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 sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. 34I don’t receive human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36“But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me. 37The Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You have not heard his voice at any time, and you haven’t seen his form.

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 1:7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.
• Matthew 11:11“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
• Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
• Luke 7:28I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
• 2 Peter 1:19We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
• John 6:66From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him.
• Ezekiel 33:31So my people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.
• Matthew 3:5Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him,
• Matthew 11:7As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
• Matthew 13:20And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.
• Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet.”
• Mark 6:20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
• Galatians 4:15Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

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