KJV: For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
YLT: because if our heart may condemn -- because greater is God than our heart, and He doth know all things.
Darby: that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
ASV: because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
| ὅτι | that |
|
Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅτι Sense: that, because, since. |
|
| καταγινώσκῃ | should condemn [us] |
|
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: καταγινώσκω Sense: to find fault with, blame. |
|
| ἡμῶν | our |
|
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
|
| ἡ | - |
|
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
| καρδία | heart |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: καρδία Sense: the heart. |
|
| μείζων | greater than |
|
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative Root: μέγας Sense: great. |
|
| ὁ | - |
|
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
| Θεὸς | God |
|
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
|
| καρδίας | heart |
|
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: καρδία Sense: the heart. |
|
| ἡμῶν | of us |
|
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
|
| γινώσκει | He knows |
|
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: γινώσκω Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel. |
|
| πάντα | all things |
|
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: πᾶς Sense: individually. |
|
Greek Commentary for 1 John 3:20
A construction like οτι αν hoti an whatever, in John 2:5; John 14:13. Καταγινωσκω Kataginōskō occurs only three times in the N.T., here, 1 John 3:21; Galatians 2:11. It means to know something against one, to condemn. [source]
Ablative καρδιας kardias after the comparative μειζων meizōn knoweth all things Just so Peter replied to Jesus in spite of his denials (John 21:17). God‘s omniscience is linked with his love and sympathy. God knows every secret in our hearts. This difficult passage strikes the very centre of Christian truth (Brooke). [source]
A very difficult passage. See critical note as above. Render, as Rev., shall assure our heart before Him whereinsoever our heart condemn us, because God is greater than our heart. [source]
To be rendered not as a conjunction (for, because ) but as a relative, in whatsoever or whereinsoever. [source]
The word occurs only three times in the New Testament; here, 1 John 3:21, and Galatians 2:11. It signifies (1.) To note accurately, usually in a bad sense. Hence to detect (Proverbs 28:11); compare Aristophanes: “Having observed ( καταγνοὺς ) the foibles of the old man” (“Knights,” 46). To form an unfavorable prejudice against. So Herodotus. Datis says to the Delians, “Why are ye fled, O holy men, having judged me ( καταγνόντες κατ ' ἐμεῦ ) in so unfriendly a way?” (vi., 97). (2.) To note judicially: to accuse: to accuse one's self. So Thucydides: “No one, when venturing on a perilous enterprise, ever yet passed a sentence of failure on himself ” ( καταγνοὺς ἑαυτοῦ μὴ περιέσεσθαι ; iii., 45). To give sentence, or condemn. To condemn to death. “Those who had fled they condemned to death” ( θάνατον καταγνόντες ; Thucydides, vi., 60). To decide a suit against one. So Aristophanes: “You judges have no maintenance if you will not decide against ( καταγνώσεσθε ) this suit” (“Knights,” 1360). In Galatians 2:11, it is said of Peter that, because of his concessions to the Jewish ritualists, κατεγνωσμένος ἦν hestood condemned or self-condemned (not as A.V., he was to be blamed ). His conduct was its own condemnation. This is the sense in this passage, the internal judgment of conscience. [source]
This second ὅτι does not appear in the A.V. It is a conjunction. [source]
Is this superior greatness to be regarded as related to God's judgment, or to His compassion? If to His judgment, the sense is: God who is greater than our heart and knows all things, must not only endorse but emphasize our self-accusation. If our heart condemn, how much more God, who is greater than our heart. If to His compassion, the sense is: when our heart condemns us we shall quiet it with the assurance that we are in the hands of a God who is greater than our heart - who surpasses man in love and compassion no less than in knowledge. This latter sense better suits the whole drift of the discussion. See critical note. There is a play of the words γινώσκει knowethand καταγινώσκῃ condemnethwhich is untranslatable. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 3:20
Periphrastic past perfect passive of καταγινοσκω kataginoskō old verb to know against, to find fault with. In N.T. only here and 1 John 3:20. [source]
Compare 1 John 3:20. [source]
Indefinite relative clause with modal αν an and the present active subjunctive, like οτι εαν καταγινωσκηι hoti ean kataginōskēi in 1 John 3:20. In form no limitations are placed here save that of complete fellowship with God, which means complete surrender of our will to that of God our Father. See the clear teaching of Jesus on this subject in Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; John 14:12.; John 16:23 and his example (Mark 14:36; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42). The answer may not always be in the form that we expect, but it will be better. [source]
The reason for the victory lies in God, who abides in them (1 John 3:20, 1 John 3:24; John 14:20; John 15:4.). God is greater than Satan, “he that is in the world” (ο εν τωι κοσμωι ho en tōi kosmōi), the prince of this world (John 12:31; John 14:30), the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), powerful as he seems. [source]
Comparative of μεγας megas because God is always true.For (οτι hoti). So it applies to this case.That Thus taken in the declarative sense (the fact that) as in John 3:19, though it can be causal (because) or indefinite relative with μεμαρτυρηκεν memarturēken (what he hath testified, perfect active indicative of μαρτυρεω martureō as in John 1:32; John 4:44, etc.), a harsh construction here because of μαρτυρια marturia though some MSS. do read εν hen to agree with it (cf. 1 John 5:10). See οτι εαν hoti ean in 1 John 3:20 for that idiom. Westcott notes the Trinity in 1 John 5:6-9: the Son comes, the Spirit witnesses, the Father has witnessed. [source]
Thus taken in the declarative sense (the fact that) as in John 3:19, though it can be causal (because) or indefinite relative with μεμαρτυρηκεν memarturēken (what he hath testified, perfect active indicative of μαρτυρεω martureō as in John 1:32; John 4:44, etc.), a harsh construction here because of μαρτυρια marturia though some MSS. do read εν hen to agree with it (cf. 1 John 5:10). See οτι εαν hoti ean in 1 John 3:20 for that idiom. Westcott notes the Trinity in 1 John 5:6-9: the Son comes, the Spirit witnesses, the Father has witnessed. [source]