John 3:16
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- KJV
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- WEB
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- ASV
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- DARBY
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.
- BLB
- For God so loved the world that He gave the Son, the only begotten, so that everyone believing in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life.
- ÅB
- For så har Gud elsket verden at han gav sin Sønn, den enbårne, for at hver den som tror på ham, ikke skal fortapes, men ha evig liv;
- OTB
- For Gud elsket verden så høyt at han ga sin enbårne Sønn, for at hver den som tror på ham, ikke skal gå fortapt, men ha evig liv.
- B1930
- For så har Gud elsket verden at han gav sin Sønn, den enbårne, forat hver den som tror på ham, ikke skal fortapes, men ha evig liv;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Short explanation
The verse says that God's love is what sets everything in motion: God gives his Son, and whoever believes in him has eternal life. “The world” is the whole of humanity, not just a few. “Eternal life” is a life with God that begins now and never ends.
Context: Jesus says this to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to him by night, in a conversation about being born again.
See also: John 3:17, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:9
The explanation was written by an AI and has not yet been reviewed by a person. All explanations
Cross references
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Read in context1 John 4:9–10
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Read in contextRomans 8:32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Read in contextJohn 3:15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Read in contextJohn 11:25–26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Read in contextJohn 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Read in contextJohn 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Read in context1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
Read in context