1 John 4 · Verse 5

1 John 4:5

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1 John 4:5, King James Version

1 John 4:5 in other translations

BSBThey are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
WEBThey are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.
ASVThey are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.
YLTThey--of the world they are; because of this from the world they speak, and the world doth hear them;
DARBYThey are of the world; for this reason they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
BBEThey are of the world, so their talk is the world's talk, and the world gives ear to them.
WebsterThey are of the world: therefore they speak from the world, and the world heareth them.

What does 1 John 4:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. of the world--They derive their spirit and teaching from the world, "unregenerate human nature, ruled over and possessed by Satan, the prince of this world" [Alford]. speak they of the word--They draw the matter of their conversation from the life, opinions, and feelings of the world. the world heareth them--(Joh 15:18, 19). The world loves its own.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. They are of the world. This was one of the marks by which those who had the spirit of antichrist might be known. They belonged not to the church of God, but to the world. They had its spirit; they acted on its principles; they lived for it. Comp. 2Jn 2:15.

Therefore speak they of the world. Compare Jn 3:21. This may mean either that their conversation pertained to the things of this world, or that they were wholly influenced by the love of the world, and not by the Spirit of God, in the doctrines which they taught. The general sense is, that they had no higher ends and aims than they have who are influenced only by worldly plans and expectations. It is not difficult to distinguish, even among professed Christians and Christian teachers, those who are heavenly in their conversation from those who are influenced solely by the spirit of the world. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," and the general turn of a man's conversation will show what "spirit is within him."

And the world heareth them. The people of the world--the gay, the rich, the proud, the ambitious, the sensual--receive their instructions, and recognise them as teachers and guides, for their views accord with their own. Jn 15:19. A professedly religious teacher may always determine much about himself by knowing what class of people are pleased with him. A professed Christian of any station in life may determine much about his evidences of piety, by asking himself what kind of persons desire his friendship, and wish him for a companion.

(b) "world" Jn 3:31

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 4:1-6

Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not to offend carnal men. The world approved them…

Read the full comment on 1 John 4:1-6 →

1 John 4:5 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.

αὐτοὶautoiThey themselvesG846
ἐκekofG1537
τοῦtoutheG3588
κόσμουkosmouworldG2889
εἰσίν·eisinare;G1510
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
ἐκekfrom outG1537
τοῦtouof theG3588
κόσμουkosmouworldG2889
λαλοῦσινlalousinthey speakG2980
καὶkaiandG2532
ὁhotheG3588
κόσμοςkosmosworldG2889
αὐτῶνautōnto themG846
ἀκούει.akoueilistens.G191

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

Cross references for 1 John 4:5

  • John 8:23

    And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

  • 2 Peter 2:2-3

    And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • John 17:14

    I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

  • John 3:31

    He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

  • John 17:16

    They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

  • John 15:19-20

    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.

  • Micah 2:11

    If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • Jeremiah 5:31

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • Isaiah 30:10-11

    Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

  • Luke 16:8

    And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
are.
Ps 17:4; Lu 16:8; Joh 3:31; 7:6,7; 8:23; 15:19,20; 17:14,16; Re 12:9
and.
Isa 30:10,11; Jer 5:31; 29:8; Mic 2:11; Joh 15:19; 17:14; 2Ti 4:3
2Pe 2:2,3

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

Context

  • 1 John 4:4

    Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

  • 1 John 4:5

    They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

  • 1 John 4:6

    We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Read all of 1 John 4

1 John 4:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ellos son del mundo; por eso hablan del mundo, y el mundo los oye.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pour eux, ils sont du monde; c’est pourquoi ils parlent selon les principes du monde, et le monde les écoute.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie sind aus der Welt, deswegen reden sie aus der Welt, und die Welt hört sie.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ipsi de mundo sunt: ideo de mundo loquuntur, et mundus eos audit.