# Where is “For God so loved the world” in the Bible?

> “For God so loved the world” is John 3:16.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/for-god-so-loved-the-world
By Andrew Kittridge · November 10, 2026

It comes in Jesus’ night conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee. Readers differ on whether Jesus is still speaking or John is commenting.

## The verse

> For God loved the world in this way: he gave his Son, the one and only, so that whoever believes in him would not perish but would have eternal life.
>
> — [John 3:16](https://www.lumin.faith/read/john/3#16) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently.

## What it means there

“So” means “in this way”: God showed his love by giving his only Son. The next verse says the Son was sent to save the world, not to condemn it (John 3:17).

## Common questions

### Where is “For God so loved the world” in the Bible?

“For God so loved the world” is John 3:16. These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently. It comes in Jesus’ night conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee. Readers differ on whether Jesus is still speaking or John is commenting.

### Is “For God so loved the world” in the Bible?

Yes. It is John 3:16. In the Lumin Translation, John 3:16 reads: “For God loved the world in this way: he gave his Son, the one and only, so that whoever believes in him would not perish but would have eternal life.”

### Who said “For God so loved the world”?

It comes in Jesus’ night conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee. Readers differ on whether Jesus is still speaking or John is commenting.

### What does “For God so loved the world” mean in the Bible?

“So” means “in this way”: God showed his love by giving his only Son. The next verse says the Son was sent to save the world, not to condemn it (John 3:17).

## More

- [Where is “I am the good shepherd” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/i-am-the-good-shepherd.md)
- [Where is “My sheep hear my voice” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/my-sheep-hear-my-voice.md)
- [Where is “Immanuel, God with us” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/immanuel-god-with-us.md)
- [Where is “Seek first the kingdom of God” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god.md)
- [Where is “Let the little children come to me” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/let-the-little-children-come-to-me.md)
- [Where is “To whom much is given, much will be required” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/to-whom-much-is-given-much-will-be-required.md)
- [Where is “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/while-we-were-still-sinners-christ-died-for-us.md)
- [Where is “Do not be conformed to this world” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/do-not-be-conformed-to-this-world.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)