1 John 1:9
What does 1 John 1:9 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 1:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 1:9 means
John gives the gracious remedy: confessing our sins. Confession means agreeing with God about our sins, naming them without excuse. When we do, God proves “faithful and righteous” to forgive and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. He is faithful to His promises and righteous in forgiving because of Jesus’ atoning work already mentioned. Forgiveness is not a reluctant concession but an action consistent with God’s character and justice. Cleansing reaches beyond specific acts to the broader stain of unrighteousness. This verse assures believers that walking in the light includes honest repentance and that God gladly meets such honesty with complete pardon and purification.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If we say openly that we have done wrong, he is upright and true to his word, giving us forgiveness of sins and making us clean from all evil.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862if we may confess our sins, stedfast He is and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from every unrighteousness;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Context
Set against the self-deception of verse 8, this promise shows the proper path for sinners who wish to live in God’s light. Confession opens the door to God’s covenant faithfulness and just mercy, keeping fellowship intact. With the provision stated, John will close the chapter in verse 10 by exposing the gravity of denying sin—not merely self-deception but calling God a liar and revealing that His word has not taken root within.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 33:27
He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:
- 1 Kings 8:47
yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;
- Leviticus 26:40
And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary unto me,
- 1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
- Titus 2:14
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
- Isaiah 45:21
Declare ye, and bring it forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me.
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