1 John 5:16

KJV1611 – Modern English

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should pray about that.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐάν τις ἴδῃ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτάνοντα ἁμαρτίαν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον, αἰτήσει, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ ζωήν τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσιν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον. Ἔστιν ἁμαρτία πρὸς θάνατον: οὐ περὶ ἐκείνης λέγω ἵνα ἐρωτήσῃ.

Transliteration

If anyone idē the adelphon of him hamartanonta hamartian not pros thanaton, he shall aitēsei, and he shall dōsei to him zōēn to those hamartanousin not pros thanaton. There estin hamartia pros thanaton: not concerning that I legō that he should erōtēsē.

Grammar Details

• *ean*: conditional conjunction - if
• *tis*: indefinite pronoun, nominative, masculine, singular - anyone
• *idē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - he may see
• *adelphon*: accusative, masculine, singular - brother
• *autou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of him
• *hamartanonta*: present active participle, accusative, masculine, singular - sinning
• *hamartian*: accusative, feminine, singular - sin
• *mē*: negative particle - not
• *pros*: preposition with accusative - unto/toward
• *thanaton*: accusative, masculine, singular - death
• *aitēsei*: future active indicative, 3rd singular - he will ask
• *dōsei*: future active indicative, 3rd singular - he will give
• *autō*: personal pronoun, dative, masculine, singular - to him
• *zōēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - life
• *hamartanousin*: present active participle, dative, masculine, plural - sinning
• *estin*: present indicative, 3rd singular - is/there is
• *hamartia*: nominative, feminine, singular - sin
• *ekeinēs*: demonstrative pronoun, genitive, feminine, singular - that
• *legō*: present active indicative, 1st singular - I say
• *hina*: conjunction introducing purpose clause - that
• *erōtēsē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - he should ask

Word Meanings

• *idē*: he may see/he may observe/he may perceive
• *adelphon*: brother/fellow believer/fellow member
• *hamartanonta*: sinning/erring/missing the mark
• *hamartian*: sin/error/missing the mark
• *thanaton*: death/end of life
• *aitēsei*: he will ask/he will request/he will petition
• *dōsei*: he will give/he will grant/he will bestow
• *zōēn*: life/existence/vitality
• *hamartanousin*: sinning/erring/missing the mark
• *hamartia*: sin/error/missing the mark
• *legō*: I say/I speak/I tell
• *erōtēsē*: he should ask/he should request/he should petition

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  If anyone sees a brother or sister committing a sin that does not lead to death, they should pray, and God will give life to them—those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying that one should pray about that.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and [God] will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make {G1565} request.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Yf eny man se his brother synne a synne that is not vnto deeth let him axe and he shall geve him lyfe for them that synne not vnto deeth. Ther is a synne vnto deeth for which saye I not that a man shuld praye.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Yf eny man se his brother synne a synne not vnto death, let him axe, and he shal geue him life, for the yt synne not vnto death. There is a synne vnto death, for the which saye I not that a man shulde praye.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  If any man see his brother sinne a sinne that is not vnto death, let him aske, and he shall giue him life for them that sinne not vnto death. There is a sinne vnto death: I say not that thou shouldest pray for it.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  If any man see his brother sinne a sinne not vnto death, let hym aske, and he shal geue him life for them that sinne not vnto death. There is a sinne vnto death: I say not that thou shouldest pray for it.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  If any man see his brother sin a sin [which is] not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don't say that he should make a request concerning this.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  If any one may see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give to him life to those sinning not unto death; there is sin to death, not concerning it do I speak that he may beseech;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and `God' will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and [God] will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  If a man sees his brother doing a sin which is not bad enough for death, let him make a prayer to God, and God will give life to him whose sin was not bad enough for death. There is a sin whose punishment is death: I do not say that he may make such a request then.

• World English Bible (2000)

  If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don't say that he should make a request concerning this.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.

Referenced Verses

• Heb 6:4-6 : 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 And have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
• 1 Sam 2:25 : 25 If one man sins against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sins against the LORD, who shall intercede for him? Nevertheless, they did not listen to the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.
• Jer 7:16 : 16 Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to me: for I will not hear you.
• Jer 11:14 : 14 Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me for their trouble.
• Num 15:30 : 30 But the soul who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native or a stranger, that soul reproaches the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
• Matt 12:31-32 : 31 Therefore I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come.
• Heb 10:26-31 : 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who despised Moses' law died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who has said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
• Jas 5:14-15 : 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
• 2 Pet 2:20-22 : 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "The dog returns to his own vomit," and "the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
• Luke 12:10 : 10 And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.
• Jer 14:11 : 11 Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not pray for the good of this people.'
• Jer 15:1-2 : 1 Then the LORD said to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. 2 And it shall come to pass, if they say to you, Where shall we go forth? then you shall tell them, Thus says the LORD; Those for death, to death; and those for the sword, to the sword; and those for the famine, to the famine; and those for the captivity, to the captivity.
• Jer 18:18-21 : 18 Then said they, Come, and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. 19 Give heed to me, O LORD, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me. 20 Shall evil be repaid for good? for they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before you to speak good for them, and to turn away your wrath from them. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.
• Ezek 22:30 : 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
• Amos 7:1-3 : 1 Thus the Lord GOD showed to me; and, behold, he formed locusts at the beginning of the late growth; and, lo, it was the late growth after the king's mowings. 2 And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beg you: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. 3 The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, says the LORD.
• Num 16:26-32 : 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins. 27 So they got up from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said, Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of my own will. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they are visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD makes a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth, and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit; then you shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31 And it came to pass, when he had finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart that was under them. 32 And the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, with their houses, and all the men that belonged to Korah, and all their goods.
• Deut 9:18-20 : 18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread nor drink water, because of all your sins which you sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, with which the LORD was angry against you to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me at that time also. 20 And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at that time.
• 2 Chr 30:18-20 : 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon everyone 19 That prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And the LORD listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
• Job 42:7-9 : 7 And it was so, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My anger is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Therefore take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering, and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your foolishness, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them, for the LORD had accepted Job.
• Ps 106:23 : 23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
• Gen 20:7 : 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live: and if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you, and all that belong to you.
• Gen 20:17 : 17 So Abraham prayed to God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants; and they bore children.
• Exod 32:10-14 : 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation." 11 Moses entreated the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people, whom You have brought forth from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this evil against Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" 14 So the LORD relented from the evil which He thought to do to His people.
• Exod 32:31-32 : 31 Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made gods of gold for themselves. 32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of Your book which You have written."
• Exod 34:9 : 9 And he said, "If now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, forgive our iniquity and our sin, and accept us as your inheritance."
• Num 12:13 : 13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, 'Heal her now, O God, I beseech you.'
• Num 14:11-21 : 11 And the LORD said to Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be before they believe me, for all the signs which I have shown among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they. 13 And Moses said to the LORD, Then the Egyptians will hear it, (for you brought up this people in your might from among them;) 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that you LORD are among this people, that you LORD are seen face to face, and that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them, by day in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you shall kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, 16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness. 17 And now, I beseech you, let the power of my Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying, 18 The LORD is longsuffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I beseech you, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your mercy, and as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. 20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to your word: 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
• John 17:9 : 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom you have given me; for they are yours.
• 2 Tim 4:14 : 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.
• Mark 3:28-30 : 28 Truly, I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemies by which they may blaspheme: 29 But he who shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit has never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 30 Because they said, He has an unclean spirit.