John 1:9

John 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
• New International Version (NIV)The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Context of John 1:9

7This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

John 1:9 word by word

ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the trueἀληθινόςalēthinos · trueG228
• Lightὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• lightethφωτίζωphōtizō · to illuminateG5461
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• that comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for John 1:9

• John 1:4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
• John 6:32Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
• John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
• John 15:1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
• Isaiah 49:6Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
• Matthew 6:23But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
• 1 John 1:8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• 1 John 2:8Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
• 1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
• John 1:7This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
• John 7:12And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”
• John 12:46I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
• Isaiah 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:4But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

Commentaries on John 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Which lighteth every man - As Christ is the Spring and Fountain of all wisdom, so all the wisdom that is in man comes from him; the human intellect is a ray from his brightness; and reason itself springs from this Logos, the eternal reason. Some of the most eminent rabbins understand Isaiah 60:1, Rise and shine, for thy Light is come, of the Messiah who was to illuminate Israel, and who, they believe, was referred to in that word, Genesis 1:3, And God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9That was the true Light - Not John, but the Messiah. He was not a false, uncertain, dangerous guide, but was one that was true, real, steady, and worthy of confidence. A false light is one that leads to danger or error, as a false beacon on the shores of the ocean may lead ships to quicksands or rocks; or an “ignis fatuus” to fens, and precipices, and death. A true light is one that does not deceive us, as the true beacon may guide us into port or warn us…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-9God sent a man named John the Baptist to announce the arrival of Jesus. He prepared people to accept Jesus as God's Son and Messiah (see 1:19–37; Luke 1:5–25, 57–80; 3:1–22). His work fulfilled what God had promised through the prophets (see Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5–6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-96-9. The Evangelist here approaches his grand thesis, so paving his way for the full statement of it in Joh 1:14, that we may be able to bear the bright light of it, and take in its length and breadth and depth and height.Read the comment

Topics related to John 1:9

• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Light
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Behold
• Believe
• Blood
• Dwell
• Flesh
• Guile
• Light
• Prefer
• Receive
• Son of God

Commentaries on John 1

• 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