VERSE STUDY • KJV

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.

WHAT IT MEANS

God’s Love and the Gospel

God’s love is shown in giving His Son so that believing in Christ leads to eternal life, not condemnation.

CONTEXT

What is happening here?

Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus about the new birth. The verse sits inside a conversation about humanity’s need for spiritual rebirth and God’s saving initiative.

APPLY IT

For today

Receive the verse as an invitation to trust Christ, not merely as a slogan. Let God’s love reshape how you view Him and how you love others.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

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.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

WEB World English Bible

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

ASV American Standard Version

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

for God did so love the world, that His Son—the only begotten—He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

Surrounding context — John 3

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

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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.

Cross-references

Romans 5:8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.1 John 4:9-10In 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.Romans 8:32He 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?John 3:15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.John 11:25-26Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:John 6:40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.John 3:36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.1 John 4:19We love him, because he first loved us.John 10:28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.1 Timothy 1:15-16This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.Romans 5:10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.2 Thessalonians 2:16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,2 Corinthians 5:19-21To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.Ephesians 2:4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,Matthew 9:13But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Revelation 1:5And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,John 1:14And 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.

CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING

Spurgeon on John 3:16

Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.

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