1 John 5:6
What does 1 John 5:6 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 5:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 5:6 means
John insists Jesus Christ “came by water and blood… not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.” The likely reference is to His baptism (“water”), which inaugurated His public ministry, and His crucifixion (“blood”), which accomplished atonement. Against those who would accept a merely spiritual Christ or a ministry without a real, saving death, John affirms both. Jesus’ life and death together reveal and redeem. The Spirit also bears witness, because the Spirit is truth—He authenticates the Son through Scripture, the apostles, and the church’s ongoing life. Faith rests on this historical, Spirit-attested Christ, not on private speculation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.
KJV
King James Version · 1611This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This is he who came by water and by blood, Jesus Christ; not by water only but by water and by blood.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862This one is he who did come through water and blood--Jesus the Christ, not in the water only, but in the water and the blood; and the Spirit it is that is testifying, because the Spirit is the truth,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus [the] Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, for the Spirit is the truth.
Context
Coming right after verse 5’s focus on believing in the Son of God, verse 6 begins a testimony section. It identifies the concrete events—water and blood—by which Jesus came, insisting on the necessity of both. Verse 7 will name the Spirit as a witness, and verse 8 will unite Spirit, water, and blood as a threefold, harmonious testimony. This prepares for verses 9–12, which elevate God’s witness above human testimony and state its heart: God has given eternal life in His Son, possessed only by those who have the Son.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 7:38
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.
- Ephesians 1:7
in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
- Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.
- Revelation 7:14
And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- 1 John 1:7
but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
- John 19:34
howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water.
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