1 John 3 · Verse 17

1 John 3:17

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 John 3:17, King James Version

1 John 3:17 in other translations

BSBIf anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
WEBBut whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
ASVBut whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?
YLTand whoever may have the goods of the world, and may view his brother having need, and may shut up his bowels from him--how doth the love of God remain in him?
DARBYBut whoso may have the world's substance, and see his brother having need, and shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love of God in him?
BBEBut if a man has this world's goods, and sees that his brother is in need, and keeps his heart shut against his brother, how is it possible for the love of God to be in him?
WebsterBut he who hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

What does 1 John 3:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. this world's good--literally, "livelihood" or substance. If we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1Jo 3:16), how much more ought we not to withhold our substance? seeth--not merely casually, but deliberately contemplates as a spectator; Greek, "beholds." shutteth up his bowels of compassion--which had been momentarily opened by the spectacle of his brother's need. The "bowels" mean the heart, the seat of compassion. how--How is it possible that "the love of (that is, 'to') God dwelleth (Greek, 'abideth') in him?" Our superfluities should yield to the necessities; our comforts, and even our necessaries in some measure, should yield to the extreme wants of our brethren. "Faith gives Christ to me; love flowing from faith gives me to my neighbor."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. But whoso hath this world's good. Has property--called "this world's good," or a good pertaining to this world, because it is of value to us only as it meets our wants this side of the grave; and perhaps also because it is sought supremely by the men of the world. The general meaning of this verse, in connexion with the previous verse, is, that if we ought to be willing to lay down our lives for others, we ought to be willing to make those comparatively smaller sacrifices which are necessary to relieve them in their distresses; and that if we are unwilling to do this, we can have no evidence that the love of God dwells in us.

And seeth his brother have need. Need of food, of raiment, of shelter; or sick, and poor, and unable to provide for his own wants and those of his family.

And shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him. The bowels, or upper viscera, embracing the heart, and the region of the chest generally, are in the Scriptures represented as the seat of mercy, piety, compassion, because when the mind feels compassion it is that part which is affected. Comp. Isa 16:11.

How dwelleth the love of God in him? How can a man love God who does not love those who bear his image? 1Jn 4:20. On the general sentiment here, Jas 2:14,seq. The meaning is plain, that we cannot have evidence of piety unless we are ready to do good to others, especially to our Christian brethren. Mt 25:45; Gall 6:10.

(c) "whoso" De 15:7 (d) "how dwelleth" 1Jn 4:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 But whoso hath this worlds good - Here is a test of this love; if we do not divide our bread with the hungry, we certainly would not lay down our life for him. Whatever love we may pretend to mankind, if we are not charitable and benevolent, we give the lie to our profession. If we have not bowels of compassion, we have not the love of God in us; if we shut up our bowels against the poor, we shut Christ out of our hearts, and ourselves out of heaven. This world's good. - Του βιον του κοσμου· The life of this world, i.e. the means of life; for so βιος is often used. See Mar 12:44; Luk 8:43; Luk 15:12, Luk 15:30; Luk 21:4, and other places. How dwelleth the love of God in him? - That is, it cannot possibly dwell in such a person. Hardheartedness and God's love never meet together, much less can they be associated.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 3:16-21

Here is the condescension, the miracle, the mystery of Divine love, that God would redeem the church with his own blood. Surely we should love those whom God has loved, and so loved. The Holy Spirit, grieved at selfishness, will leave the selfish heart without comfort, and full of darkness and terror. By what can it be known that a man has a true sense of the love of Christ for perishing sinners, or that the love of…

Read the full comment on 1 John 3:16-21 →

1 John 3:17 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.

ὋςHosWho[ever]G3739
δ᾽d᾽nowG1161
ἂνanmaybeG302
ἔχῃechēmay haveG2192
τὸνtontheG3588
βίονbiongoodsG979
τοῦtouof theG3588
κόσμουkosmouworldG2889
καὶkaiandG2532
θεωρῇtheōrēamay seeG2334
τὸνtontheG3588
ἀδελφὸνadelphonbrotherG80
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
χρείανchreianneedG5532
ἔχονταechontahavingG2192
καὶkaiandG2532
κλείσῃkleisēhe may close upG2808
τὰtatheG3588
σπλάγχναsplagchnaheartG4698
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575
αὐτοῦ,autouhim,G846
πῶςpōshowG4459
ἡhētheG3588
ἀγάπηagapēloveG26
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
μένειmeneiabidesG3306
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷ;¶autōhim?G846

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

Cross references for 1 John 3:17

  • Hebrews 13:16

    But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

  • Isaiah 58:7-10

    Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

  • Deuteronomy 15:7-11

    If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. …

  • 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?

  • Proverbs 19:17

    He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

  • Luke 3:11

    He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:5-9

    Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: …

  • James 2:15

    If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

  • 2 Corinthians 8:14-15

    But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17-18

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

  • Proverbs 28:9

    He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
whoso.
De 15:7-11; Pr 19:17; Isa 58:7-10; Lu 3:11; 2Co 8:9,14,15; 9:5-9
1Ti 6:17,18; Heb 13:16
shutteth.
Pr 12:10; *marg:
Pr 28:9
how.
4:20; 5:1

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

Context

  • 1 John 3:16

    Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

  • 1 John 3:17

    But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

  • 1 John 3:18

    My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Read all of 1 John 3

1 John 3:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas el que tuviere bienes de este mundo, y viere á su hermano tener necesidad, y le cerrare sus entrañas, ¿cómo está el amor de Dios en él?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais celui qui a les biens de ce monde, et qui voit son frère dans le besoin, et qui lui ferme ses entrailles, comment l’amour de Dieu demeure-t-il en lui?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wer aber der Welt Güter hat und sieht seinen Bruder Mangel leiden und verschließt sein Herz vor ihm, wie bleibt die Liebe Gottes in ihm?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Qui habuerit substantiam hujus mundi, et viderit fratrem suum necessitatem habere, et clauserit viscera sua ab eo: quomodo caritas Dei manet in eo?