The Meaning of 1 John 4:13 Explained

1 John 4:13

KJV: Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

YLT: in this we know that in Him we do remain, and He in us, because of His Spirit He hath given us.

Darby: Hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, that he has given to us of his Spirit.

ASV: hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Hereby  know we  that  we dwell  in  him,  and  he  in  us,  because  he hath given  us  of  his  Spirit. 

What does 1 John 4:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A believer"s abiding in God and God"s abiding in him or her become evident by the demonstration of love that comes "of" (lit. "out of") God"s Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the source of the abiding believer"s love just as He is the source of our obedience (cf. 1 John 3:23-24).

Context Summary

1 John 4:12-21 - The Test Of Our Love
If we are willing to be channels through which God's love flows to others, there need be no limit to the fullness of that holy current. In humility, selflessness, and gentleness, it will become perfected. The vessel placed beneath the waterfall is filled to overflowing.
Through our Savior we know the Father who sent Him, 1 John 4:14. See John 14:9-10. We first venture on God's love by faith; afterward we know it. Dare to affirm that God is love. Love is the wafted fragrance of Paradise. If thou lovest, heaven and earth will answer thee in terms of love. By strong, patient, selfless love thou wilt abide in unbroken touch with all pure and loving souls-whoever and wherever. Where love was crucified there was a garden. Where there is love, lonely places blossom as the rose. Be not afraid! Love on! Love always! "This is the true God, and eternal life." But one thought of hatred or ill-will will cause thy wholly happy experience to vanish. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 John 4

1  He warns them not to believe all who boast of the Spirit;
7  and exhorts to brotherly love

Greek Commentary for 1 John 4:13

Hereby know we [εν τουτωι γινωσκομεν]
The Christian‘s consciousness of the fact of God dwelling in him is due to the Spirit of God whom God has given This gift of God is proof of our fellowship with God. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 4:13

John 16:30 By this [ἐν τούτῳ]
Literally, in this. Compare 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:19, 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:13, 1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:2. [source]
1 John 2:3 Hereby [ἐν τούτῳ]
Lit., in this. Characteristic of John. See John 8:35; John 15:8; John 16:30; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13; 1 John 5:2; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 3:19; 1 John 4:2. The expression points to what follows, “if we keep His commandments,” yet with a covert reference to that idea as generally implied in the previous words concerning fellowship with God and walking in the light. [source]
1 John 2:3 Hereby [εν τουτωι]
See this phrase also in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:19, 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:13; 1 John 5:2. That is explained by the εαν — ean clause, “if we keep his commandments” (εαν τηρωμεν — ean tērōmen condition of the third class, εαν — ean with present active subjunctive, “if we keep on keeping”), the clause itself in apposition with τουτωι — toutōi (locative case). [source]
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye [εν τουτωι γινωσκετε]
Either present active indicative or imperative. The test of “the Spirit of God” (το πνευμα του τεου — to pneuma tou theou) here alone in this Epistle, save 1 John 4:13. With the clamour of voices then and now this is important. The test (εν τουτωι — en toutōi as in 1 John 3:19) follows. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 John 4:13 mean?

By this we know that in Him we abide and He us because from out the Spirit of Him He has given to us
ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ μένομεν καὶ αὐτὸς ἡμῖν ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος αὐτοῦ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν

τούτῳ  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
γινώσκομεν  we  know 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
μένομεν  we  abide 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: μένω  
Sense: to remain, abide.
ἡμῖν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐκ  from  out 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
Πνεύματος  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
δέδωκεν  He  has  given 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
ἡμῖν  to  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.