YHN 3:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=vital (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Because[fn] in that same way, God loves the people of the world enough to cause his only son to be born, and to give him to the world, so that everyone who believes that won’t die, but will go on to live forever.

3:16 Sadly when older English translations use ‘For’ (following John Wycliffe’s middle-English translation from Latin from the 1300’s), it’s quite easy to ignore what it’s there for. The OET uses the modern-English translation ‘Because’ which makes the connection to the previous verses (especially v14-15) clearer.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For God so loved the world, that he gave his One and Only Son, so that everyone believing in him would not perish but would have eternal life.

UST This is because God loved the world’s people in this way, so that he gave his Unique Son in order that anyone who trusts in his Son would not die but would live forever.

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

3:16 Or only begotten or unique; also in verse 18

BLB For God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, so that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal life.

AICNT For God so loved the world, that he gave {the}[fn] unique Son [[into the world]],[fn] so that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

3:16, the: 𝔓66 𝔓77 ℵ(01) B(03) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Some manuscripts read “his.” 𝔓63 A(02) Latin(a b e ff² ) BYZ TR

3:16, into the world: Some manuscripts include. 𝔓63 Latin(e)

OEB For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.

CSB For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

NLT “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

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

CEV God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

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

NASB “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

LSB “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

2DT For God loved the Kosmos in such a way that he gave his only Son so everyone trusting in him may not be destroyed but have Era Life.

WEBBE For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born[fn] Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

3:16 The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”.

WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)

MSG ^(16-18)“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

NET For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

LSV for God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him may not perish, but may have continuous life.

FBV For God loved the world, and this is how:[fn] he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who trusts in him shouldn't die, but have eternal life.

3:16 The word often translated “so” (as in “so loved”) is primarily describing the way or manner in which God loves rather than the extent or intensity of his love.

TCNT “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

T4T God loved us people [MTY] in the world so much that he gave his only Son as a sacrifice for us, in order that everyone who believes in him would not be separated from God forever. Instead, they would have eternal life.

LEB ¶ For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.

NRSV “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

TLB For God loved the world so much that he gave his only* Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

NAB For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

BBE For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.

Moff For God loved the world so dearly that he gave up his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life, instead of perishing.

Wymth For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.

ASV 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.

DRA For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

YLT 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.

Drby For [fn]God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.

3.16 Elohim

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

SLT For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that every one believing in him perish not, but have eternal life.

Wbstr For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

KJB-1769 ¶ 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.
(¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth/believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. )

KJB-1611 ¶ For God so loued y^e world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his only begotten sonne, that whosoeuer beleueth in hym, shoulde not perishe, but haue euerlastyng lyfe.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva For God so loued the worlde, that hee hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.
(For God so loved the world, that he hath/has given his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth/believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. )

Cvdl For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his onely sonne, that who so euer beleueth in hi, shulde not perishe, but haue euerlastinge life.
(For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoso/whoever ever believeth/believes in hi, should not perish, but have everlasting life.)

TNT For God so loveth the worlde that he hath geven his only sonne that none that beleve in him shuld perisshe: but shuld have everlastinge lyfe.
(For God so loveth/loves the world that he hath/has given his only son that none that believe in him should perish: but should have everlasting life. )

Wycl For God louede so the world, that he yaf his `oon bigetun sone, that ech man that bileueth in him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf.
(For God loved so the world, that he gave his one begotten son, that each man that believeth/believes in him perish not, but have everlasting life.)

Luth Also hat GOtt die Welt geliebet, daß er seinen eingeborenen Sohn gab, auf daß alle, die an ihn glauben, nicht verloren werden, sondern das ewige Leben haben.
(So has God the world loved, that he his native_born son gave, on/in/to that all, the at/to him/it believe, not lost become, rather the eternal life have.)

ClVg Sic enim Deus dilexit mundum, ut Filium suum unigenitum daret: ut omnis qui credit in eum, non pereat, sed habeat vitam æternam.[fn]
(So because God he_loved the_world, as Son his_own only_born would_give: as everyone who/which he_believes in/into/on him, not/no pereat, but have life eternal. )

3.16 Mundum. Cosmos Græce, quod Latine mundus interpretatur, ornatus dicitur. Per mundum igitur humana natura significatur, non quod secundum corpus ex quatuor elementis constet, sed quia secundum animam a Deo est ornata, et ad imaginem Dei est facta, qua ad hoc diligit Deus ut eam æternam faciat. Ut Filium suum unigenitum daret, ut omnis qui credit, etc. Ecce idem dicit de Filio Dei quod supra de Filio hominis, ut per quem in deitate conditi sumus, per eumdem in homine restauremur.

3.16 Mundum. Cosmos Greece, that Latin world interprets, ornatus it_is_said. Per the_world therefore human nature/element is_indicated, not/no that after/second body from four elements constet, but because after/second the_soul from to_God it_is ornata, and to image of_God it_is facts, which to this he_loves God as her eternal let_him_do. As Son his_own only_born would_give, as everyone who/which he_believes, etc. Behold the_same he_says from/about Filio of_God that above from/about Filio of_man, as through which in/into/on deitate conditi we_are, through the_same in/into/on man restauremur.

UGNT οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν Υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται, ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
(houtōs gar aʸgapaʸsen ho Theos ton kosmon, hōste ton Huion ton monogenaʸ edōken, hina pas ho pisteuōn eis auton maʸ apolaʸtai, all’ eⱪaʸ zōaʸn aiōnion.)

SBL-GNT Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον ὥστε τὸν ⸀υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλὰ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
(Houtōs gar aʸgapaʸsen ho theos ton kosmon hōste ton ⸀huion ton monogenaʸ edōken, hina pas ho pisteuōn eis auton maʸ apolaʸtai alla eⱪaʸ zōaʸn aiōnion.)

RP-GNT Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται, ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
(Houtōs gar aʸgapaʸsen ho theos ton kosmon, hōste ton huion autou ton monogenaʸ edōken, hina pas ho pisteuōn eis auton maʸ apolaʸtai, all' eⱪaʸ zōaʸn aiōnion.)

TC-GNT Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν [fn]αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται, [fn]ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
(Houtō gar aʸgapaʸsen ho Theos ton kosmon, hōste ton huion autou ton monogenaʸ edōken, hina pas ho pisteuōn eis auton maʸ apolaʸtai, all eⱪaʸ zōaʸn aiōnion. )

3:16 αυτου 95.9% ¦ — CT 0.4%

3:16 αλλ ¦ αλλα SBL WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 3:1–21: A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

This section tells about how a Pharisee called Nicodemus went to visit Jesus. Jesus told Nicodemus that all people need God to change them. Nicodemus could be sure that Jesus was speaking the truth because Jesus came from God.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus told a Pharisee that he needed to change

Everyone must be born again

All people need God to give them a new birth/life

Paragraph 3:16–18

God sent his Son into the world to save people from being condemned.

3:16

People often memorize this verse, learning it so that they can remember it exactly. Your translation of this verse should be clear and natural. It should also sound good when it is spoken aloud, and it should be easy to memorize. The sentences should be neither too long nor too short. Also, the words should be fairly simple and not easily confused with other words. Ask a few people of different ages to memorize it to see if there are any problems.

It is not clear where Jesus’ speech ends and John begins to comment (if he did this at all). Most English translations indicate that Jesus’ speech continues through verse 21. However NIV, NET, and GW indicate that 3:16 begins John’s comments. And GNT indicates that Jesus’ speech ends at the end of 3:13 and John’s comments begin in 3:14. Wherever Jesus’ speech ends, it is all God’s Word. It is probably best to follow most English translations and continue the quotation of Jesus’ speech through verse 21. However, if the major language translation in your area begins John’s comments here, you may want to follow that example.

3:16a

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,

¶ “For God intensely/greatly loved the world and so he gave his unique/one Son.
¶ “God sent his one and only Son to the people of the earth because he loved them very much.

For: The Greek word that the BSB translates as For here means “because” and introduces an explanation of what Jesus had said in 3:15. People may receive eternal life because God loved the people of the world and acted to save them. Some translations leave this word implicit.

Here are other ways to translate this word:

That is because

Yes, (ERV)

God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son: This expression indicates that God’s love for the world’s people influenced him to give his Son to save them. God sent his Son into the world to save its people because he cared very much for them. Giving his Son was the way in which God showed his great love.

so loved…that: The Greek word that the BSB translates as so can indicate both the way something is done and how much it is done. The way that God showed his great love for the world was by sending his Son. Some English translations indicate the way God showed his love and some indicate how much he loved. For example:

For God loved the world so much that (GNT)

God loved the world this way: (GW)

God loved the people on earth very much. Therefore…

Introduce what God did for the world in a way that is most natural in your language. Emphasize that God acted because he loved the world. By giving his Son he showed his great love.

loved: In many languages there are different words for “love.” Try to choose a word that refers to love that is unselfish. Love like this means that the one loving will lose something when he shows love. The love here is the love of someone who is stronger and greater toward someone who is weaker. You may be able to use a word that refers to the way a parent loves a child. Nowhere else in the New Testament does it say that God loves the world.

