Devine Scripture

1 John 3:17

What does 1 John 3:17 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 3:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 3:17 means

John brings love down to earth. If someone has “the world’s goods” and sees a brother in need but hardens his heart, the claim that God’s love “abides” in him is exposed as false. Love opens the hand because God has opened His heart to us. Compassion that refuses to engage when able is not biblical love. This is a searching test: our wallets and schedules tell the truth about our affections. God’s love, when abiding in us, moves toward need with generosity, wisdom, and practical help. Where compassion is shut, assurance should be questioned.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But if a man has this world's goods, and sees that his brother is in need, and keeps his heart shut against his brother, how is it possible for the love of God to be in him?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and whoever may have the goods of the world, and may view his brother having need, and may shut up his bowels from him--how doth the love of God remain in him?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

He that hath the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But whoso may have the world's substance, and see his brother having need, and shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love ofGod in him?

Context

Following the cross-shaped definition of love (verse 16), John applies it to ordinary life. The shift from life-laying-down to resource-sharing shows love’s spectrum—from ultimate sacrifice to daily generosity. This directly leads into verse 18’s summary: love must be in deed and truth, not mere talk. The flow also supports the assurance section (verses 19–21): tangible love gives confidence before God. Thus, practice grounds assurance; profession without practice undermines it. John’s ethic refuses abstraction—real needs met by real action is where love proves genuine.

v.16Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

v.17This passage

v.18My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

Cross references

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

  • Hebrews 13:16

    But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

  • Isaiah 58:7

    Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

  • James 2:15

    If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,

  • Luke 3:11

    And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.

  • 1 John 5:1

    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:14

    but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

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