And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Parallel translations
- WEB If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
- BSB As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
- NKJV And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
- NASB If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
- NLT I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says He came not to judge the world but to save it, so He does not now condemn the one who hears yet disbelieves. It highlights the saving purpose of His first coming.
Overview
The primary aim of Christ's mission was salvation, not condemnation (cf. 3:17). Though rejection carries consequences, Jesus' present ministry is one of mercy and rescue. The verse holds out the gracious purpose of the gospel while implying, as the next verse makes clear, that a future reckoning remains for those who refuse Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- John 3:17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
- John 12:48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
- John 8:15–16Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
- 1 Tim 1:15–16This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
- 1 Jn 4:14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
- Luke 19:10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- John 5:45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
- Matt 20:28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- 2 Pet 3:15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
- John 8:26I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
- Matt 18:10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
- Luke 9:56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 12:47 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.