1 John 2:11

1 John 2:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
• New International Version (NIV)But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

Context of 1 John 2:11

9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 12I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

1 John 2:11 word by word

ὁ δὲ μισῶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ ἐστὶν καὶ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ περιπατεῖ καὶ οὐκ οἶδεν ποῦ ὑπάγει, ὅτι ἡ σκοτία ἐτύφλωσεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• he that hatethμισέωmiseō · to hateG3404
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• brotherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• darknessσκοτίαskotia · darknessG4653
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• walkethπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• knowethεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• whitherπούpou · somewhereG4225
• he goethὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• hath blindedτυφλόωtuphloō · to blindG5186
• eyesὀφθαλμόςophthalmos · eyeG3788

Cross-references for 1 John 2:11

• 1 John 2:9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
• John 12:35Then 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.
• Proverbs 4:19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
• John 12:40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”
• 2 Corinthians 3:14But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 4:4whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
• Revelation 3:17Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Commentaries on 1 John 2:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness - He is still in his heathen or unconverted state; and walketh in darkness, his conduct being a proof of that state; and knoweth not whither he goeth - having no proper knowledge of God or eternal things; and cannot tell whether he is going to heaven or hell, because that darkness has blinded his eyes - darkened his whole soul, mind, and heart.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11But he that hateth his brother - The word here used would, in this connection, include both the mere absence of love, and positive hatred. It is designed to include the whole of that state of mind where there is not love for the brethren. Is in darkness - 1 John 2:9. And walketh in darkness - He is like one who walks in the dark, and who sees no object distinctly. See the notes at John 12:35. And knoweth not whither he goeth - Like one in the dark. He…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-11Verses 3-11 What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-11Another sign that a person truly knows Christ is how that person treats other Christians. John again speaks about people who claim to have special spiritual knowledge but separate themselves from other believers and act as if they are better than others. John says that this attitude is a form of hatred.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-119-11. There is no mean between light and darkness, love and hatred, life and death, God and the world: wherever spiritual life is, however weak, there darkness and death no longer reign, and love supplants hatred; and Lu 9:50 holds good: wherever life is not, there death, darkness, the flesh, the world, and hatred, however glossed over and hidden from man's observation, prevail; and Lu 11:23 holds good. "Where love is not, there hatred is; for the heart…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 2:11

• Blindness
• Darkness
• Fraternity
• Hatred
• Love
• Malice
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Acknowledge
• Advocate
• Lie
• Stumble
• Commandment, the New
• Dark; Darkness
• John, the Epistles of

Commentaries on 1 John 2

• 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
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings