1 John 4 · Verse 9

1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9, King James Version

1 John 4:9 in other translations

BSBThis is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
WEBBy this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world that we might live through him.
ASVHerein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
YLTIn this was manifested the love of God in us, because His Son--the only begotten--hath God sent to the world, that we may live through him;
DARBYHerein as to us has been manifested the love of God, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
BBEAnd the love of God was made clear to us when he sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
WebsterIn this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

What does 1 John 4:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. toward us--Greek, "in our case." sent--Greek, "hath sent." into the world--a proof against Socinians, that the Son existed before He was "sent into the world." Otherwise, too, He could not have been our life (1Jo 4:9), our "propitiation" (1Jo 4:10), or our "Saviour" (1Jo 4:14). It is the grand proof of God's love, His having sent "His only-begotten Son, that we might live through Him," who is the Life, and who has redeemed our forfeited life; and it is also the grand motive to our mutual love.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. In this was manifested the love of God. That is, in an eminent manner, or this was a most signal proof of it. The apostle does not mean to say that it has been manifested in no other way, but that this was so prominent an instance of his love, that all the other manifestations of it seemed absorbed and lost in this.

Because that God sent his only begotten Son, etc. Jn 3:16.

That we might live through him. He died that we might have eternal life through the merits of his sacrifice. The measure of that love, then, which was manifested in the gift of a Saviour, is to be found,

(1.) in the worth of the soul;

(2.) in its exposure to eternal death;

(3.) in the greatness of the gift;

(4.) in the greatness of his sorrows for us; and,

(5.) in the immortal blessedness and joy to which he will raise us. Who can estimate all this? All these things will magnify themselves as we draw near to eternity; and in that eternity to which we go, whether saved or lost, we shall have an ever-expanding view of the wonderful love of God.

(b) "In this" Jn 3:16 (c) "that we might" Jn 6:51

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 In this was manifested the love of God - The mission of Jesus Christ was the fullest proof that God could give, or that man could receive, of his infinite love to the world. That we might live through him - The whole world was sentenced to death because of sin; and every individual was dead in trespasses and sins; and Jesus came to die in the stead of the world, and to quicken every believer, that all might live to him who died for them and rose again. This is another strong allusion to Joh 3:16 : God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; where the reader is requested to see the note on Joh 3:16.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 4:7-13

The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's glory and justice, shows that God is…

Read the full comment on 1 John 4:7-13 →

1 John 4:9 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.

ἐνenInG1722
τούτῳtoutōthisG3778
ἐφανερώθηephanerōthēhas been revealedG5319
ἡhētheG3588
ἀγάπηagapēloveG26
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἐνenamongG1722
ἡμῖν,hēminus,G3165
ὅτιhotithatG3754
τὸνtontheG3588
υἱὸνhuionSonG5207
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
τὸνtontheG3588
μονογενῆmonogenēone and onlyG3439
ἀπέσταλκενapestalkenhas sentG649
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
κόσμονkosmonworldG2889
ἵναinaso thatG2443
ζήσωμενzēsōmenwe may liveG2198
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
αὐτοῦ.autouHim.G846

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

Cross references for 1 John 4:9

  • John 3:16

    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.

  • 1 John 5:11

    And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

  • Romans 8:32

    He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

  • 1 John 4:10

    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  • John 6:57

    As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

  • John 11:25-26

    Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

  • John 6:51

    I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

  • John 10:10

    The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

  • John 10:28-30

    And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

  • 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.

  • John 3:18

    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.

  • John 1:14-18

    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
was.
3:16; Joh 3:16; Ro 5:8-10; 8:32
God sent.
10; Lu 4:18; Joh 5:23; 6:29; 8:29,42
only.
Ps 2:7; Mr 12:6; Joh 1:14-18; 3:18; Heb 1:5
we.
5:11; Joh 6:51,57; 10:10,28-30; 11:25,26; 14:6; Col 3:3,4

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

Context

  • 1 John 4:8

    He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

  • 1 John 4:9

    In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

  • 1 John 4:10

    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Read all of 1 John 4

1 John 4:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En esto se mostró el amor de Dios para con nosotros, en que Dios envió á su Hijo unigénito al mundo, para que vivamos por él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		En ceci a été manifesté l’amour de Dieu pour nous, c’est que Dieu a envoyé son Fils unique dans le monde, afin que nous vivions par lui;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Hierin ist die Liebe Gottes zu uns geoffenbart worden, daß Gott seinen eingeborenen Sohn in die Welt gesandt hat, auf daß wir durch ihn leben möchten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In hoc apparuit caritas Dei in nobis, quoniam Filium suum unigenitum misit Deus in mundum, ut vivamus per eum.