1 John 3:17

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?

📖 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 anyone says“I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
• Heb 13:16 : 16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
• Prov 19:17 : 17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed.
• Isa 58:7-9 : 7 I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him! Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood! 8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise; your restoration will quickly arrive; your godly behavior will go before you, and the LORD’s splendor will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call out, and the LORD will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply,‘Here I am.’ You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully. 10 You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
• Deut 15:7-9 : 7 The Spirit of Liberality If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the LORD your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition. 8 Instead, you must be sure to open your hand to him and generously lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite and you do not lend him anything; he will cry out to the LORD against you and you will be regarded as having sinned. 10 You must by all means lend to him and not be upset by doing it, for because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you attempt. 11 There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open your hand to your fellow Israelites who are needy and poor in your land.
• 2 Cor 9:5-9 : 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do. 6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. 9 Just as it is written,“He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”
• 1 Tim 6:17-18 : 17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.
• Jas 2:15 : 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,
• Prov 12:10 : 10 A righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel.
• Prov 28:9 : 9 The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
• Luke 3:11 : 11 John answered them,“The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.”
• 2 Cor 8:9 : 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.
• 2 Cor 8:14-15 : 14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 15 as it is written:“The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
• 1 John 5:1 : 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.