1 John 3:20
18 Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
19 And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
- KJV
- For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
- WEB
- because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
- ASV
- because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
- DARBY
- that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
- BLB
- that if our heart may condemn [us], that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things.
- ÅB
- for om enn vårt hjerte fordømmer oss, så er Gud større enn vårt hjerte og kjenner alle ting.
- OTB
- at hvis våre hjerter fordømmer oss, er Gud større enn våre hjerter, og Han vet alle ting.
- B1930
- for om enn vårt hjerte fordømmer oss, så er Gud større enn vårt hjerte og kjenner alle ting.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 139:1–4
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
Read in contextJeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Read in contextHebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Read in context1 Corinthians 4:4
My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
Read in context1 John 4:4
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Read in contextJeremiah 23:24
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
Read in contextJohn 10:29–30
My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
Read in contextPsalms 44:20–21
If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
Read in context