John 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
John 5:35 in other translations
| BSB | John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light. |
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| WEB | He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. |
| ASV | He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light. |
| YLT | he was the burning and shining lamp, and ye did will to be glad, for an hour, in his light. |
| DARBY | He was the burning and shining lamp, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. |
| BBE | He was a burning and shining light, and for a time you were ready to be happy in his light. |
| Webster | He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. |
What does John 5:35 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 5:33-35
33-35. 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."
Barnes' Notes
Light. The word in the original properly means a lamp, and is not the same which in Jn 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 light, because he guides or illuminates the minds of others. Rom 2:19. "Thou art confident that thou art a guide of the blind, a light of them that sit in darkness;" Jn 8:12, 12:46, Mt 5:14.
A burning. A lamp lit up that burns with a steady lustre.
Shining. Not dim, not indistinct. The expression means that he was an eminent teacher; that his doctrines were clear, distinct, consistent.
Ye were willing. You willed, or you chose; you went out voluntarily. This shows that some of those whom Jesus was now addressing were among the great multitudes of Pharisees that came unto John in the wilderness, Mt 3:7. As they had at one time admitted John to be a prophet, so Jesus might with great propriety adduce his testimony in his favour.
For a season. In the original, for an hour--denoting only a short time. They did it, as many others do, while he was popular, and it was the fashion to follow him.
To rejoice in his light. To rejoice in his doctrines, and in admitting that he was a distinguished prophet; perhaps, also, to rejoice that he professed to be sent to introduce the Messiah, until they found that he bore testimony to Jesus of Nazareth.
(h) "ye were willing" Mt 21:26, Mk 6:20
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 5:30-38
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…
John 5:35 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 5:35
- 2 Peter 1:19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
- John 1:7-8
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
- Matthew 11:11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- Matthew 3:5-7
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
- Luke 1:76-77
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
- Mark 6:20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
- Luke 1:15-17
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
- Luke 7:28
For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
- Matthew 21:26
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
- John 6:66
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- Matthew 13:20-21
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
- Matthew 11:7-9
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 5:34
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
- John 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
- John 5:36
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 5:35 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | El era antorcha que ardía y alumbraba: y vosotros quisisteis recrearos por un poco á su luz. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Celui-là était la lampe ardente et brillante; et vous, vous avez voulu vous réjouir pour un temps à sa lumière; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Jener war die brennende und scheinende Lampe; ihr aber wolltet für eine Zeit in seinem Lichte fröhlich sein. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Ille erat lucerna ardens et lucens: vos autem voluistis ad horam exsultare in luce ejus. |