*grapsai*: to write/to compose/to record

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

2 John 1:12 : 12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

2 John 1:12-13
2 verses
86%
12Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
13The children of thine elect sister salute thee.
3 John 1:14
78%
14but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.
2 Cor 1:13
75%
13For we write no other things unto you, than {G2228} what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope {G3754} ye will acknowledge {G2532} unto the end:
Gal 6:11
74%
11See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.
1 Tim 3:14
74%
14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;
2 Cor 13:10
73%
10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.
Phlm 1:7-8
2 verses
73%
7For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
8Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,
Phlm 1:13-14
2 verses
72%
13whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.
Phlm 1:21
72%
21Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.
Heb 13:22
72%
22But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written unto you in few words.
2 Cor 2:3-4
2 verses
72%
3And I wrote this very thing, {G5213} lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is [the joy] of you all.
4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly unto you.
2 Thess 3:17
72%
17The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
Gal 1:20
72%
20Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie {G3754} not.
2 Cor 1:23
71%
23But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.
2 Cor 9:1
71%
1For as touching {G3303} the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2 Cor 10:9
71%
9that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.
3 John 1:12
70%
12Demetrius hath the witness of all [men], and of the truth itself: yea, {G2532} we also bear witness: and thou knowest that our witness is true.
Rom 15:22-23
2 verses
70%
22Wherefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you:
23but now, having no more any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come unto you,
2 Cor 2:9
70%
9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.
Rom 15:15
70%
15But {G80} I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God,
1 Tim 1:3
70%
3As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
Rom 1:13
70%
13And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.
2 Cor 13:2
70%
2I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come {G1519} again, I will not spare;
2 Pet 1:15
70%
15Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.
2 Cor 2:1
70%
1But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.
1 Cor 16:7
70%
7For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry {G5100} a while with you, if the Lord permit.
1 Thess 3:1
70%
1Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;
3 John 1:9
69%
9I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
1 Cor 16:21
69%
21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
1 Thess 5:1
69%
1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
Col 2:1
69%
1For I would have you know how greatly I {G2192} strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Phlm 1:19
69%
19I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: None that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.
1 John 1:4
69%
4and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.
2 Cor 7:12
69%
12So although {G2532} I wrote unto you, I [wrote] not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God.
2 Tim 1:4
69%
4longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Rom 1:11
69%
11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
Phlm 1:16
69%
16no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
2 Cor 1:16
69%
16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea.
1 Cor 5:9
69%
9I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators;
2 John 1:1
69%
1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;
1 Cor 4:14
69%
14I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
3 John 1:3
69%
3For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.
2 Cor 7:3
68%
3I say it not to condemn [you]: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.
John 21:25
68%
25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.
2 Pet 1:12
68%
12Wherefore I shall be {G3756} ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with [you].