What Does 1 John 3:21 Mean in the King James?
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The heart’s verdict and confidence toward God are linked: when the heart is not knowing against you, you can speak openly before God.
THE MEANING
When your heart does not condemn you, you have confidence toward God, an openness that lets you come before God without holding back. The verse speaks of confidence, not a claim that you must be without fault to be near God.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that self-condemnation is the same as honesty before God.
THE ROOT
καταγινώσκῃ
kataginōskē
GROWS FROM
γινώσκω (with κατά)
γινώσκω means to know or perceive; κατά adds the sense of knowing against or finding fault.
The Greek verb translated “condemn” carries the sense of knowing against someone. Here, the heart is not condemning you; the next clause names the resulting openness toward God.
ALSO GROWS
ginōskō: Know, perceive
γινώσκω
The compound’s core is knowing: the heart’s verdict is a kind of knowing directed against you.
epiginōskō: Recognize, perceive
ἐπιγινώσκω
This related form keeps the sense of knowing, helping show the shared root beneath different English renderings.
παρρησίαν
parrēsian
GROWS FROM
παρρησία
Frankness, openness of speech; confidence without reserve.
The word translated “confidence” can mean freedom to speak openly. The verse pictures a heart free of accusation meeting God with that same openness.
ALSO GROWS
parrēsiazomai: Speak boldly or openly
παρρησιάζομαι
This related verb makes clear that confidence here includes the freedom to speak.
parrēsia: Frankness, boldness, open speech
παρρησία
The noun appears elsewhere as “plainness of speech,” linking confidence with unguarded expression.
THE PATTERN
A heart no longer held in accusation can approach with openness and confidence.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.THE THREAD
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.The same Greek verb for “condemn” appears in both verses. The next verse names the case when the heart does accuse: its verdict is not the greatest knowledge in view, because God is greater than the heart and knows all things.
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