God’s Word Translation
John 12:35
35Jesus answered the crowd, “The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won’t defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going.
John 12:35 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
- New International Version (NIV)Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
Context of John 12:35
33By saying this, he indicated how he was going to die. 34The crowd responded to him, “We have heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah will remain here forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up from the earth’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Jesus answered the crowd, “The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won’t defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light.” After Jesus had said this, he was concealed as he left. 37Although they had seen Jesus perform so many miracles, they wouldn’t believe in him.
Read all of John 12John 12:35 word by word
Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἔτι μικρὸν χρόνον τὸ φῶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν. περιπατεῖτε ὡς τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, ἵνα μὴ σκοτία ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ· καὶ ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ οὐκ οἶδεν ποῦ ὑπάγει.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Yetἔτιeti · stillG2089
- a littleμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
- whileχρόνοςchronos · timeG5550
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- youσύsu · youG4771
- Walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- whileἕωςheōs · untilG2193
- ye haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- darknessσκοτίαskotia · darknessG4653
- come uponκαταλαμβάνωkatalambanō · to graspG2638
- forκαίkai · andG2532
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- knowethεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- notοὐou · noG3756
- whitherποῦpou · where?G4226
- he goethὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
- ·μήmē · notG3361
Cross-references for John 12:35
- John 7:33Jesus said, “I will still be with you for a little while. Then I’ll go to the one who sent me.
- John 9:4We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming.
- John 16:16“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then in a little while you will see me again.”
- Hebrews 3:7As the Holy Spirit says, “If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.
- John 12:36While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light.” After Jesus had said this, he was concealed as he left.
- John 1:5The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.
- John 8:12Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.”
- John 9:5As long as I’m in the world, I’m light for the world.”
- Isaiah 2:5Come, descendants of Jacob, let’s live in the light of the Lord.
- Isaiah 42:6I, the Lord, have called you to do what is right. I will take hold of your hand. I will protect you. I will appoint you as my promise to the people, as my light to the nations.
- Romans 13:12The night is almost over, and the day is near. So we should get rid of the things that belong to the dark and take up the weapons that belong to the light.
- Ephesians 5:8Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark.
- 1 John 1:6If we say, “We have a relationship with God” and yet live in the dark, we’re lying. We aren’t being truthful.
- John 12:39So the people couldn’t believe because, as Isaiah also said,
- Psalms 69:22Let the table set for them become a trap and a snare for their friends.
Commentaries on John 12:35
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35Yet a little while is the light with you - In answer to their objection, our Lord compares himself to a light, which was about to disappear for a short time, and afterwards to shine forth with more abundant lustre; but not to their comfort, if they continued to reject its present beamings. He exhorts them to follow this light while it was among them. The Christ shall abide for ever, it is true; but he will not always be visible. When he shall depart from…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35Yet a little while is the light with you - Jesus did not reply directly to their question. He saw that they were offended by the mention of his death, and he endeavored to arrive at the same thing indirectly. He tells them, therefore, that the light would be with them a little while, and that they ought to improve the opportunity while they had it to listen to his instructions, to require with candor, and thus to forsake their false notions respecting the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 34-36Verses 34-36 The people drew false notions from the Scriptures, because they overlooked the prophecies that spoke of Christ's sufferings and death. Our Lord warned them that the light would not long continue with them, and exhorted them to walk in it, before the darkness overtook them. Those who would walk in the light must believe in it, and follow Christ's directions. But those who have not faith, cannot behold what is set forth in Jesus, lifted up on…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-50In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time. First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13). Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well. John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 35-3635-36. Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, &c.--Instead of answering their question, He warns them, with mingled majesty and tenderness, against trifling with their last brief opportunity, and entreats them to let in the Light while they have it in the midst of them, that they themselves might be "light in the Lord." In this case, all the clouds which hung around His Person and Mission would speedily be dispelled, while…Read the comment
Topics related to John 12:35
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 12
- 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
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