New International Version
John 3:19
19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
John 3:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
Context of John 3:19
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Read all of John 3John 3:19 word by word
αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ κρίσις ὅτι τὸ φῶς ἐλήλυθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, καὶ ἠγάπησαν οἱ ἄνθρωποι μᾶλλον τὸ σκότος ἢ τὸ φῶς· ἦν γὰρ αὐτῶν πονηρὰ τὰ ἔργα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the condemnationὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the condemnationκρίσιςkrisis · judgmentG2920
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
- is comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- lovedἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
- darknessσκότοςskotos · darknessG4655
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- thanἤē · orG2228
- becauseγάρgar · forG1063
- theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- deedsἔργονergon · workG2041
- evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
Cross-references for John 3:19
- John 1:4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
- 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 9:39Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
- John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
- Matthew 11:20Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
- Luke 10:11‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’
- Luke 12:47“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
- Romans 1:32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
- Hebrews 3:12See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
- John 5:44How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- John 7:17Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
- John 8:44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
- John 10:26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
- John 12:43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
Commentaries on John 3:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19This is the condemnation - That is, this is the reason why any shall be found finally to perish, not that they came into the world with a perverted and corrupt nature, which is true; nor that they lived many years in the practice of sin, which is also true; but because they refused to receive the salvation which God sent to them. Light is come - That is, Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, the fountain of light and life; diffusing his benign influences every…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19This is the condemnation - This is the cause of condemnation; or this is the reason why men are punished. That light is come - Light often denotes instruction, teaching, doctrine, as that by which we see clearly the path of duty. all the instruction that God gives us by conscience, reason, or revelation may thus be called light; but this word is used especially to denote the Messiah or the Christ, who is often spoken of as “the light.” See Isaiah 60:1…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20When people live in spiritual darkness (a life separated from God), they do not want the light that Jesus brings. Jesus called himself "the light of the world" (8:12; 9:5). His light shows truth and exposes sin. Darkness does not simply ignore the light. It resists it and tries to overcome it. But the darkness cannot defeat the light (1:5). Those who refuse to believe continue to live in darkness (13:30). They stumble because they cannot see clearly…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2117-21. not to condemn, &c.--A statement of vast importance. Though "condemnation" is to many the issue of Christ's mission (Joh 3:19), it is not the object of His mission, which is purely a saving one.Read the comment
Topics related to John 3:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 3
- 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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