John 1:12

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The evangelist's voice in the prologue, addressing an undefined audience, positioned between the rejection of "His own" (v.11) and the explanation of how these children are born (v.13).

The words — ἐξουσίαν (exousian, G1849) carries the force of a legal grant or jurisdictional right, not a vague privilege; it is the same word used for delegated authority in the imperial and judicial sphere.

The thread — Galatians 3:26 ties sonship to faith in Christ; Romans 8:14 ties it to the Spirit's leading; 1 John 3:1 frames it as the Father's act of love.

Why it lands — The status is conferred, not self-generated, and the condition is reception rather than lineage; the reader is placed on the receiving end of a grant they did not earn and cannot replicate.

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

ὅσοιhosoiAs many as δὲdehowever ἔλαβονelabonreceived αὐτόν,autonHim,ἔδωκενedōkenHe gave αὐτοῖςautoisto them ἐξουσίανexousianauthority τέκναteknachildren θεοῦtheouof God γενέσθαι,genesthaito be,τοῖςtoisto those πιστεύουσινpisteuousinbelieving εἰςeisin τὸtothe ὄνομαonomaname αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,

King James Version

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Cross-references

Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
John 3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Matthew 10:40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.
1 John 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Colossians 2:6 Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,
Isaiah 56:5 I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.