John 5:35

John 5:35 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
• New International Version (NIV)John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

Context of John 5:35

33You have sent [an inquiry] to John [the Baptist] and he has testified [as an eyewitness] to the truth. 34But the testimony I receive is not from man [a merely human witness]; but I say these things so that you may be saved [that is, have eternal life]. John was the lamp that kept on burning and shining [to show you the way], and you were willing for a while to rejoice in his light. 36But the testimony which I have is far greater than the testimony of John; for the works that the Father has given Me to finish—the very same works [that is, the miracles and proofs of My deity] that I am [now] doing—testify about Me, [by providing evidence] that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form [His majesty and greatness—what He is like].

John 5:35 word by word

ἐκεῖνος ἦν ὁ λύχνος ὁ καιόμενος καὶ φαίνων, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἠθελήσατε ἀγαλλιαθῆναι πρὸς ὥραν ἐν τῷ φωτὶ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Heἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• aλύχνοςluchnos · lampG3088
• burningκαίωkaiō · to kindle/burnG2545
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• a shiningφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
• andδέde · thenG1161
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• were willingθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• forπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• a seasonὥραhōra · hourG5610
• to rejoiceἀγαλλιάωagalliaō · to rejoiceG21
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457

Cross-references for John 5:35

• John 1:7This man came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe [in Christ, the Light] through him.
• Matthew 11:11I assure you and most solemnly say to you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater [in privilege] than he.
• Luke 1:15for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
• Luke 7:28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater [in privilege] than he.”
• 2 Peter 1:19So we have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay [close] attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the morning star arises in your hearts.
• John 6:66As a result of this many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him.
• Ezekiel 33:31They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not practice them; for with their mouth they express loving devotion, but their heart goes after their (unlawful) gain.
• Matthew 3:5At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
• Matthew 11:7As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out in the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind [which is commonplace]?
• Matthew 13:20The one on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and at once welcomes it with joy;
• Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the [response of the] crowd; for they all regard John as a prophet.”
• Mark 6:20because Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he continually kept him safe. When he heard John [speak], he was very perplexed; but he enjoyed listening to him.
• Galatians 4:15What then has become of that sense of blessing and the joy that you once had [from your salvation and your relationship with Christ]? For I testify of you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me [to replace mine].

Commentaries on John 5:35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35He was a burning and a shining light - ̔ ̔ , should be translated, He was a burning and a shining Lamp. He was not , the light of the world, i.e. the sun; but he was ̔ , a lamp, to give a clear and steady light till the sun should arise. It is supposed that John had been cast into prison about four months before this time. See the note on John 4:35. As his light continued no longer to shine, our Lord says he Was. The expression of lamp our Lord took from…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35He was - It is probable that John had been cast into prison before this. Hence, his public ministry had ceased, and our Saviour says he was such a light. Light - The word in the original properly means a “lamp,” and is not the same which in John 1:4-5 is translated “light.” That is a word commonly applied to the sun, the fountain of light; this means a lamp, or a light that is lit up or kindled artificially from oil or tallow. A teacher is often called a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-38Verses 30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33-35The second witness of Jesus was John the Baptist. John pointed to Jesus and said that he is the Messiah (1:29–34).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33-3533-35. Ye sent unto John--(See Joh 1:19, &c.). receive not testimony ... from man--that is, depend not on human testimony. but ... that ye might be saved--"I refer to him merely to aid your salvation."Read the comment

Topics related to John 5:35

• Instability
• John
• Light
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Folk
• John the Baptist
• Judgment
• Lest
• Light
• Step
• Trouble
• Troubling
• Witness
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 5

• 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