John 5:35

John 5:35 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
• New International Version (NIV)John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

Context of John 5:35

33In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. 34Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 36But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face,

John 5:35 word by word

ἐκεῖνος ἦν ὁ λύχνος ὁ καιόμενος καὶ φαίνων, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἠθελήσατε ἀγαλλιαθῆναι πρὸς ὥραν ἐν τῷ φωτὶ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Heἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• aλύχνοςluchnos · lampG3088
• burningκαίωkaiō · to kindle/burnG2545
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• a shiningφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
• andδέde · thenG1161
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• were willingθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• forπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• a seasonὥραhōra · hourG5610
• to rejoiceἀγαλλιάωagalliaō · to rejoiceG21
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457

Cross-references for John 5:35

• John 1:7to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
• Matthew 11:11“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!
• Luke 1:15for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
• Luke 7:28I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”
• 2 Peter 1:19Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
• John 6:66At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
• Ezekiel 33:31So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
• Matthew 3:5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.
• Matthew 11:7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?
• Matthew 13:20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
• Matthew 21:26But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”
• Mark 6:20for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
• Galatians 4:15Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.

Commentaries on John 5:35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35He was a burning and a shining light - ̔ ̔ , should be translated, He was a burning and a shining Lamp. He was not , the light of the world, i.e. the sun; but he was ̔ , a lamp, to give a clear and steady light till the sun should arise. It is supposed that John had been cast into prison about four months before this time. See the note on John 4:35. As his light continued no longer to shine, our Lord says he Was. The expression of lamp our Lord took from…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35He was - It is probable that John had been cast into prison before this. Hence, his public ministry had ceased, and our Saviour says he was such a light. Light - The word in the original properly means a “lamp,” and is not the same which in John 1:4-5 is translated “light.” That is a word commonly applied to the sun, the fountain of light; this means a lamp, or a light that is lit up or kindled artificially from oil or tallow. A teacher is often called a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-38Verses 30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33-35The second witness of Jesus was John the Baptist. John pointed to Jesus and said that he is the Messiah (1:29–34).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33-3533-35. Ye sent unto John--(See Joh 1:19, &c.). receive not testimony ... from man--that is, depend not on human testimony. but ... that ye might be saved--"I refer to him merely to aid your salvation."Read the comment

Topics related to John 5:35

• Instability
• John
• Light
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Folk
• John the Baptist
• Judgment
• Lest
• Light
• Step
• Trouble
• Troubling
• Witness
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 5

• 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