Devine Scripture

1 John 3:14

What does 1 John 3:14 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 3:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 3:14 means

Love for the brethren functions as a spiritual vital sign. John says we “have passed out of death into life” because we love fellow believers. This is not the cause but the evidence of new life. Love springs from God’s life within and cannot coexist with death’s coldness. Where love is absent, a person “abideth in death,” revealing unregenerate condition. The verse invites self-examination and encouragement: do you love Christ’s people? Imperfect love, yes—but real, costly, persevering? Such love testifies that God has transferred us from the realm of death to life in His Son.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

We are conscious that we have come out of death into life because of our love for the brothers. He who has no love is still in death.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

we--we have known that we have passed out of the death to the life, because we love the brethren; he who is not loving the brother doth remain in the death.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [his] brother abides in death.

Context

Following the warning about the world’s hatred (verse 13), John turns inward to the church’s love as assurance. This anticipates verse 15’s stark verdict on hatred and verse 16’s supreme example of love in Christ’s self-giving. The movement is from evidence to standard to application: love proves life, hatred proves death, Christ defines love, and believers imitate Him in practical care (verses 17–18). Assurance in this section is ethical and relational, not merely verbal. John continues dismantling empty professions while comforting true believers with the recognizable fruit of life.

v.13Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you.

v.14This passage

v.15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Cross references

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

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

  • Ephesians 2:1

    And youdid he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,

  • Matthew 25:40

    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.

  • 2 Peter 1:7

    and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.

  • John 15:12

    This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.

  • John 15:17

    These things I command you, that ye may love one another.

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