Devine Scripture

1 John 2:20

What does 1 John 2:20 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 2:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 2:20 means

Believers are not left defenseless; they “have an anointing from the Holy One.” This points to the Holy Spirit given by Jesus Christ, setting them apart and enabling discernment. “Ye know all things” means they possess, in principle, the necessary knowledge of the gospel’s truth to recognize and reject lies. It is not a claim to exhaustive knowledge but to sufficiency in what matters most for salvation and faithfulness. The Spirit confirms the apostolic message and grants inner conviction, so that Christians can stand firm amid false teaching and remain in the truth they first received.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And you have the Spirit from the Holy One and you all have knowledge.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and have known all things;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But you have the unction from the Holy One and know all things.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And ye have [the] unction from the holy [one], and ye know all things.

Context

After describing the deceivers’ departure (verse 19), John turns to the church’s resources: an anointing from the Holy One (verse 20) and a real knowledge of the truth (verse 21). These assurances do not breed complacency; they strengthen resistance. Next, verses 22–23 will identify the defining falsehood: denying Jesus as the Christ, which severs one from both the Son and the Father. John will then exhort them to let the original message abide in them (verse 24).

v.19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.

v.20This passage

v.21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 71:22

    I will also praise thee with the psaltery, Even thy truth, O my God: Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

  • Psalms 45:7

    Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

  • Acts 10:38

    even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  • Isaiah 43:3

    For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead.

  • Revelation 3:7

    And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:

  • Hebrews 8:11

    And they shall not teach every man his fellow-citizen, And every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For all shall know me, From the least to the greatest of them.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore 1 John 2

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 1 John 2.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to 1 John 2:20.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary