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1 John 1

1 John 1:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
That which
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
was
en (Greek #2258)
I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
KJV usage: + agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
Pronounce: ane
Origin: imperfect of 1510
from
apo (Greek #575)
"off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
KJV usage: (X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
Pronounce: apo'
Origin: a primary particle
thea beginning
arche (Greek #746)
(properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
KJV usage: beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.
Pronounce: ar-khay'
Origin: from 756
, which
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
we have heard
akouo (Greek #191)
to hear (in various senses)
KJV usage: give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
Pronounce: ak-oo'-o
Origin: a primary verb
, which
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
we have seenc with
horao (Greek #3708)
by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear
KJV usage: behold, perceive, see, take heed.
Pronounce: hor-ah'-o
Origin: properly, to stare at (compare 3700), i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally)
our
hemon (Greek #2257)
of (or from) us
KJV usage: our (company), us, we.
Pronounce: hay-mone'
Origin: genitive case plural of 1473
eyes
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ophthalmos (Greek #3788)
the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the jealous side-glance)
KJV usage: eye, sight.
Pronounce: of-thal-mos'
Origin: from 3700
, which
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
we have looked upon
theaomai (Greek #2300)
to look closely at, i.e. (by implication) perceive (literally or figuratively); by extension to visit
KJV usage: behold, look (upon), see. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: theh-ah'-om-ahee
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
our
hemon (Greek #2257)
of (or from) us
KJV usage: our (company), us, we.
Pronounce: hay-mone'
Origin: genitive case plural of 1473
hands
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
cheir (Greek #5495)
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument)
KJV usage: hand.
Pronounce: khire
Origin: perhaps from the base of 5494 in the sense of its congener the base of 5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping)
haved handled
pselaphao (Greek #5584)
to manipulate, i.e. verify by contact; figuratively, to search for
KJV usage: feel after, handle, touch.
Pronounce: psay-laf-ah'-o
Origin: from the base of 5567 (compare 5586)
, of
peri (Greek #4012)
properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period)
KJV usage: (there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).
Pronounce: per-ee'
Origin: from the base of 4008
the Word
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
logos (Greek #3056)
something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)
KJV usage: account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
Pronounce: log'-os
Origin: from 3004
of life
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
zoe (Greek #2222)
life (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: life(-time). Compare 5590.
Pronounce: dzo-ay'
Origin: from 2198
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a
John 1:1• 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
,etc.
c
2 Peter 1:16• 16For we have not made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly imagined fables, but having been eyewitnesses of *his* majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)
d
Luke 24:39• 39behold my hands and my feet, that it is *I* myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as ye see me having. (Luke 24:39)

More on:

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Life,
The Word

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-4:  He describes the person of Christ, in whom we have eternal life, by a communion with God;
5-10:  to which we must adjoin holiness of life, to testify the truth of that our communion and profession of faith, as also to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins by Christ's death.
That which.
1 John 2:13• 13I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because ye have known the Father. (1 John 2:13)
;
Prov. 8:22‑31• 22Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
 23I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
 24When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
 25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
 26while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
 27When he prepared the heavens I was there; when he ordained the circle upon the face of the deep;
 28when he established the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong;
 29when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
 30then I was by him his nursling, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
 31rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. (Prov. 8:22‑31)
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Isa. 41:4• 4Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first; and with the last, I am HE. (Isa. 41:4)
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Mic. 5:2• 2(And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me who is to be Ruler in Israel: whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity.) (Mic. 5:2)
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John 1:1,2‑18• 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
 2*He* was in the beginning with God.
 3All things received being through him, and without him not one thing received being which has received being.
 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
 5And the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
 6There was a man sent from God, his name John.
 7He came for witness, that he might witness concerning the light, that all might believe through him.
 8*He* was not the light, but that he might witness concerning the light.
 9The true light was that which, coming into the world, lightens every man.
 10He was in the world, and the world had its being through him, and the world knew him not.
 11He came to his own, and his own received him not;
 12but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to be children of God, to those that believe on his name;
 13who have been born, not of blood, nor of flesh's will, nor of man's will, but of God.
 14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth;
 15(John bears witness of him, and he has cried, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me;)
 16for of his fulness we all have received, and grace upon grace.
 17For the law was given by Moses: grace and truth subsists through Jesus Christ.
 18No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, *he* hath declared him. (John 1:1,2‑18)
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John 8:58• 58Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)
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Rev. 1:8,11,17‑18• 8I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, he who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
 11saying, What thou seest write in a book, and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
 17And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead; and he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; *I* am the first and the last,
 18and the living one: and I became dead, and behold, I am living to the ages of ages, and have the keys of death and of hades. (Rev. 1:8,11,17‑18)
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Rev. 2:8• 8And to the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last, who became dead, and lived: (Rev. 2:8)
which we have heard.
1 John 4:14• 14And *we* have seen, and testify, that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)
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Luke 1:2• 2as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us, (Luke 1:2)
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John 1:14• 14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth; (John 1:14)
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Acts 1:3• 3to whom also he presented himself living, after he had suffered, with many proofs; being seen by them during forty days, and speaking of the things which concern the kingdom of God; (Acts 1:3)
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Acts 4:20• 20for as for us *we* cannot refrain from speaking of the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20)
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2 Peter 1:16‑18• 16For we have not made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly imagined fables, but having been eyewitnesses of *his* majesty.
 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, such a voice being uttered to him by the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom *I* have found my delight;
 18and this voice *we* heard uttered from heaven, being with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:16‑18)
and our.
Luke 24:39• 39behold my hands and my feet, that it is *I* myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as ye see me having. (Luke 24:39)
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John 20:27• 27Then he says to Thomas, Bring thy finger here and see my hands; and bring thy hand and put it into my side; and be not unbelieving, but believing. (John 20:27)
the Word.
1 John 5:7• 7For they that bear witness are three: (1 John 5:7)
;
John 1:14• 14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth; (John 1:14)
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John 5:26• 26For even as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son also to have life in himself, (John 5:26)
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Rev. 19:13• 13and he is clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and his name is called The Word of God. (Rev. 19:13)
• The First Epistle of John has a peculiar character. It is eternal life manifested inJesus and imparted to us-the life which was with the Father and which is in the Son. It is in this life that believers enjoy the communion of the Father. (“1 JOHN” by J.N. Darby)
• When I, too, turn my eyes to Jesus, when I contemplate all His obedience, His purity, His grace, His tenderness, His patience, His devotedness, His holiness, His love, His entire freedom from all self-seeking, I can say, That is my life. (“1 JOHN” by J.N. Darby)
• Could there be anything more perfect, more excellent, any development more admirable in the eyes of God, than Christ Himself, than that Life which was with the Father, manifested in all its perfection in the Person of the Son? (“1 John 1” by J.N. Darby)
• He was walking about this world, another kind of life altogether. That is what He calls “from the beginning.” (“Notes on 1 John 1” by J.N. Darby)
• Christ is looked at in this world as the beginning of everything. It is not that the saints before had not received life from Him above, but the thing itself had never been manifested. (“Christ, the Want of the Soul: Part 2”)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled, concerning the word of life;

W. Kelly Translation

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1
What wasa from [the] beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked on, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of lifeb

WK Translation Notes

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a
The RV stands better, as it makes each verb more distinct, "that which." And it correctly distinguishes the tenses; the first two perfect tenses, while the two later are simply preterites.
b
The usual version "the word of life" seems preferable to, "the word, the life."