John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:12 in other translations
| BSB | But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— |
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| WEB | But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: |
| ASV | But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: |
| YLT | but as many as did receive him to them he gave authority to become sons of God--to those believing in his name, |
| DARBY | but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to be children of God, to those that believe on his name; |
| BBE | To all those who did so take him, however, he gave the right of becoming children of God--that is, to those who had faith in his name: |
| Webster | But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: |
What does John 1:12 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 1:10-13
10-13. He was in the world, &c.--The language here is nearly as wonderful as the thought. Observe its compact simplicity, its sonorousness--"the world" resounding in each of its three members--and the enigmatic form in which it is couched, startling the reader and setting his ingenuity a-working to solve the stupendous enigma of Christ ignored in His own world. "The world," in the first two clauses, plainly means…
Barnes' Notes
Gave he power. This is more appropriately rendered in the margin by the word right or privilege. Comp. Acts 1:7, 5:4, Rom 9:21; 1Cor 7:37, 8:9, 9:4,5.
Sons of God. Children of God by adoption. Mt 1:1. Christians are called sons of God--
1st. Because they are adopted by him, 1Jn 3:1.
2nd. Because they are like him; they resemble him and have his spirit.
3rd. They are united to the Lord Jesus, the Son of God--are regarded by him as his brethren (Mt 25:40), and are therefore regarded as the children of the Most High.
On his name. This is another way of saying believeth in him. The name of a person is often put for the person himself, Jn 2:23 Jn 2:18, 1Jn 5:13. From this verse we learn,
1st. That to be a child of God is a privilege-far more so than to be the child of any man, though in the highest degree rich, or learned, or honoured. Christians are therefore more honoured than any other men.
2nd. God gave them this privilege. It is not by their own works or deserts; it is because God chose to impart this blessing to them, Eph 2:8, Jn 15:16.
3rd. This favour is given only to those who believe on him. All others are the children of the wicked one, and no one who has not confidence in God can be regarded as his child. No parent would acknowledge one for his child, or approve of him, who had no confidence in him, who doubted or denied all he said, and who despised his character. Yet this the sinner constantly does toward God, and he cannot, therefore, be called his son.
(p) "as many as received him" Isa 56:4,5, Rom 8:15, 1Jn 3:1 (1) "power to become" or, "the right or privilege"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 1:6-14
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…
John 1:12 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 1:12
- Galatians 3:26
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
- 1 John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
- Galatians 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
- John 3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
- Matthew 10:40
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
- 1 John 5:12-13
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
- Colossians 2:6
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
- Isaiah 56:5
Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
- John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
- 2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 1:11
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
- John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- John 1:13
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas á todos los que le recibieron, dióles potestad de ser hechos hijos de Dios, á los que creen en su nombre: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais à tous ceux qui l’ont reçu, il leur a donné le droit d’être enfants de Dieu, savoir à ceux qui croient en son nom; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | so viele ihn aber aufnahmen, denen gab er das Recht, Kinder Gottes zu werden, denen, die an seinen Namen glauben, |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Quotquot autem receperunt eum, dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri, his qui credunt in nomine ejus: |