Titus · Chapter 3 · Forgiveness
Titus 3:5 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
What has been forgiven, you can forgive.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,"
KJV · King James Version
"Not3756 by1537 works2041 of1722 righteousness1343 which3739 we2249 have done4160, but235 according to2596 his846 mercy1656 he saved4982 us2248, by1223 the washing3067 of regeneration3824, and2532 renewing342 of the Holy40 Ghost4151;"
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses have, done, ghost, while the WEB renders these as did, ourselves, through, spirit. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Titus 3:5 in Titus 3
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Titus 3:5 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Titus 3. Read the full chapter →
- v.3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
- v.4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
- v.5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
- v.6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;
- v.7 that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Book background
About the Book of Titus
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- Pauline epistle
- Author
- Paul
- Date written
- c. 62–64 AD
- Audience
- Titus, organising the churches on Crete
- Chapters
- 3
Titus is a short pastoral letter giving Paul's lieutenant the framework for ordering young churches on Crete — appointing elders, teaching sound doctrine, and producing good works. Its hymn-like passage about the grace that "trains us to renounce ungodliness" (2:11-14) is among the New Testament's richest summaries of salvation.
Setting: A pastoral letter parallel to 1 Timothy.
Key themes: sound doctrine · good works · grace · leadership · God our Saviour
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Titus 3:5
Titus 3:5 contains 28 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves
NBWORW
- 2
but according to his mercy
BATHM
- 3
he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
HSUTTW
Frequently asked
FAQ about Titus 3:5
What does Titus 3:5 say?
Titus 3:5 reads: "not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit," — from the New Testament, Titus (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Titus 3:5 in?
Titus 3:5 is in the book of Titus, traditionally attributed to Paul and written around c. 62–64 AD. Titus is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to Titus, organising the churches on Crete. Best known for qualifications for elders and the grace that trains us (2:11-14).
What is Titus 3:5 about?
Titus 3:5 is primarily a Bible verse about Forgiveness. Within Titus, Titus is a short pastoral letter giving Paul's lieutenant the framework for ordering young churches on Crete — appointing elders, teaching sound doctrine, and producing good works. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Titus 3:5 in WEB and KJV?
Titus 3:5 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Not3756 by1537 works2041 of1722 righteousness1343 which3739 we2249 have done4160, but235 according to2596 his846 mercy1656 he saved4982 us2248, by1223 the washing3067 of regeneration3824, and2532 renewing342 of the Holy40 Ghost4151;". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Titus 3:5?
Titus 3:5 is 28 words in the WEB translation (162 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 8 seconds.
How can I memorise Titus 3:5?
To memorise Titus 3:5, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Titus 3:5 matter in Titus?
Titus is a short pastoral letter giving Paul's lieutenant the framework for ordering young churches on Crete — appointing elders, teaching sound doctrine, and producing good works. Its hymn-like passage about the grace that "trains us to renounce ungodliness" (2:11-14) is among the New Testament's richest summaries of salvation. Titus 3:5 sits within this larger story — Titus as a whole emphasises sound doctrine, good works, grace.
How can I apply Titus 3:5 today?
Many readers use Titus 3:5 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Titus 3:5 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
-
Romans 5:8
“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Read context →
-
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Read context →
-
Ephesians 4:32
“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”
Read context →
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2 Chronicles 7:14
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, will fo…”
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-
Matthew 5:44
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,”
Read context →
-
James 5:16
“Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.”
Read context →
-
1 Peter 4:8
“And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
Read context →
-
Matthew 6:14
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Read context →
-
Psalms 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.”
Read context →
-
Psalms 103:12
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Read context →
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