English Standard Version
John 1:8
8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
John 1:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
- New International Version (NIV)He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
- New Living Translation (NLT)John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
Context of John 1:8
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
Read all of John 1John 1:8 word by word
οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for John 1:8
- John 1:20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
- John 3:28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'
- Acts 19:4And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."
Commentaries on John 1:8
- 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. 8Some Jews thought John the Baptist might be the Messiah (God's chosen one). Some of his followers hesitated to follow Jesus (3:22–30). However, John the Baptist was not the Light. His role was to announce Jesus (1:19–34).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 1:8
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries