1 John 3 · Verse 12

1 John 3:12

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
1 John 3:12, King James Version

1 John 3:12 in other translations

BSBDo not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
WEBunlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
ASVnot as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
YLTnot as Cain--of the evil one he was, and he did slay his brother, and wherefore did he slay him? because his works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.
DARBYnot as Cain was of the wicked one, and slew his brother; and on account of what slew he him? because his works were wicked, and those of his brother righteous.
BBENot being of the Evil One like Cain, who put his brother to death. And why did he put him to death? Because his works were evil and his brother's works were good.
WebsterNot as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

What does 1 John 3:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. who--not in the Greek. of that wicked one--Translate, "evil one," to accord with "Because his own works were evil." Compare 1Jo 3:8, "of the devil," in contrast to "of God," 1Jo 3:10. slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous--through envy and hatred of his brother's piety, owing to which God accepted Abel's, but rejected Cain's offering. Enmity from the first existed between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Not as Cain. Not manifesting the spirit which Cain did. His was a most remarkable and striking instance of a want of love to a brother, and the case was well adapted to illustrate the propriety of the duty which the apostle is enjoining. See Gen 4:4-8.

Who was of that wicked one. Of the devil; that is, he was under his influence, and acted from his instigation.

And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. He acted under the influence of envy. He was dissatisfied that his own offering was not accepted, and that his brother's was. The apostle seems desirous to guard those to whom he wrote against the indulgence of any feelings that were the opposite of love; from anything like envy toward more highly favoured brethren, by showing to what this would lead if fairly acted out, as in the case of Cain. A large part of the crimes of the earth have been caused, as in the murder of Abel, by the want of brotherly love. Nothing but love would be necessary to put an end to the crimes, and consequently to a large part of the misery, of the world.

(b) "Cain, who" Gen 4:4-8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Not as Cain - Men should not act to each other as Cain did to his brother Abel. He murdered him because he was better than himself. But who was Cain? Εκ του πονηρου ην, he was of the devil. And who are they who, through pride, lust of power, ambition, gain, etc., murder each other in wars and political contentions? Εκ του πονηρου εισι. To attempt to justify the principle, and excuse the instigators, authors, abettors, etc., of such wars, is as vain as it is wicked. They are opposed to the nature of God, and to that message which he has sent to man from the beginning: Love one another. Love your enemies. Surely this does not mean, Blow out their brains, or, Cut their throats. O, how much of the spirit, temper, and letter of the Gospel have the nations of the world, and particularly the nations of Europe, to learn! And wherefore slew he him? - What could induce a brother to imbrue his hands in a brother's blood? Why, his brother was righteous, and he was wicked; and the seed of the wicked one which was in him induced him to destroy his brother, because the seed of God - the Divine nature, was found in him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 3:11-15

We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ. This love is the special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born again. But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God. We know that we are passed from death to life: we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of…

Read the full comment on 1 John 3:11-15 →

1 John 3:12 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.

οὐounotG3756
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
ΚάϊνKainCainG2535
ἐκek[who] ofG1537
τοῦtoutheG3588
πονηροῦponērouevil [one]G4190
ἦνēnwasG1510
καὶkaiandG2532
ἔσφαξενesphaxenhe slewG4969
τὸνtontheG3588
ἀδελφὸνadelphonbrotherG80
αὐτοῦ·autouof him;G846
καὶkaiAndG2532
χάρινcharinbecause ofG5484
τίνοςtinoswhatG5101
ἔσφαξενesphaxenhe slayedG4969
αὐτόν;autonhim?G846
ὅτιhotiBecauseG3754
τὰtatheG3588
ἔργαergaworksG2041
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
πονηρὰponēraevilG4190
ἦν,ēnwere,G1510
τὰtathoseG3588
δὲdehoweverG1161
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἀδελφοῦadelphoubrotherG80
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
δίκαια.¶dikaiarighteous.G1342

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

Cross references for 1 John 3:12

  • Hebrews 11:4

    By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

  • Genesis 4:4-15

    And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. …

  • Proverbs 29:27

    An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

  • Genesis 4:25

    And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

  • Jude 1:11

    Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

  • Proverbs 29:10

    The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

  • Luke 11:51

    From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

  • Psalms 37:12

    The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

  • Matthew 13:38

    The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

  • Matthew 23:35

    That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

  • Psalms 38:20

    They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

  • John 15:19-25

    If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as.
Ge 4:4-15,25; Heb 11:4; Jude 1:11
of.
8; 2:13,14; Mt 13:19,38
And.
1Sa 18:14,15; 19:4,5; 22:14-16; Ps 37:12; Pr 29:27; Mt 27:23
Joh 10:32; 15:19-25; 18:38-40; Ac 7:52; 1Th 2:14; 1Pe 4:4; Re 17:6
and his.
Mt 23:35; Lu 11:51; Heb 11:4; 12:24

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

Context

  • 1 John 3:11

    For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

  • 1 John 3:13

    Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Read all of 1 John 3

1 John 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No como Caín, que era del maligno, y mató á su hermano. ¿Y por qué causa le mató? Porque sus obras eran malas, y las de su hermano justas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		non comme Caïn était du méchant et tua son frère. Et pour quelle raison le tua-t-il? Parce que ses œuvres étaient mauvaises et que celles de son frère étaient justes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		nicht wie Kain aus dem Bösen war und seinen Bruder ermordete; und weshalb ermordete er ihn? weil seine Werke böse waren, die seines Bruders aber gerecht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non sicut Cain, qui ex maligno erat, et occidit fratrem suum. Et propter quid occidit eum? Quoniam opera ejus maligna erant: fratris autem ejus, justa.