Devine Scripture

John 1:16

What does John 1:16 mean?

A plain-English look at John 1:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 1:16 means

This verse emphasizes the boundless generosity and inexhaustible supply of grace received from Christ. "Of his fulness" indicates that Jesus is the complete and perfect source of all divine blessings. "Grace for grace" suggests an unending flow of grace, one blessing following another, or grace that builds upon prior grace. It highlights that everything believers receive—spiritual life, forgiveness, strength—comes directly from Christ’s abounding riches and divine attributes, overflowing to humanity.

John 1:16 in context

John 1 — The Word Made Flesh

John lifts the curtain higher than any other Gospel. Before there was a Bethlehem, there was the Word — with God, who was God, by whom all things were made. The same Word who was the agent of creation became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist points him out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; the first disciples follow him; Nathanael confesses him as the Son of God and King of Israel. The eternal becomes near enough to touch.

  • Pre-existence of Christ
  • Incarnation
  • Light and life
  • First disciples

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

From his full measure we have all been given grace on grace.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and out of his fulness did we all receive, and grace over-against grace;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And of his fulness we all have received: and grace for grace.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for of his fulness we all have received, and grace upon grace.

Context

Following the declaration of the Word becoming flesh, full of grace and truth (v.14), and John's testimony to His preeminence (v.15), this verse explains the practical benefit of Christ's incarnation for believers. It describes the abundant spiritual blessings that flow from Jesus, the incarnate Word, directly tying His divine fullness to the saving grace experienced by humanity. This provides the first taste of the benefits flowing from the presence of Christ.

v.15John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.

v.16This passage

v.17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 1:4

    I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;

  • Zechariah 4:7

    Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it.

  • Colossians 2:9

    for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,

  • John 15:1

    I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

  • Ephesians 4:7

    But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

  • Acts 3:12

    And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?

Sermon ideas from John 1:16

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What John 1:16 teaches us about pre-existence of christ

  • What John 1:16 teaches us about incarnation

  • What John 1:16 teaches us about light and life

  • What John 1:16 teaches us about first disciples

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