John 1:7

John 1:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
• New International Version (NIV)He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

Context of John 1:7

5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:7 word by word

οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι᾽ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• a witnessμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• bear witnessμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
• the Lightὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• might believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100

Cross-references for John 1:7

• John 1:19This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?”
• John 3:26So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.”
• John 5:33In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true.
• Acts 19:4Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
• John 1:9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
• Ephesians 3:9I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
• 1 Timothy 2:4who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
• 2 Peter 3:9The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Commentaries on John 1:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7That all men through him might believe - He testified that Jesus was the true light - the true teacher of the way to the kingdom of glory, and the lamb or sacrifice of God, which was to bear away the sin of the world, John 1:29, and invited men to believe in him for the remission of their sins, that they might receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, John 1:32-34. This was bearing the most direct witness to the light which was now shining in the dark…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7For a witness - To give testimony. He came to prepare the minds of the people to receive him John 1:31. Of the Light - That is, of the Messiah. Compare Isaiah 60:1. That all men … - It was the object of John‘s testimony that all people might believe. He designed to prepare them for it; to announce that the Messiah was about to come, to direct the minds of men to him, and thus to prepare them to believe on him when he came. Thus, he baptized them, saying…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 1:7

• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Light
• Salvation
• 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