1 John 3:4 (KJV)

Passage

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Nearby Context

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "whosoever", "committeth", "transgresseth", and "transgression". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "whosoever" and "committeth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "And every man that hath this hope..." into verse 5's "And ye know that he was manifested...", so "whosoever" and "committeth" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "whosoever" and "committeth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.