1 John 5:21
New International Version
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

New Living Translation
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

English Standard Version
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Berean Standard Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Berean Literal Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

King James Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

New King James Version
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

New American Standard Bible
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

NASB 1995
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

NASB 1977
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Legacy Standard Bible
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Amplified Bible
Little children (believers, dear ones), guard yourselves from idols—[false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart].

Christian Standard Bible
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

American Standard Version
My little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Contemporary English Version
Children, you must stay away from idols.

English Revised Version
My little children, guard yourselves from idols.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Dear children, guard yourselves from false gods.

Good News Translation
My children, keep yourselves safe from false gods!

International Standard Version
Little children, keep yourselves away from idols. Greetings from John

Majority Standard Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

NET Bible
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

New Heart English Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Webster's Bible Translation
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Weymouth New Testament
Dear children, guard yourselves from idols.

World English Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Little children, guard yourselves from idols! Amen.

Berean Literal Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Young's Literal Translation
Little children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.

Smith's Literal Translation
Little children, watch yourselves from idols. Amen.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Little sons, keep yourselves from false worship. Amen.

New American Bible
Children, be on your guard against idols.

New Revised Standard Version
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My children, keep yourselves from idols.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
My children, keep yourselves from the worship of idols.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Godbey New Testament
Little children, keep yourselves from the idols.

Haweis New Testament
My dear children, guard yourselves against idols. Amen.

Mace New Testament
dear children, keep yourselves from idols. AMEN.

Weymouth New Testament
Dear children, guard yourselves from idols.

Worrell New Testament
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Worsley New Testament
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Concluding Remarks
20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Cross References
Exodus 20:3-5
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Deuteronomy 5:7-9
You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Isaiah 44:9-20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...

Jeremiah 10:1-5
Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. / This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. / For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. ...

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

1 Corinthians 10:14
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

Romans 1:22-23
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Ezekiel 14:6
Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations.

Leviticus 19:4
Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.


Treasury of Scripture

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Little.

1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

keep.

Exodus 20:3,4
Thou shalt have no other gods before me…

1 Corinthians 10:7,14
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play…

2 Corinthians 6:16,17
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people…

Amen.

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

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1 John 5
1. He who loves God loves his children, and keeps his commandments;
3. which to the faithful are not grievous.
9. Jesus is the Son of God;
14. and able to hear our prayers.














Little children
This affectionate term, "little children," is translated from the Greek word "τεκνία" (teknia), which conveys a sense of endearment and spiritual parenthood. The Apostle John, often referred to as the "Apostle of Love," uses this term to express his deep care and concern for the spiritual well-being of his readers. In the historical context, John is addressing believers who are relatively new in their faith, emphasizing their need for guidance and protection. This phrase reminds us of the intimate relationship between a spiritual leader and their congregation, akin to a parent nurturing their children in the faith.

keep yourselves
The phrase "keep yourselves" is derived from the Greek word "φυλάσσω" (phylassō), which means to guard or protect. This implies an active, vigilant stance against potential spiritual dangers. In the context of the early church, believers were surrounded by pagan practices and false teachings. The call to "keep yourselves" is a reminder of the personal responsibility each believer has to remain steadfast in their faith, actively resisting influences that could lead them astray. It underscores the importance of spiritual discipline and the need for constant vigilance in one's walk with Christ.

from idols
The term "idols" comes from the Greek word "εἴδωλον" (eidōlon), which refers to an image or representation of a false god. In the historical and cultural context of the first-century church, idolatry was rampant, with many believers coming from backgrounds steeped in idol worship. This command is not only a prohibition against physical idols but also a warning against anything that takes the place of God in one's heart. Idolatry, in a broader sense, can include the worship of material possessions, power, or even ideologies that contradict the teachings of Christ. This phrase serves as a timeless exhortation to prioritize God above all else, ensuring that nothing else becomes an object of worship or devotion. It calls believers to examine their lives and rid themselves of anything that competes with their allegiance to God.

Verse 21. - Keep yourselves from idols; or, guard yourselves from the idols. In verse 18 we had τηρεῖ; here the verb is φυλάξατε. The aorist, rather than the present imperative, is used to make the command more forcible, although the guarding is not momentary, but will have to continue (Compare μείνατε ἐν ἐμοί, John 15:4; τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσατε John 14:15). What is the meaning of "the idols" τῶν εἰδώλων here? In answering this question it will be well to hold fast to the common canon of exegesis, that where the literal interpretation makes good sense, the literal interpretation is probably right. Here the literal interpretation makes excellent sense. Ephesus was famous for its idols. To be "temple-keeper of the great Artemis" (Acts 19:35) was its pride. The moral evils which had resulted from the abuse of the right of sanctuary had caused the Roman senate to cite the Ephesians and other states to submit their charters to the government for inspection. Ephesus had been the first to answer to the summons, and had strenuously defended its claims. It was famous, moreover, for its charms and incantations; and folly of this kind had found its way into the Christian Church (Acts 19:13-20). As so often happens with converts from a religion full of gross superstition, a good many of the superstitious observances survived the adoption of Christianity. With facts such as these before us, we can hardly be wrong in interpreting "the idols" quite literally. The apostle's "little children" could not live in Ephesus without coming constantly in contact with these polluting but attractive influences. They must have absolutely nothing to do with them: "Guard yourselves and abjure ἀπό them." Of course, this literal interpretation places no limit on the application of the text. To a Christian anything is an idol which usurps the place of God in the heart, whether this be a person, or a system, or a project, or wealth, or what not. All such usurpations come within the sweep of the apostle's injunction, "Guard yourselves from your idols."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Little children,
Τεκνία (Teknia)
Noun - Vocative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5040: A little child. Diminutive of teknon; an infant, i.e. darlings.

keep
φυλάξατε (phylaxate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5442: Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid.

yourselves
ἑαυτὰ (heauta)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

idols.
εἰδώλων (eidōlōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1497: An idol, false god. From eidos; an image; by implication, a heathen god, or the worship of such.


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NT Letters: 1 John 5:21 Little children keep yourselves from idols (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)
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