In some languages, the past tense word loved may imply that God no longer loves the world. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a present tense verb. For example:

God loves the people who live on earth very much

Because God’s love for the people of this world is great

God loves the people everywhere in the world

world: The Greek word that the BSB translates as world here refers to the people in the world. For example:

God loved the people of this world (CEV)

He gave: God gave his Son when he caused him to be born as a human so that he would die for us. God handed him over to be a sacrifice for sins. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

he sent

His one and only Son: This phrase here means “God’s unique Son.” God calls himself the Father of all, but Jesus is uniquely his Son. He is God’s Son in a way in which no one else is.

The title Son indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.

For more information, see the note on “the Son of God” at 1:34.

If you have indicated that Jesus is talking here, it is important that people understand that he is talking about himself. You may need to make it explicit that Jesus spoke about himself. For example:

he sent me, his only son

one and only: The Greek word that the BSB translates as only also appears in 1:18b. See the note there and refer to your translation of that verse. Here is another way to translate this word:

one and only (NCV)

3:16b

that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He did that so that all who believe in him should not be separated from God forever but have forever life.
He planned that everyone who trusts in his Son will live forever with God. They will not be punished.

that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life: This is a purpose clause. It expresses God’s purpose in giving his Son. The pronoun Him refers to God’s only Son, Jesus.

believes in Him: This phrase includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated this idea in 1:7b, 1:12b, and 3:15. The pronoun Him refers to Jesus.

Here are other ways to translate this idea here:

has faith in him (CEV)

trusts in him

perish: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as perish here refers to suffering eternal death, spiritual death. Spiritual death is when a person is separated from God forever and punished.

Here are other ways to translate this word:

be separated from GodYakan BT

be separated from God to be punishedKankanaey BT.

lose his life forever

be punished forever

but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but here connects a negative statement (“may not perish”) to a positive statement (“may have eternal life”). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

Use the conjunction but as in the BSB.
may not be lost, but have eternal life (NCV)
Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:
he will not be separated from God for punishment; rather/instead he will have life that does not end
Do not use a conjunction. For example:
will not be eternally separated from God. He will have eternal life.
Change the order of the clauses. For example:
will have eternal life and never really die (CEV)

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

have eternal life: This verb phrase means the same thing as the previous verb phrase, “shall not perish.” It is expressed in a positive rather than a negative way. This repeating emphasizes what Jesus was saying. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

may live eternally

will live forever with God

eternal life: This phrase refers to life with God that never ends. See how you translated this phrase in 3:15.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὕτως Γάρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεός τόν κόσμον ὥστε τόν Υἱόν τόν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτόν μή ἀπόληται ἀλλʼ ἔχῃ ζωήν αἰώνιον)

For here indicates that Jesus is giving a reason why the statement in the previous two verses is true. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [This is true because]

οὕτως & ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον

thus & loved ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὕτως Γάρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεός τόν κόσμον ὥστε τόν Υἱόν τόν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτόν μή ἀπόληται ἀλλʼ ἔχῃ ζωήν αἰώνιον)

Here, so could refer to: (1) the manner in which God loved the world. Alternate translation, as in the UST: [God loved the world in this way] (2) the degree to which God loved the world. Alternate translation: [God loved the world so much] (3) both the manner in which and the degree to which God loved the world. For this interpretation, see the discussion of John’s use of double meaning in Part 3 of the Introduction to this book. Alternate translation: [in this way God loved the world so much]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸν κόσμον

Here, world refers to the people who live in it. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the people in the world]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὥστε

so_that

Here, that introduces the result of what the previous clause stated. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [as a result]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν Υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ

Here, One and Only Son refers to Jesus. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning explicitly. Alternate translation: [his One and Only Son, Jesus]

Note 5 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

τὸν Υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ

Here and throughout John’s Gospel, the phrase One and Only is a title for Jesus that could refer to: (1) Jesus being unique as the only member of his kind. Alternate translation: [his Unique Son] (2) Jesus being the only child of his Father. Alternate translation: [his Only Begotten Son]

Note 6 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

τὸν Υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ

One and Only Son is an important title for Jesus.

Parallel YHN 3:16

Section 3:1–21: A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

Paragraph 3:16–18

3:16

3:16a

3:16b