1 John 3:12 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹² not [hate each other] the way Cain did, who belonged to the evil one [i.e., Satan], when he murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? It was because his [own] actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous [See Heb. 11:4].

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹² Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹² [And] not be like Cain who [took his nature and got his motivation] from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds (activities, works) were wicked and malicious and his brother's were righteous (virtuous).

American Standard Version (1901)

¹² not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Common English Bible

¹² Don’t behave like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he kill him? He killed him because his own works were evil, but the works of his brother were righteous.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹² Do not be like Cain, who was of the evil one, and who killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked, but his brother's works were just.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹² Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother's just.

1 John 3:12 Cross References

Matthew 13:19

When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one [i.e., the devil] comes to him and grabs away what had been sown in his heart. This is the person who was scattered to the side of the road.

Matthew 13:38

and the field [represents] the world. The good seed [represents] the children who belong to the kingdom, and the weeds [represent] the children who belong to the evil one [i.e., the devil].

Matthew 23:35

[This will be done] so that on you may fall the guilt for shedding on the ground the blood of all those innocent people, from the blood of righteous Abel to that of Barachiah’s son Zachariah, whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the Altar [i.e., in the Temple area].

Matthew 27:23

And he said, “Why [should he be]? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted out even louder, “Let him be crucified!”

Matthew 5:37

But you should just say ‘yes’ [when you mean] yes, and ‘no’ [when you mean] no. Whatever you say beyond these [i.e., enforcing them by oaths] is of the evil one [i.e., the devil].

Luke 11:51

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be punished [for the death of the prophets], from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who died between the Altar and the sanctuary [i.e., in the Temple area]. [Note: This punishment began about 37 years later in the war with the Romans, when Jerusalem was destroyed].

John 10:32

Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds [i.e., miracles], performed through the Father. Which one of them are you stoning me for?”

John 8:40

But instead, you are trying to kill me, a man who has [only] told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this [kind of thing].

John 8:41

You people are doing what your father does.” They said to Him, “We were not born illegitimately; the only Father we have is God.”

Acts 7:52

Which one of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? They [even] killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One [i.e., Jesus], whom you people betrayed and murdered.

1 Thessalonians 2:14

For you brothers became imitators of the churches of God in Judea, which are in [fellowship with] Christ, for you people also suffered the same things from your own countrymen that they did from the Jews,

Hebrews 11:4

By [having] faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. [And] because of his faith he was commended by God for being righteous, when God expressed approval of his offerings. By means of his faith, Abel still speaks [to us], even though he is dead.

Hebrews 12:24

and to Jesus, the Mediator of a New Agreement [between God and mankind], and to the sprinkled blood [of Jesus], which says better things [to us] than [the blood of] Abel did. [Note: The contrast seems to be that Abel’s blood called for vengeance and death (See Gen. 4:10) whereas the blood of Christ provides mercy and life].

1 Peter 4:4

Now, those people you used to run around with cannot understand why you have stopped living such wasteful lives, so they just “badmouth” you.

1 John 3:8

[But] the person who continues to live a sinful life belongs to the devil, because the devil has continued to sin since the beginning [See Gen. 3]. For this is the reason that the Son of God came [into the world]; it was to destroy the works [i.e., the influence of] the devil [in people’s lives].

Jude 1:11

It is too bad for these people, for they have followed the example of Cain [the murderer]; for the sake of money they have rushed into the [same] error as Balaam committed [See Num. 25:1-5; 31:16]; they [will] perish [spiritually] for having rebelled [against God] like Korah did. [See Num. 16:1-3, 31-35].

Revelation 17:6

And I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of God’s holy people and on the blood of those [who were killed] witnessing about Jesus. And when I saw her I was greatly amazed.