Devine Scripture

1 John 4:9–10

What does 1 John 4:9–10 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 4:9–10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 4:9–10 means

1 John 4:9

God’s love was not hidden; it was manifested in history when He sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. The initiative is entirely God’s, and the aim is life—spiritual and eternal—found only in union with the Son. The phrase “only begotten” underlines the Son’s unique relationship to the Father. Love is defined not by our feelings but by this concrete act of sending. In Christ’s coming, dying, and rising, God gives sinners real life. The measure of divine love is not our worthiness but His generosity. To see Jesus rightly is to see love on display.

1 John 4:10

Here is love’s true definition: not that we initiated love toward God, but that He first loved us and sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins. Love begins with God’s gracious initiative. Propitiation means that Jesus, by His sacrificial death, dealt with our sin and turned away the just judgment we deserved. God’s love is costly and just, not indulgent sentiment. This anchors assurance: forgiveness rests on the Son’s finished work, not our fluctuating devotion. When believers grasp this, their love for others is shaped by mercy that absorbs wrong and seeks reconciliation, reflecting the God who loved us at supreme cost.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the love of God was made clear to us when he sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. And this is love, not that we had love for God, but that he had love for us, and sent his Son to be an offering for our sins.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

In this was manifested the love of God in us, because His Son--the only begotten--hath God sent to the world, that we may live through him; in this is the love, not that we loved God, but that He did love us, and did send His Son a propitiation for our sins.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him. In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Herein as to us has been manifested the love ofGod, thatGod has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we lovedGod, but that he loved us, and sent his Son a propitiation for our sins.

Context

v.9After declaring that God is love (v. 8), John shows how that love appeared. Verse 9 highlights the Incarnation’s purpose: that we might live through the Son. It prepares for verse 10, which deepens the explanation by naming the cross as the propitiation for sins. Together, these verses ground the call to love (vv. 7, 11) in the gospel’s saving events, ensuring Christian love is shaped by God’s prior action.

v.10Verse 10 completes the gospel heart introduced in verse 9. After stating the purpose of the sending (life through the Son), John names the means: the Son’s atoning sacrifice. This grounds the coming exhortation in verse 11—if God loved us in this way, we ought to love one another. The flow moves from revelation of God’s love to our responsive duty, tying Christian ethics to the cross.

v.8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

v.9–10This passage

v.11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Cross references

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

  • 1 John 4:10

    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  • John 6:57

    As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.

  • Mark 12:6

    He had yet one, a beloved son: he sent him last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

  • John 14:6

    Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  • 1 John 4:16

    And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.

  • John 6:51

    I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

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