1 John 3:17

King James Version 1611 (Original)

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God 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, how can he 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 the LORD; and that which he hath given 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 thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
• Deut 15:7-9 : 7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
• 2 Cor 9:5-9 : 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
• 1 Tim 6:17-18 : 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
• Jas 2:15 : 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute 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 shall be abomination.
• Luke 3:11 : 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, 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 be rich.
• 2 Cor 8:14-15 : 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
• 1 John 5:1 : 1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.