New International Version
John 12:35
35Then 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.
Context of John 12:35
33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 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. 36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. 37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not 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 am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me.
- John 9:4As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
- John 16:16Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
- Hebrews 3:7So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice,
- John 12:36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
- John 1:5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
- John 8:12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- John 9:5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
- Isaiah 2:5Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
- Isaiah 42:6“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
- Romans 13:12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- 1 John 1:6If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
- John 12:39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
- Psalms 69:22May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap.
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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