KJV King James Version
Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
1 John 3:12
Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
WEB World English Bible
unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
ASV American Standard Version
not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
not as Cain—of the evil one he was, and he did slay his brother, and wherefore did he slay him? because his works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.
Surrounding context — 1 John 3
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
οὐG3756 · ounoκαθὼςG2531 · kathōsas/just asΚάϊνG2535 · KainCainἐκG1537 · ekout fromτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoπονηροῦG4190 · ponērosevil/badἦνG1510 · eimito beκαὶG2532 · kaiandἔσφαξενG4969 · sphazōto slaughterτὸνG3588 · hothe/this/whoἀδελφὸνG80 · adelphosbrotherαὐτοῦ·G846 · autosit/s/heκαὶG2532 · kaiandχάρινG5484 · charinbecause ofτίνοςG5101 · tiswhich?ἔσφαξενG4969 · sphazōto slaughterαὐτόν;G846 · autosit/s/heὅτιG3754 · hotithat/since: thatτὰG3588 · hothe/this/whoἔργαG2041 · ergonworkαὐτοῦG846 · autosit/s/heπονηρὰG4190 · ponērosevil/badἦν,G1510 · eimito beτὰG3588 · hothe/this/whoδὲG1161 · dethenτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoἀδελφοῦG80 · adelphosbrotherαὐτοῦG846 · autosit/s/heδίκαια.¶G1342 · dikaiosjust
Cross-references
Hebrews 11:4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.Genesis 4:4-15And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:Proverbs 29:27An unjust man [is] an abomination to the just: and [he that is] upright in the way [is] abomination to the wicked.Jude 1:11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.Genesis 4:25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.Luke 11:51From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.Proverbs 29:10The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.Psalm 37:12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.John 15:19-25If 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.Psalm 38:20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is].1 John 2:13-14I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.Matthew 23:35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.John 10:32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?Matthew 13:19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.1 Peter 4:4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [you]:1 Samuel 19:4-5And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works [have been] to theeward very good:1 John 3:8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.Hebrews 12:24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on 1 John 3:12
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →