JOHN 3:16

For God so loved the world

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT

WORDS OF JESUS IN RED

This is the most popular verse in the Bible based on Google searches. It succinctly describes the Gospel message as Jesus told it to Nicodemus in this verse.

To get what John 3:16 means in detail, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.

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.

Very high popularity: 301,000 searches a month
Popularity relative to other verses in John chapter 3 using average monthly Google searches.

John 3:16 Translation & Meaning

What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].

KJV Verse Original Greek Meaning/ Definition
This is a simplified translation of the original Greek word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail.
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Use the buttons below to get details on the Greek word and view related Bible verses that use the same root word.
For γὰρ Properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles) For
God θεὸς A deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by Hebraism) God
so Οὕτως In this way (referring to what precedes or follows) so
loved ἠγάπησεν To love (in a social or moral sense) loved
the τὸν The (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the
world, κόσμον Orderly arrangement, i.e., decoration; by implication, the world (including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)) world
that ὥστε So too, i.e., thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow) that
he gave ἔδωκεν To give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection) gave
his αὐτοῦ The reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons his
only μονογενῆ Only-born, i.e., sole only
begotten μονογενῆ Only-born, i.e., sole begotten
Son, υἱὸν A "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship Son
that ἵνα In order that (denoting the purpose or the result) that
whosoever πᾶς All, any, every, the whole whosoever
believeth πιστεύων To have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ) believeth
in εἰς To or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases in
him αὐτὸν The reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons him
should ἀπόληται To destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively should
not μὴ (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether not
perish, ἀπόληται To destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively perish
but ἀλλ' Properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) but
have ἔχῃ To hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition) have
everlasting αἰώνιον Perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) everlasting
life. ζωὴν Life (literally or figuratively) life

Verse Context

See John 3:16 with its adjacent verses in bold below. Follow either of the two large buttons below to see these verses in their broader context of the King James Bible or a Bible concordance.

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  • 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.

  • 16  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.




Sources:

The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.


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