John 1:9

John 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
• New International Version (NIV)The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
• New King James Version (NKJV)That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Context of John 1:9

7This man came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe [in Christ, the Light] through him. 8John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light. There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. 10He (Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11He came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish nation] did not receive and welcome Him.

John 1:9 word by word

ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the trueἀληθινόςalēthinos · trueG228
• Lightὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• lightethφωτίζωphōtizō · to illuminateG5461
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• that comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for John 1:9

• John 1:4In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.
• John 6:32Then Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
• John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
• John 15:1“ I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
• Isaiah 49:6He says, “It is too trivial a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will also make You a light to the nations That My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
• Matthew 6:23But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!
• 1 John 1:8If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.]
• 1 John 2:8On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true and realized in Christ and in you, because the darkness [of moral blindness] is clearing away and the true Light [the revelation of God in Christ] is already shining.
• 1 John 5:20And we [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given us understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
• John 1:7This man came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe [in Christ, the Light] through him.
• John 7:12There was a lot of whispered discussion and murmuring among the crowds about Him. Some were saying, “He is a good man”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He misleads the people [giving them false ideas].”
• John 12:46I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness.
• Isaiah 8:20[Direct those people] to the law and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is because they have no dawn.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:4But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief;

Commentaries on John 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Which lighteth every man - As Christ is the Spring and Fountain of all wisdom, so all the wisdom that is in man comes from him; the human intellect is a ray from his brightness; and reason itself springs from this Logos, the eternal reason. Some of the most eminent rabbins understand Isaiah 60:1, Rise and shine, for thy Light is come, of the Messiah who was to illuminate Israel, and who, they believe, was referred to in that word, Genesis 1:3, And God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9That was the true Light - Not John, but the Messiah. He was not a false, uncertain, dangerous guide, but was one that was true, real, steady, and worthy of confidence. A false light is one that leads to danger or error, as a false beacon on the shores of the ocean may lead ships to quicksands or rocks; or an “ignis fatuus” to fens, and precipices, and death. A true light is one that does not deceive us, as the true beacon may guide us into port or warn us…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-9God sent a man named John the Baptist to announce the arrival of Jesus. He prepared people to accept Jesus as God's Son and Messiah (see 1:19–37; Luke 1:5–25, 57–80; 3:1–22). His work fulfilled what God had promised through the prophets (see Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5–6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-96-9. The Evangelist here approaches his grand thesis, so paving his way for the full statement of it in Joh 1:14, that we may be able to bear the bright light of it, and take in its length and breadth and depth and height.Read the comment

Topics related to John 1:9

• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Light
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Behold
• Believe
• Blood
• Dwell
• Flesh
• Guile
• Light
• Prefer
• Receive
• Son of God

Commentaries on John 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings