1 John 3:16

KJV1611 – Modern English

By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐν τούτῳ ἐγνώκαμεν τὴν ἀγάπην, ὅτι εκεῖνος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἔθηκεν: καὶ ἡμεῖς ὀφείλομεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν τὰς ψυχὰς τιθέναι.

Transliteration

By this we have egnōkamen the agapēn, that ekeinos for us the psychēn of him ethēken: and we opheilomen for the adelphōn the psychas to tithenai.

Grammar Details

• *egnōkamen*: perfect active, 1st plural - we have known
• *agapēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - love
• *ekeinos*: demonstrative pronoun, nominative, masculine, singular - that one
• *psychēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - life/soul
• *ethēken*: aorist active, 3rd singular - he laid down
• *opheilomen*: present active, 1st plural - we ought
• *adelphōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of brothers
• *psychas*: accusative, feminine, plural - lives/souls
• *tithenai*: present active infinitive - to lay down

Word Meanings

• *egnōkamen*: we have known/understood/perceived
• *agapēn*: love/charity
• *ekeinos*: that one/he (emphatic reference)
• *psychēn*: life/soul/self
• *ethēken*: laid down/gave up/placed
• *opheilomen*: we ought/are obligated/must
• *adelphōn*: brothers'/fellow believers'
• *psychas*: lives/souls/selves
• *tithenai*: to lay down/give up/place

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Hereby{G1722} {G5129} know we{G1097} love,{G26} {G2316} because{G3754} he{G1565} laid down{G5087} his{G846} life{G5590} for{G5228} us:{G2257} and{G2532} we{G2249} ought{G3784} to lay down{G5087} our lives{G5590} for{G5228} the brethren.{G80}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Hereby{G1722}{G5129} perceive we{G1097}{(G5758)} the love{G26} of God, because{G3754} he{G1565} laid down{G5087}{(G5656)} his{G846} life{G5590} for{G5228} us{G2257}: and{G2532} we{G2249} ought{G3784}{(G5719)} to lay down{G5087}{(G5721)} our lives{G5590} for{G5228} the brethren{G80}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Herby perceave we love: that he gave his lyfe for vs: and therfore ought we also to geve oure lyves for the brethre.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Hereby haue we perceaued loue, that he gaue his life for vs, and therfore ought we also to geue oure lyues for the brethre.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Hereby haue we perceiued loue, that he layde downe his life for vs: therefore we ought also to lay downe our liues for the brethren.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Hereby perceaue we loue, because he layde downe his lyfe for vs, & we ought to lay downe our lyues for the brethren.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  in this we have known the love, because he for us his life did lay down, and we ought for the brethren the lives to lay down;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  In this we see what love is, because he gave his life for us; and it is right for us to give our lives for the brothers.

• World English Bible (2000)

  By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.

Referenced Verses

• John 3:16 : 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• 1 John 4:9-9 : 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
• John 13:34 : 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
• Eph 5:2 : 2 And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
• Rev 1:5 : 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
• Phil 2:17 : 17 Yes, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.
• Rom 5:8 : 8 But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• Titus 2:13 : 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ;
• Matt 20:28 : 28 Even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
• 1 Pet 3:18 : 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit;
• 1 John 2:6 : 6 He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked.
• Rom 16:4 : 4 Who have risked their own necks for my life; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
• John 15:12-13 : 12 This is my commandment: That you love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
• Acts 20:28 : 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
• John 10:15 : 15 As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.
• Eph 5:25 : 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it;
• Rev 5:9 : 9 And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
• 1 Pet 1:18 : 18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
• Phil 2:30 : 30 Because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
• 1 Pet 2:24 : 24 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.