1 John 3:9
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Whoever is born of God does not make a practice of sin, for God's seed abides in him.
What Does 1 John 3:9 Mean?
John speaks of the new birth's power. Whoever is born of God does not go on sinning, for God's seed remains in him. So deep is this new life that he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God.
The one truly born of God carries a new nature that resists sin. This is not a boast of sinlessness but a description of a transformed life that can no longer be at home in sin. God's own life, like an enduring seed, abides within and bears fruit. John assures his readers that new birth is real and effective, planting a holiness that grows and a love for righteousness that will not be uprooted.
In the Original Language
sperma (σπέρμα), 'seed' -- here God's life implanted in the believer through the new birth, abiding and bearing fruit.