1 John 2:11

Amplified Bible

But the one who habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in [spiritual] darkness and is walking in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

King James Version (1611)
But he that hateth his brother, is in darknesse, and walketh in darknesse, and knoweth not whither hee goeth, because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes.

King James Version
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

English Standard Version
But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

New American Standard Bible
But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

New Century Version
But whoever hates a brother or sister is in darkness, lives in darkness, and does not know where to go, because the darkness has made that person blind.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Berean Standard Bible
But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Contemporary English Version
If we hate others, we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going, because we can't see in the dark.

Complete Jewish Bible
But the person who hates his brother is in the dark — yes, he is walking in the dark, and he doesn't know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Darby Translation
But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Easy-to-Read Version
But whoever hates their brother or sister is in darkness. They live in darkness. They don't know where they are going, because the darkness has made them blind.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But he that hateth his brother, is in darkenesse, and walketh in darkenesse, and knoweth not whither hee goeth, because that darkenesse hath blinded his eyes.

George Lamsa Translation
But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.

Good News Translation
But if we hate others, we are in the darkness; we walk in it and do not know where we are going, because the darkness has made us blind.

Lexham English Bible
But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Literal Translation
But the one hating his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness blinded his eyes.

American Standard Version
But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Bible in Basic English
But he who has hate for his brother is in the dark, walking in the dark with no knowledge of where he is going, unable to see because of the dark.

Hebrew Names Version
But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

International Standard Version
But the person who hates his brother is in the darkness and lives in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.John 12:35;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
He who hateth his brother is in darkness, and in the darkness walketh, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness itself hath blinded his eyes.

Murdock Translation
But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness; and he knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that hateth his brother, is in darknesse, and walketh in darkenesse, & can not tell whyther he goeth, because that darkenesse hath blynded his eyes.

English Revised Version
But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

World English Bible
But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Weymouth's New Testament
But he who hates his brother man is in darkness and is walking in darkness; and he does not know where he is going--because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But he that hatith his brother, is in derknessis, and wandrith in derknessis, and woot not whidir he goith; for derknessis han blindid hise iyen.

Update Bible Version
But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn't know where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because darkness hath blinded his eyes.

New English Translation
But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

New King James Version
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

New Living Translation
But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

New Life Bible
Whoever hates his brother is not in the light but lives in darkness. He does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

New Revised Standard
But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Whereas, he that hateth his brother, in the darkness, dwelleth, and in the darkness, walketh; and knoweth not whither he is drifting, because the, darkness, hath blinded his eyes.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth: because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Revised Standard Version
But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He that hateth his brother is in darknes and walketh in darknes: and cannot tell whither he goeth because that darknes hath blynded his eyes.

Young's Literal Translation
and he who is hating his brother, in the darkness he is, and in the darkness he doth walk, and he hath not known whither he doth go, because the darkness did blind his eyes.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But he yt hateth his brother, is in darknes, and walketh in darknes, and can not tell whither he goeth, for ye darknes hath blynded his eyes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but he that hates his brother, is in darkness, he walks in darkness, and knows not whither he is going, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Hate lives in the darkness and so do we if it has a place in our hearts. Hate blinds us and we know not which way to turn or what to do. It blinds us to the light.

Contextual Overview

⁷Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message which you have heard [before from us]. ⁸On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true and realized in Christ and in you, because the darkness [of moral blindness] is clearing away and the true Light [the revelation of God in Christ] is already shining. ⁹The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in the darkness until now. ¹⁰The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin]. ¹¹But the one who habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in [spiritual] darkness and is walking in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he that: 1 John 2:9, John 12:35, Titus 3:3

and walketh: Proverbs 4:19, John 12:35

because: John 12:40, 2 Corinthians 3:14, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 3:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:4 - hated him Leviticus 19:17 - hate Job 12:25 - grope Psalms 82:5 - walk Proverbs 4:12 - thou shalt Ecclesiastes 2:14 - wise Isaiah 59:10 - grope Jeremiah 13:16 - your Jeremiah 23:12 - in the Zephaniah 1:17 - they shall Matthew 6:23 - thine John 9:39 - might be John 11:10 - General Ephesians 4:18 - because 1 John 3:14 - that loveth

Cross-References

Genesis 10:7
the sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah; Sheba and Dedan.

Genesis 10:29
and Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.

Genesis 25:18
Ishmael's sons (descendants) settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled opposite (east) of all his relatives.

1 Samuel 15:7
Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness,.... As is before expressed in 1 John 2:9, to which is added,

and walketh in darkness; he goes on in it, and takes delight in it, as dangerous and uncomfortable as it is:

and knoweth not whither he goeth; he cannot discern between good and evil; he puts darkness for light, and light for darkness; he sees not what is before him, nor what stumblingblocks lie in the way; he is not aware of the snares, pits, and traps he is in danger of falling into; nor does he know and consider what these paths of darkness, of sin, and ignorance, and infidelity, lead unto, even unto utter darkness, where is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth: and the reason is,

because that darkness hath blinded his eyes; either Satan, the god of this world, who blinds the minds of them that believe not, and who is darkness itself, and the cause of darkness in himself and in others, and one of whose names this was with the Jews e;

1 John 2:9- :; or that natural darkness which sin has brought upon the understanding, and has blinded the eyes of it, called the blindness of the heart, Ephesians 4:18, so that a man under the power of it is ignorant of himself, and knows not that he is blind and miserable; is a stranger to the way of peace, and life by Christ, and knows not what he is about, and where he is, or whither he is going, and what his end will be.

e Yalkut Simconi, par. 2. fol. 44. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But he that hateth his brother - The word here used would, in this connection, include both the mere absence of love, and positive hatred. It is designed to include the whole of that state of mind where there is not love for the brethren.

Is in darkness - 1 John 2:9.

And walketh in darkness - He is like one who walks in the dark, and who sees no object distinctly. See the notes at John 12:35.

And knoweth not whither he goeth - Like one in the dark. He wanders about not knowing what direction he shall take, or where the course which he is on will lead. The general meaning is, that he is ignorant of the whole nature of religion; or, in other words, love to the brethren is a central virtue in religion, and when a man has not that, his mind is entirely clouded on the whole subject, and he shows that he knows nothing of its nature. There is no virtue that is designed to be made more prominent in Christianity; and there is none that will throw its influence farther over a man’s life.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness — He is still in his heathen or unconverted state; and walketh in darkness, his conduct being a proof of that state; and knoweth not whither he goeth - having no proper knowledge of God or eternal things; and cannot tell whether he is going to heaven or hell, because that darkness has blinded his eyes - darkened his whole soul, mind, and heart.