1 John 1:9

Forgiveness Repentance God's faithfulness Guilt and conscience

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 Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
KJV: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
WEB: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ASV: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
DARBY: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
BLB: If we should confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, that He may forgive us [our] sins and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

ÅB: dersom vi bekjenner våre synder, er han trofast og rettferdig, så han tilgir oss syndene og renser oss fra all urettferdighet.
OTB: Hvis vi bekjenner våre synder, er han trofast og rettferdig, så han tilgir oss syndene og renser oss fra all urettferdighet.
B1930: dersom vi bekjenner våre synder, er han trofast og rettferdig, så han forlater oss syndene og renser oss fra all urettferdighet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Short explanation

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, so he forgives us. Forgiveness rests on who God is, not on how good the confession is.

Context: John writes about walking in the light.

See also: Psalms 103:12, Romans 8:1

The explanation was written by an AI and has not yet been reviewed by a person. All explanations

Cross references

Psalms 32:5
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Read in context
Proverbs 28:13
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Read in context
Jeremiah 33:8
And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
Read in context
Psalms 51:2–5
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Read in context
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 Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Read in context
Ezekiel 36:25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Read in context
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Read in context
1 Timothy 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Read in context