1 John 4:6

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἡμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐσμεν: ὁ γινώσκων τὸν Θεὸν ἀκούει ἡμῶν· ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἀκούει ἡμῶν. Ἐκ τούτου γινώσκομεν τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πλάνης.

Transliteration

Hēmeis from the Theou esmen: the [one] ginōskōn the Theon akouei us; who ouk estin from the Theou ouk akouei us. From toutou ginōskomen the pneuma of the alētheias, and the pneuma of the planēs.

Grammar Details

• *Hēmeis*: nominative, plural - we
• *Theou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of God
• *esmen*: present indicative, 1st plural - we are
• *ginōskōn*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - knowing/one who knows
• *Theon*: accusative, masculine, singular - God
• *akouei*: present active indicative, 3rd singular - hears/listens to
• *ouk*: negative particle - not
• *estin*: present indicative, 3rd singular - is
• *toutou*: genitive, neuter, singular - from this/by this
• *ginōskomen*: present active indicative, 1st plural - we know
• *pneuma*: accusative, neuter, singular - spirit
• *alētheias*: genitive, feminine, singular - of truth
• *planēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of error/deception

Word Meanings

• *ginōskōn*: knowing/one who knows/recognizing
• *akouei*: hears/listens to/pays attention to
• *ginōskomen*: we know/we recognize/we discern
• *pneuma*: spirit/breath
• *alētheias*: truth/reality
• *planēs*: error/deception/wandering/straying

Referenced Verses

• John 14:17 : 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
• John 10:27 : 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
• 1 Cor 14:37 : 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
• 1 John 4:1 : 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
• 1 John 4:4 : 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
• John 15:26 : 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
• John 18:37 : 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
• John 20:21 : 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
• Rom 1:1 : 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
• Rom 11:8 : 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
• 1 Cor 2:12-14 : 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• John 16:13 : 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
• John 13:20 : 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
• Isa 8:20 : 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
• Isa 29:10 : 10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
• Hos 4:12 : 12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
• Mic 2:11 : 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
• Mic 3:8 : 8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
• Luke 10:22 : 22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
• John 8:19 : 19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
• John 8:45-50 : 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
• John 10:16 : 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
• 1 John 4:8 : 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
• Jude 1:17 : 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
• 2 Cor 10:7 : 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
• 2 Thess 1:8 : 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
• 2 Thess 2:9-9 : 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
• 1 Tim 4:1 : 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
• 2 Pet 3:2 : 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: