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 people to John ⌞the Baptizer⌟, and he testified to the truth. 34But I don’t depend on human testimony. I’m telling you this to save you. John was a lamp that gave off brilliant light. For a time you enjoyed the pleasure of his light. 36But I have something that testifies more favorably on my behalf than John’s testimony. The tasks that the Father gave me to carry out, these tasks which I perform, testify on my behalf. They prove that the Father has sent me. 37The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice, and you have never 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 1:7John came to declare the truth about the light so that everyone would become believers through his message.
• Matthew 11:11“I can guarantee this truth: Of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptizer. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.
• Luke 1:15As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
• Luke 7:28I can guarantee that of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John. Yet, the least important person in God’s kingdom is greater than John.
• 2 Peter 1:19So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You’re doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts.
• John 6:66Jesus’ speech made many of his disciples go back to the lives they had led before they followed Jesus.
• Ezekiel 33:31Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they don’t do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits.
• Matthew 3:5Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him.
• Matthew 11:7As they were leaving, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind?
• Matthew 13:20The seed planted on rocky ground ⌞is the person who⌟ hears the word and accepts it at once with joy.
• Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.”
• Mark 6:20because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
• Galatians 4:15What happened to your positive attitude? It’s a fact that if it had been 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