1 John 3:20 Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

◄ 1 John 3:20 ►

New International Version
If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

New Living Translation
Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

English Standard Version
for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Berean Standard Bible
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

Berean Literal Bible
that if our heart should condemn us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things.

King James Bible
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

New King James Version
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

New American Standard Bible
that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things.

NASB 1995
in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

NASB 1977
in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Legacy Standard Bible
in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Amplified Bible
whenever our heart convicts us [in guilt]; for God is greater than our heart and He knows all things [nothing is hidden from Him because we are in His hands].

Christian Standard Bible
whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
even if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience, and He knows all things.

American Standard Version
because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Contemporary English Version
But even if we don't feel at ease, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

English Revised Version
whereinsoever our heart condemn us; because God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.

Good News Translation
If our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he knows everything.

International Standard Version
If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

Majority Standard Bible
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

NET Bible
that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.

New Heart English Bible
because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Webster's Bible Translation
For if our heart condemneth us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Weymouth New Testament
in whatever matters our hearts condemn us--because God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

World English Bible
because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
because if our heart may condemn—because greater is God than our heart, and He knows all things.

Berean Literal Bible
that if our heart should condemn us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things.

Young's Literal Translation
because if our heart may condemn -- because greater is God than our heart, and He doth know all things.

Smith's Literal Translation
For if our heart condemn us, for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For even if our heart reproaches us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things.

New American Bible
in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

New Revised Standard Version
whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For if our hearts condemns us, how much more, then, will God who is greater than our hearts and knows all things.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For if our heart condemns us, how much greater is God than our heart? And he knows all things.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
for if our heart condemn us, we know that God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Godbey New Testament
because if our heart may condemn us, it is because God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things.

Haweis New Testament
For should our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Mace New Testament
for if our conscience condemn us, God knows us better than we do our selves, he knoweth all things.

Weymouth New Testament
in whatever matters our hearts condemn us--because God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

Worrell New Testament
because, if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Worsley New Testament
For, if our heart condemn us, God is still greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Love One Another
…19And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence: 20Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Psalm 139:1-4
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. / You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. / You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. ...

Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Romans 8:27
And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Proverbs 15:11
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!

Psalm 44:21
would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?

1 Corinthians 4:4-5
My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. / Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

John 2:24-25
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. / He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.

Acts 15:8
And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

Revelation 2:23
Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Job 34:21-22
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. / There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Matthew 9:4
But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?

Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

Treasury of Scripture

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

if.

Job 27:6
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

John 8:9
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Acts 5:33
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

God.

1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Job 33:12
Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

John 10:29,30
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand…

and.

Psalm 44:20,21
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; …

Psalm 90:8
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

Psalm 139:1-4
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me…

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1 John 3

1. He declares the singular love of God toward us, in making us his sons;
3. who therefore ought obediently to keep his commandments;
11. as also to love one another as brothers.

Berean Study Bible

If our hearts condemn us
The phrase "our hearts" in this context refers to our conscience or inner self-awareness. The Greek word for "heart" is "kardia," which often symbolizes the center of human emotion and moral decision-making. In the historical context of the early church, believers faced internal struggles and doubts about their faith and standing before God. The word "condemn" comes from the Greek "kataginosko," meaning to know something against oneself, to find fault. This suggests a self-awareness of sin or failure. The early Christians, much like believers today, struggled with feelings of inadequacy and guilt. This phrase acknowledges the reality of self-condemnation but sets the stage for a greater truth.

God is greater than our hearts
This powerful declaration shifts the focus from human frailty to divine sovereignty. The Greek word for "greater" is "meizon," indicating superiority in power, authority, and essence. In the scriptural context, this is a reassurance that God's understanding and compassion surpass our limited self-judgment. Historically, this would have been a comforting reminder to early Christians who were often persecuted and marginalized. Theologically, it underscores the omnipotence and omniscience of God, who transcends human limitations and offers grace and forgiveness beyond our comprehension.

and He knows all things
The phrase "He knows" is derived from the Greek "ginosko," which implies a deep, intimate knowledge. This is not merely intellectual awareness but a profound understanding of all aspects of our being. "All things" (Greek "panta") encompasses every detail of our lives, including our struggles, intentions, and desires. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects God's omniscience, a theme prevalent throughout Scripture, affirming that nothing is hidden from Him. For the early church, this was a source of comfort and assurance, knowing that God’s knowledge is complete and His judgments are just. It invites believers to rest in the truth that God’s love and mercy are informed by His perfect understanding of our hearts and lives.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - Our heart means our conscience, not the affections, which would be σπάγχνα (verse 17). If we are conscious of sincere and habitual love, this will calm us when conscience reproaches us (comp. 1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1, 2). St. John never uses the more technical term συνείδησις, which occurs in the Acts and 1 Peter, and is very frequent in St. Paul. God is greater than our heart. It is asked whether this means that he is more merciful or more rigorous. Neither the one nor the other. It means that, although our conscience is not infallible, God is. Our hearts may be deceived; he cannot be. He knoweth all things. An awful thought for the impenitent, a blessed and encouraging thought for the penitent, He knows our sins; but he also knows our temptations, our struggles, our sorrow, and our love.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

If
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

hearts
καρδία (kardia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

condemn [us],
καταγινώσκῃ (kataginōskē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2607: To condemn, blame. From kata and ginosko; to note against, i.e. Find fault with.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

greater than
μείζων (meizōn)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

hearts,
καρδίας (kardias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

He knows
γινώσκει (ginōskei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

all things.
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

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NT Letters: 1 John 3:20 Because if our heart condemns us God (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)