1 John 2 · Verse 4

1 John 2:4

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:4, King James Version

1 John 2:4 in other translations

BSBIf anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
WEBOne who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.
ASVHe that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
YLThe who is saying, ‘I have known him,' and his command is not keeping, a liar he is, and in him the truth is not;
DARBYHe that says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
BBEThe man who says, I have knowledge of him, and does not keep his laws, is false, and there is nothing true in him:
WebsterHe that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

What does 1 John 2:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. I know--Greek, "I have knowledge of (perfect) Him." Compare with this verse 1Jo 1:8.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. He that saith, I know him, He who professes to be acquainted with the Saviour, or who professes to be a Christian.

And keepeth not his commandments. What he has appointed to be observed by his people; that is, he who does not obey him.

Is a liar. Makes a false profession; professes to have that which he really has not. Such a profession is a falsehood, because there can be no true religion where one does not obey the law of God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 He that saith, I know him - This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their personal unholiness. They are all liars, and no truth of God is in them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 2:3-11

What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely…

Read the full comment on 1 John 2:3-11 →

1 John 2:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHoThe [one]G3588
λέγωνlegōnsayingG3004
ἔγνωκαegnōkaI have knownG1097
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
καὶkaiandG2532
τὰςtastheG3588
ἐντολὰςentolascommandmentsG1785
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
μὴmēnotG3361
τηρῶν,tērōnkeeping,G5083
ψεύστηςpseustēsa liarG5583
ἐστίν,estinhe is,G1510
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐνeninG1722
τούτῳtoutōhimG3778
ἡhētheG3588
ἀλήθειαalētheiatruthG225
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔστιν·estinis;G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 John 2:4

  • 1 John 1:6

    If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

  • Titus 1:16

    They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

  • James 2:14-16

    What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

  • 1 John 1:8

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

  • 1 John 4:20

    If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

  • 1 John 2:9

    He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

  • Hosea 8:2-3

    Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

  • 1 John 1:10

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

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that saith.
9; 1:6,8,10; 4:20; Jas 2:14-16
I know.
Ho 8:2,3; Tit 1:16
is a.
1:6,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 John 2:3

    And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

  • 1 John 2:4

    He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

  • 1 John 2:5

    But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Read all of 1 John 2

1 John 2:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que dice, Yo le he conocido, y no guarda sus mandamientos, el tal es mentiroso, y no hay verdad en él;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui qui dit: Je le connais, et qui ne garde pas ses commandements, est menteur, et la vérité n’est pas en lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer da sagt: Ich kenne ihn, und hält seine Gebote nicht, ist ein Lügner, und in diesem ist die Wahrheit nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui dicit se nosse eum, et mandata ejus non custodit, mendax est, et in hoc veritas non est.