1 John 5:21
What does 1 John 5:21 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 5:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 5:21 means
John’s final word is pastoral and practical: “My little children, guard yourselves from idols.” After exalting the true God revealed in His Son, he warns against every substitute—whether carved images, false doctrines about Jesus, or worldly desires that displace God. Idolatry is giving ultimate trust or love to what is not God. The remedy is vigilance: keep watch over your heart and worship, staying near the Son who is “the true God, and eternal life.” This closing charge sums up the letter’s aim—fellowship with the real God in truth and love, uncorrupted by deceptive counterfeits.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000My little children, guard yourselves from idols.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901My little children, guard yourselves from idols.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My little children, keep yourselves from false gods.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Little children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Children, keep yourselves from idols.
Context
Verse 21 serves as a terse but fitting conclusion to the epistle. Following the sweeping confession of verse 20, it draws out the immediate implication: protect yourselves from anything that rivals or misrepresents the true God. This warning gathers the letter’s themes—truth about Jesus, obedience, love, discernment—and applies them to daily faithfulness. The chapter has affirmed assurance, prayer, victory over the world, and knowledge of God in His Son; now it ends by urging believers to preserve that fellowship by rejecting idols in every form.
v.20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
v.21This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 10:7
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
- Revelation 13:14
And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.
- Revelation 14:11
and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.
- 1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- Revelation 9:20
And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore 1 John 5
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 1 John 5.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About the Deity of Christ
The Bible consistently reveals Jesus Christ as truly God, possessing divine attributes, titles, and authority.
Topic
Bible Verses About Eternal Life
Eternal life, a gift from God, is knowing Him and Jesus Christ, and living forever in His presence.
Topic
Bible Verses About Idolatry
Idolatry is the worship of anything other than the one true God, a pervasive theme throughout the Bible.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for Doubting Your Salvation
Quiet, grounded scripture for the nights you wonder if you're really saved.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Unloved
When you can't feel anyone's love — verses for a love that doesn't depend on feeling.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Relapse and the Shame That Follows
Verses to read the morning after — when you fell again and don't know how to pray.