John 3:20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:20 in other translations
| BSB | Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. |
|---|---|
| WEB | For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. |
| ASV | For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. |
| YLT | for every one who is doing wicked things hateth the light, and doth not come unto the light, that his works may not be detected; |
| DARBY | For every one that does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light that his works may not be shewn as they are; |
| BBE | The light is hated by everyone whose acts are evil and he does not come to the light for fear that his acts will be seen. |
| Webster | For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. |
What does John 3:20 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 3:17-21
17-21. not to condemn, &c.--A statement of vast importance. Though "condemnation" is to many the issue of Christ's mission (Joh 3:19), it is not the object of His mission, which is purely a saving one.
Barnes' Notes
Hateth the light. This is true of all wicked men. They choose to practise their deeds of wickedness in darkness. They are afraid of the light, because they could be easily detected. Hence most crimes are committed in the night. So with the sinner against God. He hates the gospel, for it condemns his conduct, and his conscience would trouble him if it were enlightened.
His deeds should be reproved. To reprove here means not only to detect or make manifest, but also includes the idea of condemnation when his deeds are detected. The gospel would make his wickedness manifest, and his conscience would condemn him. We learn from this verse,
1st. That one design of the gospel is to reprove men. It convicts them of sin in order that it may afford consolation.
2nd. That men by nature hate the gospel. No man who is a sinner loves it; and no man by nature is disposed to come to it, any more than an adulterer or thief is disposed to come to the daylight, and do his deeds of wickedness there.
3rd. The reason why the gospel is hated is that men are sinners. "Christ is hated because sin is loved."
4th. The sinner must be convicted or convinced of sin. If it be not in this world, it will be in the next. There is no escape for him; and the only way to avoid condemnation in the world to come is to come humbly and acknowledge sin here, and seek for pardon.
(r) "neither cometh to the light" Job 24:23,17, Prov 4:18,19 (3) "reproved" or, "discovered"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
John 3:20 in the original Greek
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Cross references for John 3:20
- Ephesians 5:11-13
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
- John 7:7
The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
- 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. …
- Proverbs 1:29
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
- Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
- James 1:23-25
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- Psalms 50:17
Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
- 1 Kings 22:8
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
- Proverbs 15:12
A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
- Amos 5:10-11
They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
- Proverbs 5:12
And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
- Luke 11:45
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
- John 3:20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
- John 3:21
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 3:20 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Porque todo aquel que hace lo malo, aborrece la luz y no viene á la luz, porque sus obras no sean redargüidas. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | car quiconque fait des choses mauvaises hait la lumière, et ne vient pas à la lumière, de peur que ses œuvres ne soient reprises; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Denn jeder, der Arges tut, haßt das Licht und kommt nicht zu dem Lichte, auf daß seine Werke nicht bloßgestellt werden; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Omnis enim qui male agit, odit lucem, et non venit ad lucem, ut non arguantur opera ejus: |