Devine Scripture

John 3:14–15

What does John 3:14–15 mean?

A plain-English look at John 3:14–15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 3:14–15 means

John 3:14

Jesus likens His future crucifixion to the serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness (Numbers 21). Just as the bronze serpent, when gazed upon with faith, brought physical healing to the bitten Israelites, so too must the "Son of man be lifted up" on the cross. This Old Testament parallel clearly points to Christ's atoning death. His elevation on the cross, a symbol of shame, would become the means of spiritual healing and salvation for all who look to Him in faith.

John 3:15

This verse states the glorious purpose of Jesus being "lifted up" — so that "whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life." The provision of salvation is universal in its offer: "whosoever" implies no exclusions based on race, status, or past sins. The means is simple: "believeth." The result is profound: "eternal life," which is not merely endless existence but a quality of life—God's life—that begins now and continues forever, found in Christ alone.

John 3:14–15 in context

John 3 — You Must Be Born Again

By night a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus, half-confessing him as a teacher sent from God. Jesus cuts past the compliment: 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Religion will not do; reformation will not do; only a new birth by water and the Spirit. The chapter rises to the most-quoted verse in the Bible — 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son' — and ends with John the Baptist's last public testimony: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'

  • New birth
  • The Spirit
  • God's love for the world
  • Faith and life

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

As the snake was lifted up by Moses in the waste land, even so it is necessary for the Son of man to be lifted up: So that whoever has faith may have in him eternal life.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And as Moses did lift up the serpent in the wilderness, so it behoveth the Son of Man to be lifted up, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, thus must the Son of man be lifted up, that every one who believes on him may [not perish, but] have life eternal.

Context

v.14Having established His divine origin and authority, Jesus now introduces the critical purpose of His coming: His crucifixion. This verse draws a powerful Old Testament parallel to the serpent in the wilderness, foreshadowing His elevation on the cross. This prophetic statement sets the immediate context for the declaration about the purpose of this lifting up, leading directly to the promise of eternal life through belief in Him.

v.15Immediately following the prophecy of the Son of Man being lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness, this verse reveals the redemptive purpose of that act. It clarifies that the lifting up of Jesus is for the express purpose of granting eternal life to all who believe. This pivotal statement directly precedes the most famous declaration of God's love, elaborating on the reason behind such a magnificent offer of salvation.

v.13And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.

v.14–15This passage

v.16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 4:27

    for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,

  • Luke 24:20

    and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

  • 2 Kings 18:4

    He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.

  • Psalms 22:16

    For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.

  • Luke 24:44

    And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.

  • Numbers 21:7

    And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

Sermon ideas from John 3:14–15

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

  • What John 3:14–15 teaches us about new birth

  • What John 3:14–15 teaches us about the spirit

  • What John 3:14–15 teaches us about god's love for the world

  • What John 3:14–15 teaches us about faith and life

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