What does John 1:12 mean?
“But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—”
Quick answer
‘To all who received him… he gave the right to become children of God’—faith in Jesus brings us into God’s family.
What it means
Many rejected Jesus, but those who ‘received’ and ‘believed’ in him are given a new status: children of God.
This is a gift and a ‘right’ granted by God, born ‘not of human decision’ but of God himself (1:13).
Common questions
How do you become a child of God?
By receiving and believing in Jesus; John 1:12 says God then gives the right to become his child—a new birth from God.
Key words in this verse
Greek word studies — original-language background to the verse.
Keep exploring
Original BibleDawn explanation · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.