1 John 3:12

KJV1611 – Modern English

Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οὐ καθὼς Κάϊν, ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἦν, καὶ ἔσφαξεν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ. Καὶ χάριν τίνος ἔσφαξεν αὐτόν; Ὅτι τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ πονηρὰ ἦν, τὰ δὲ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ δίκαια.

Transliteration

Not as Kain, from the ponērou ēn, and esphaxen the adelphon of him. And for what reason esphaxen him? Because the erga of him ponēra ēn, but those of the adelphou of him dikaia.

Grammar Details

• *Kain*: nominative, masculine, singular - Cain
• *ponērou*: genitive, masculine, singular - evil one
• *ēn*: imperfect active, 3rd singular - was
• *esphaxen*: aorist active, 3rd singular - slew/killed
• *adelphon*: accusative, masculine, singular - brother
• *erga*: nominative, neuter, plural - works
• *ponēra*: adjective, nominative, neuter, plural - evil
• *adelphou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of brother
• *dikaia*: adjective, nominative, neuter, plural - righteous

Word Meanings

• *ponērou*: evil one/wicked one/the devil
• *esphaxen*: slew/killed/slaughtered
• *adelphon*: brother/fellow believer
• *erga*: works/deeds/actions
• *ponēra*: evil/wicked/bad
• *adelphou*: brother's/fellow believer's
• *dikaia*: righteous/just/upright

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Not like Cain, who was from the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil and his brother’s were righteous.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  not{G3756} as{G2531} Cain{G2535} was{G2258} of{G1537} the evil one,{G4190} and{G2532} slew{G4969} his{G846} brother.{G80} And{G2532} wherefore{G5484} {G5101} slew he{G4969} him?{G846} Because{G3754} his{G846} works{G2041} were{G2258} evil,{G4190} and{G1161} his{G846} brother's{G80} righteous.{G1342}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Not{G3756} as{G2531} Cain{G2535}, who was{G2258}{(G5713)} of{G1537} that wicked one{G4190}, and{G2532} slew{G4969}{(G5656)} his{G846} brother{G80}. And{G2532} wherefore{G5484}{G5101} slew{G4969}{(G5656)} he him{G846}? Because{G3754} his own{G846} works{G2041} were{G2258}{(G5713)} evil{G4190}, and{G1161} his{G846} brother's{G80} righteous{G1342}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  not as Cayn which was of the wicked and slewe his brother. And wherfore slewe he him? Because his awne workes were evyll and his brothers good.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  not as Cain, which was of the wicked, and slewe his brother. And wherfore slewe he him? euen because his awne workes were euell, and his brothers righteous.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Not as Cain which was of that wicked one, and slewe his brother: and wherefore slewe he him? because his owne workes were euill, and his brothers good.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Not as Cain, which was of that wicked, and slewe his brother: And wherfore slewe he hym? Because his owne workes were euyll, and his brothers good.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  not as Cain -- of the evil one he was, and he did slay his brother, and wherefore did he slay him? because his works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Not being of the Evil One like Cain, who put his brother to death. And why did he put him to death? Because his works were evil and his brother's works were good.

• World English Bible (2000)

  unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.

Referenced Verses

• Heb 11:4 : 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead still speaks.
• Jude 1:11 : 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
• Prov 29:27 : 27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just; and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
• Matt 13:19 : 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
• Matt 13:38 : 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,
• Matt 23:35 : 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
• Matt 27:23 : 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil has he done? But they cried out all the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
• Luke 11:51 : 51 From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple: truly I say to you, It shall be required of this generation.
• John 10:32 : 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works I have shown you from my Father; for which of these works do you stone me?
• John 15:19-25 : 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I said to you, 'The servant is not greater than his master.' If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no other man did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happens so that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’
• John 18:38-40 : 38 Pilate said to him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, I find no fault in him at all. 39 But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? 40 Then they all cried again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
• Gen 4:4-9 : 4 And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect for Abel and his offering: 5 But for Cain and his offering he did not have respect. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said to Cain, Why are you angry? and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And unto you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him. 9 And the LORD said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand; 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer you shall be on the earth. 13 And Cain said to the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from your face shall I be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth; and it shall come to pass, that anyone who finds me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said to him, Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.
• Gen 4:25 : 25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
• 1 Sam 18:14-15 : 14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. 15 Therefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
• 1 Sam 19:4-5 : 4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been very good toward you: 5 For he put his life in his hand, and killed the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel; you saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
• 1 Sam 22:14-16 : 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? 15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? Far be it from me: let not the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much. 16 And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house.
• Ps 37:12 : 12 The wicked plot against the just and gnash at him with their teeth.
• Ps 38:20 : 20 Those also who render evil for good are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.
• Prov 29:10 : 10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright; but the just seek his life.
• Heb 12:24 : 24 To Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
• 1 Pet 4:4 : 4 Wherein they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
• 1 John 2:13-14 : 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
• 1 John 3:8 : 8 He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
• Rev 17:6 : 6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus; and when I saw her, I marveled with great wonder.
• Acts 7:52 : 52 Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they have killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers,
• 1 Thess 2:14 : 14 For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Jews: