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1 John 5:6
ESV This is he who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
NIV This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
NASB This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
CSB Jesus Christ—he is the one who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
NLT And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross — not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.
KJV This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
NKJV This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.

What does 1 John 5:6 mean?

John calls Jesus "he who came by water and blood." This reference to water and blood has been interpreted in many ways. Some believe water and blood refer to His physical nature, coming as an infant to earth. However, it is more likely that the water refers to His baptism by John the Baptist and the blood refers to His sacrifice on the cross.

John also defines three "witnesses:" water, blood, and the Spirit. He refers to the Spirit as "the truth," and the one who testifies about Jesus as God's Son. At the "water," God the Father spoke from the sky at Jesus' baptism. At the "blood," God spoke through various actions—including a dark sky during the day and the temple curtain torn from top to bottom. According to traditional Jewish practice, multiple witnesses were needed to confirm a matter. With these three witnesses, John's argument that Jesus is the Son of God is settled.
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