Bible Strands
1 John 3:20
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The apostle John addresses believers struggling with self-condemnation, placing this declaration between a statement of heart assurance in 1 John 3:19 and a conditional promise of confidence in 1 John 3:21.
The words — καρδία (kardia) translates literally as heart, denoting the inner seat of thought and conscience, while μεῖζων (meizōn) means greater, establishing God’s superiority over human self-assessment.
The thread — The text’s claim that God searches and knows the inner person runs parallel to Psalms 139:1 and Jeremiah 17:10, while Hebrews 4:13 extends the scope to all creation being fully exposed to His sight.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to submit their self-accusations to God’s complete knowledge rather than trusting their own limited judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Cross-references
- Psalms 139:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
- 1 John 4:4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
- Jeremiah 23:24 “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- John 10:29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
- Psalms 44:20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
- Job 33:12 Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
- Romans 2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.