New King James Version
John 3:19
19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than 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.
- New International Version (NIV)This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of 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 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 that the world through Him might be saved. 18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 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. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in 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 the life was the light of men.
- John 8:12Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
- John 9:39And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
- John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
- Matthew 11:20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:
- Luke 10:11‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’
- Luke 12:47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
- Romans 1:32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
- Hebrews 3:12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
- John 5:44How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
- John 7:17If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
- John 8:44You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
- John 10:26But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
- John 12:43for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries