1 John
“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 3:16
1 John 3:16 (KJV) speaks to God's love, the cross, and love for others — words set in 1 John, a letter on love and assurance. It is the kind of verse worth reading slowly, more than once, and carrying with you through the day.
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Verses that sit beside this one
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
Ephesians 5:2“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
1 John 4:8“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“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:10“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13
Common questions
What does 1 John 3:16 mean?
In the King James Version, 1 John 3:16 reads: "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." The verse speaks to God's love, the cross, and love for others. To read it well, take it in the flow of 1 John 3 rather than on its own, and let the words settle slowly — reading it aloud, or turning it into a short prayer, is often what makes its meaning land.
Is 1 John 3:16 in the King James Version?
Yes. "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." is 1 John 3:16 in the King James Version (KJV), found in 1 John chapter 3.
What are some related Bible verses to 1 John 3:16?
Verses that sit beside 1 John 3:16 include Ephesians 5:2, Romans 5:8, and 1 John 4:8. Reading them alongside 1 John 3:16 deepens the theme of God's love.
How can I pray with 1 John 3:16?
Read 1 John 3:16 slowly, take a breath, and turn it into a short prayer in your own words — thanking God for what it promises, or asking for what it points to. Keep it somewhere you will see it today, and let it be a companion rather than a task to finish.