Meaning, commentary and cross references
John 1:5
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
NIV · New International Version
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
WEB · World English Bible
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
What does John 1:5 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on John 1:5
And the light shineth in darkness,.... Which, through sin, came upon the minds of men; who are naturally in the dark about the nature and perfections of God; about sin, and the consequences of it; about Christ, and salvation by him; about the Spirit of God, and his work upon the soul; and about the Scriptures of truth, and the doctrines of the Gospel. Man was created a knowing creature, but, not content with his knowledge, sins, and is banished from the presence of God, the fountain of light; which brought a darkness on him, and his posterity, and which is increased in them by personal iniquity, and in which Satan, the god of this world, has an hand; and sometimes they are left to judicial…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on John 1:1–5
[1.] The eternal Word, as God, shines in the darkness of natural conscience. Though men by the fall are become darkness, yet that which may be known of God is manifested in them; see Rom 1:19, Rom 1:20. The light of nature is this light shining in darkness.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on John 1:1–5
5. And the light shineth in darkness. It might be objected, that the passages of Scripture in which men are called blind are so numerous and that the blindness for which they are condemned is but too well known. For in all their reasoning faculties they miserably fail.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: John 1:2–8 (WEB)
2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
Cross references
- John 3:19–20
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.
- John 12:36–40
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14
Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Job 24:13–17
“These are of those who rebel against the light. They don’t know its ways, nor stay in its paths.
- John 1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
- Romans 1:28
Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
- Proverbs 1:22
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 1:29–30
because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD.