John 1 · Verse 5

John 1:5

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:5, King James Version

John 1:5 in other translations

BSBThe Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
WEBThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
ASVAnd the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
YLTand the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it.
DARBYAnd the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
BBEAnd the light goes on shining in the dark; it is not overcome by the dark.
WebsterAnd the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

What does John 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. shineth in darkness, &c.--in this dark, fallen world, or in mankind "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death," with no ability to find the way either of truth or of holiness. In this thick darkness, and consequent intellectual and moral obliquity, "the light of the Word" shineth--by all the rays whether of natural or revealed teaching which men (apart from the Incarnation of the Word) are favored with. the darkness comprehended it not--did not take it in, a brief summary of the effect of all the strivings of this unincarnate Word throughout this wide world from the beginning, and a hint of the necessity of His putting on flesh, if any recovery of men was to be effected (1Co 1:21).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. The light shineth in darkness. Darkness, in the Bible, commonly denotes ignorance, guilt, or misery. See Is 9:1, 2, Mt 4:16, Acts 26:18, Eph 5:8, 11, Rev 13:12. It refers here to a wicked and ignorant people. When it is said that "the light shineth in darkness," it is meant that the Lord Jesus came to teach an ignorant, benighted, and wicked world: This has always been the case. It was so when he sent his prophets; so during his own ministry; and so in every age since. His efforts to enlighten and save men have been like light struggling to penetrate a thick, dense cloud; and though a few rays may pierce the gloom, yet the great mass is still an impenetrable shade.

Comprehended it not. This word means admitted it not, or received it not. The word comprehend, with us, means to understand. This is not the meaning of the original. The darkness did not receive or admit the rays of light; the shades were so thick that the light could not penetrate them; or, to drop the figure, men were so ignorant, so guilty, so debased, that they did not appreciate the value of his instructions; they despised and rejected him. And so it is still. The great mass of men, sunk in sin, will not receive his teachings, and be enlightened and saved by him. Sin always blinds the mind to the beauty and excellency of the character of the Lord Jesus. It indisposes the mind to receive his instructions, just as darkness has no affinity for light; and if the one exists, the other must be displaced.

(light shineth in darkness) Jn 3:19 (comprehendeth it not) 1Cor 2:14

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 And the light shineth in darkness - By darkness here may be understood: 1. The heathen world, Eph 5:8. 2. The Jewish people. 3. The fallen spirit of man. Comprehended it not - Αυτο ου κατελαβεν, Prevented it not - hindered it not, says Mr. Wakefield, who adds the following judicious note: - "Even in the midst of that darkness of ignorance and idolatry which overspread the world, this light of Divine wisdom was not totally eclipsed: the Jewish nation was a lamp perpetually shining to the surrounding nations; and many bright luminaries, among the heathen, were never wanting in just and worthy notions of the attributes and providence of God's wisdom; which enabled them to shine in some degree, though but as lights in a dark place, 2Pet 1:19. Compare Act 14:17; Act 17:28, Act 17:29."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 1:1-5

The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without…

Read the full comment on John 1:1-5 →

John 1:5 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
τὸtotheG3588
φῶςphōsLightG5457
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
σκοτίᾳskotiadarknessG4653
φαίνει,phaineishines,G5316
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡhētheG3588
σκοτίαskotiadarknessG4653
αὐτὸautoitG846
οὐounotG3756
κατέλαβεν.¶katelabengrasped [it].G2638

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 1:5

  • John 3:19-20

    And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

  • John 12:36-40

    While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, …

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • Job 24:13-17

    They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. …

  • John 1:10

    He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

  • Romans 1:28

    And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

  • Proverbs 1:22

    How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

  • Proverbs 1:29-30

    For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
10; 3:19,20; 12:36-40; Job 24:13-17; Pr 1:22,29,30; Ro 1:28
1Co 2:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 1:4

    In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

  • John 1:5

    And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

  • John 1:6

    There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Read all of John 1

John 1:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y la luz en las tinieblas resplandece; mas las tinieblas no la comprendieron.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et la lumière luit dans les ténèbres; et les ténèbres ne l’ont pas comprise.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und das Licht scheint in der Finsternis, und die Finsternis hat es nicht erfaßt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et lux in tenebris lucet, et tenebræ eam non comprehenderunt.