John 20:23
New International Version
If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

New Living Translation
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

English Standard Version
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Berean Standard Bible
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

Berean Literal Bible
If you might forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you might retain any, they are retained."

King James Bible
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

New King James Version
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

New American Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

NASB 1995
“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

NASB 1977
“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

Legacy Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

Amplified Bible
If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].”

Christian Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

American Standard Version
whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“If you will forgive a man's sins, they will be forgiven him, and if you hold a man's, they will be held.”

Contemporary English Version
If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven."

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

English Revised Version
whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whenever you forgive sins, they are forgiven. Whenever you don't forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Good News Translation
If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

International Standard Version
If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven. If you retain people's sins, they are retained."

Literal Standard Version
if you may forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you may retain of any, they have been retained.”

Majority Standard Bible
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

New American Bible
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

NET Bible
If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained."

New Revised Standard Version
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

New Heart English Bible
Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained."

Webster's Bible Translation
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Weymouth New Testament
If you remit the sins of any persons, they remain remitted to them. If you bind fast the sins of any, they remain bound."

World English Bible
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

Young's Literal Translation
if of any ye may loose the sins, they are loosed to them; if of any ye may retain, they have been retained.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
22When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” 24Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.…

Cross References
Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Matthew 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

John 20:22
When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 5:4
When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,


Treasury of Scripture

Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained.

Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 18:18
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mark 2:5-10
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee…

Jump to Previous
Bind Bound Fast Forgive Forgiven Forgiveness Free Loose Persons Remit Remitted Retain Retained Sins Soever Whoever's
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Bind Bound Fast Forgive Forgiven Forgiveness Free Loose Persons Remit Remitted Retain Retained Sins Soever Whoever's
John 20
1. Mary comes to the tomb;
3. so do Peter and John, ignorant of the resurrection.
11. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene,
19. and to his disciples.
24. The incredulity and confession of Thomas.
30. The Scripture is sufficient to salvation.














(23) Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them . . .--Comp. for the "power of the keys," the Notes on Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18. Assuming what has there been said, it will be sufficient to add that this power is here immediately connected with the representative character of the disciples as apostles sent by Christ, as He was Himself sent by the Father (John 20:21), and that its validity is dependent upon their reception of the Holy Ghost (John 20:22), by whom Christ Himself is present in them (John 14:18; John 16:7-11). Sent as He was sent, they are not sent to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved; but in their work, as in His, men are condemned because the light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
ἄν (an)
Particle
Strong's 302: A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.

you forgive
ἀφῆτε (aphēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

anyone his
τινων (tinōn)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

sins,
ἁμαρτίας (hamartias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

they are forgiven;
ἀφέωνται (apheōntai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

if
ἄν (an)
Particle
Strong's 302: A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.

you withhold [forgiveness]
κρατῆτε (kratēte)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2902: From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.

from anyone,
τινων (tinōn)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

it is withheld.”
κεκράτηνται (kekratēntai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2902: From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.


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NT Gospels: John 20:23 Whoever's sins you forgive they are forgiven (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 20:22
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