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1 John 3

1 John 3:20 KJV (With Strong’s)

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20
For
hoti (Greek #3754)
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
KJV usage: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Pronounce: hot'-ee
Origin: neuter of 3748 as conjunction
if
ean (Greek #1437)
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
KJV usage: before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See 3361.
Pronounce: eh-an'
Origin: from 1487 and 302
our
hemon (Greek #2257)
of (or from) us
KJV usage: our (company), us, we.
Pronounce: hay-mone'
Origin: genitive case plural of 1473
heart
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
kardia (Greek #2588)
the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
KJV usage: (+ broken-)heart(-ed).
Pronounce: kar-dee'-ah
Origin: prolonged from a primary κάρ (Latin cor, "heart")
condemn us
hoti (Greek #3754)
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
KJV usage: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Pronounce: hot'-ee
Origin: neuter of 3748 as conjunction
kataginosko (Greek #2607)
to note against, i.e. find fault with
KJV usage: blame, condemn.
Pronounce: kat-ag-in-o'-sko
Origin: from 2596 and 1097
, God
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
theos (Greek #2316)
a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
Pronounce: theh'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
greater than
meizon (Greek #3187)
larger (literally or figuratively, specially, in age)
KJV usage: elder, greater(-est), more.
Pronounce: mide'-zone
Origin: irregular comparative of 3173
our
hemon (Greek #2257)
of (or from) us
KJV usage: our (company), us, we.
Pronounce: hay-mone'
Origin: genitive case plural of 1473
heart
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
kardia (Greek #2588)
the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
KJV usage: (+ broken-)heart(-ed).
Pronounce: kar-dee'-ah
Origin: prolonged from a primary κάρ (Latin cor, "heart")
, 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
knoweth
ginosko (Greek #1097)
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)
KJV usage: allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.
Pronounce: ghin-oce'-ko
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb
all things
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
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More on:

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God,
Heart

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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if.
Job 27:6• 6I hold to my righteousness, and will not let it go:{HR}Of my days my heart reproacheth not. (Job 27:6)
;
John 8:9• 9But they, having heard [it], kept going out one by one, beginning from the elder ones until the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in [the] midst. (John 8:9)
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Acts 5:33• 33And when they heard, they were cut [to the heart] and took counsel. (Acts 5:33)
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Rom. 2:14‑15• 14For when Gentiles which have no law practice by nature the things of the law, these having no law are a law to themselves;
 15which evince the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also joining its testimony and their thoughts also one with another accusing or also excusing) (Rom. 2:14‑15)
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1 Cor. 4:4• 4Nay, I do not examine even myself, for I am conscious to myself of nothing, yet I am not justified by this, but he that examineth me is the Lord. (1 Cor. 4:4)
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1 Cor. 14:24‑25• 24But if all prophesy, and some unfaithful or private one come in, he is convinced by all, he is examined by all:
 25the secrets of his heart become manifest; and thus, falling on [his] face, he will do homage to God, reporting that God is indeed among you. (1 Cor. 14:24‑25)
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Titus 3:11• 11knowing that such a one is subverted and sinneth, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:11)
God.
1 John 4:4• 4Ye are of God, dear children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that [is] in you than he that [is] in the world. (1 John 4:4)
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Job 33:12• 12Behold, in this thou art not right, I answer thee;{HR}For God [Eloah] is greater than a mortal. (Job 33:12)
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John 10:29‑30• 29My Father who hath given me [them] is greater than all; and no one is able to seize out of the hand of my Father.
 30I and the Father are one. (John 10:29‑30)
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Heb. 6:13• 13For God when he made promise to Abraham, since he had no greater to swear by, swore by himself, (Heb. 6:13)
and.
Psa. 44:20‑21• 20If we have forgotten the name of our God,{HR}And have stretched out our hands to a strange god,
 21Will not God search this out?{HR}For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. (Psa. 44:20‑21)
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Psa. 90:8• 8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee,{HR}Our secret [sins] in the light of thy face. (Psa. 90:8)
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Psa. 139:1‑4• 1To the chief musician: a psalm of David.{HR}Jehovah, thou hast searched me and knowest.
 2Thou knowest my sitting and my rising;{HR}Thou understandest (to) my thought from afar.
 3Thou siftest my path and my lying down,{HR}And art acquainted with all my ways.
 4For there is not a word on my tongue—{HR}Behold, O Jehovah, thou knowest all of it. (Psa. 139:1‑4)
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Jer. 17:10• 10I Jehovah search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer. 17:10)
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Jer. 23:24• 24{i}Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? saith Jehovah.{/i} (Jer. 23:24)
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John 2:24‑25• 24But Jesus himself did not trust himself to them, inasmuch as he knew all [men],
 25and because he needed not that any should testify of man, for himself knew what was in man. (John 2:24‑25)
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John 21:17• 17He saith to him the third time, Simon [son] of Jonah, dost thou dearly love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Dost thou dearly love me? and he said to him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I dearly love thee. Jesus saith to him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)
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Heb. 4:13• 13And not a creature is unmanifest in his sight; but all things [are] naked and laid bare to his eyes with whom [is] our account. (Heb. 4:13)
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Rev. 2:23• 23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth reins and hearts; and I will give you each according to your works. (Rev. 2:23)
• It is not here the means of being assured of our salvation, but of having confidence in the presence of God. (“1 John 3” by J.N. Darby)
• He knows a great deal about me that I do not know myself. (“Notes on 1 John 3:11-24 and 4:1-7” by J.N. Darby)

J. N. Darby Translation

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20
that if our heart condemn usk, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

JND Translation Notes

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k
Subjunctive. "That," ver. 20, refers to "hereby" in ver. 19. It is showing what tests "in truth." The repetition of "that" is nothing uncommon. It is found in Eph. 2.11,12. What "hereby" refers to very commonly follows in John, as in vers. 16,24, and ch. 4.17, and elsewhere, frequently indeed with "that." "God being greater" is evidently a testing, searching thing.

W. Kelly Translation

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20
that if our heart condemn usa, [it isb] that God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all thingsc.

WK Translation Notes

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a
The American correctors of the RV would read and punctuate "him: because if our heart condemn us, God" etc. (with the present tense text in the margin). It appears to me that neither is right, and that God being greater than our heart, and knowing all things, is brought in, not for consolation where our heart condemns us, but to deepen self-judgment. It is state, not standing, that is in question. The construction is peculiar from the double use of "that" (hoti) which is not without example in the New Testament without construing it as "because," but referring to the opening words
b
I doubt greatly the soundness of the rendering in the RV, though it is plain that the KJV is rather free and breaks the connection. Some critics and grammarians are much perplexed to find or make the construction smooth, as omission seems to have been resorted to with the same purpose by the copyists.
c
There should be no new paragraph after this verse, breaking the manifest and weighty link between 20 and 21.