Bible Strands
John 3:15
that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Nicodemus, explaining that the Son of Man must be lifted up just as Moses lifted the bronze snake in the wilderness. This declaration frames the immediate purpose of His forthcoming crucifixion.
The words — ἵνα (hina) functions as a purpose conjunction meaning "so that," and πᾶς (pas) translates literally to "everyone." πιστεύων (pisteuōn) is a present active participle indicating continuous action, "is believing."
The thread — The clause "that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life" appears in John 3:15 and John 3:16. John 6:40 echoes the positive promise that believers "shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day," while John 3:36 contrasts belief with rejection and remaining wrath.
Why it lands — The text states that perpetual belief in the lifted Son of Man guarantees eternal life. It demands a continuous posture of trust that receives the promised life rather than speculating about its mechanics.
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
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Cross-references
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 6:40 For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
- John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
- John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.
- 1 John 5:11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
- 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
- 1 John 5:20 And 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.
- John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
- John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.