John 1:9

Green's Literal Translation

He was the true Light; He enlightens every man coming into the world.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
At this time, the real light was riding down from heaven to join us here on earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

Bible in Basic English
The true light, which gives light to every man, was then coming into the world.

Darby Translation
The true light was that which, coming into the world, lightens every man.

New King James Version
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. [fn]

Christian Standard Bible®
The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

World English Bible
The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
This was the true light, who lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Weymouth's New Testament
The true Light was that which illumines every man by its coming into the world.

King James Version (1611)
That was the true light, which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
That was the true light, which lighteth all men, that come in to this worlde.

Mace New Testament (1729)
HE was the true Light who came into the world, to enlighten every man.

THE MESSAGE
The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.

Amplified Bible
There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.

American Standard Version
There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world.

Revised Standard Version
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
That was a true lyght which lyghteth all men that come into the worlde.

Update Bible Version
There was the true light, [even the light] which lights every man, coming into the world.

Webster's Bible Translation
[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

New Century Version
The true Light that gives light to all was coming into the world!

New English Translation
The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Contemporary English Version
The true light that shines on everyone was coming into the world.

Complete Jewish Bible
This was the true light, which gives light to everyone entering the world.

Geneva Bible (1587)
This was that true light, which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world.

George Lamsa Translation
He was the true light, which lighteth every man who came into the world.

Hebrew Names Version
The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

International Standard Version
ThisHe">[fn] was the true light that enlightens every person by his coming into the world.every person who is coming into the world">[fn]Isaiah 49:6; John 1:4; 1 John 2:8;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For that was the true Light that enlighteneth every man who cometh into the world.

Murdock Translation
The true light was that, which enlighteneth every man who cometh into the world.

New Living Translation
The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

New Life Bible
This true Light, coming into the world, gives light to every man.

English Revised Version
There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world.

Berean Standard Bible
The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.

New Revised Standard
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
It, was - The real light that enlighteneth every man - Coming into the world.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.

King James Version
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Lexham English Bible
The true light, who gives light to every person, was coming into the world.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That [lyght] was the true lyght, which lyghteth euery man that commeth into the worlde.

Easy-to-Read Version
The true light was coming into the world. This is the true light that gives light to all people.

English Standard Version
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

New American Standard Bible
This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person.

Good News Translation
This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
There was a very liyt, which liytneth ech man that cometh in to this world.

Young's Literal Translation
He was the true Light, which doth enlighten every man, coming to the world;

Contextual Overview

⁵ and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. ⁶ There was a man sent from God; his name was John. ⁷ He came for a witness, that he might witness concerning the Light, that all might believe through Him. ⁸ He was not that Light, but that he might witness concerning the Light. ⁹ He was the true Light; He enlightens every man coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, yet the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to the ones believing into His name, ¹³ who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and of truth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the true: John 1:4, John 6:32, John 14:6, John 15:1, Isaiah 49:6, Matthew 6:23, 1 John 1:8, 1 John 2:8, 1 John 5:20

every: John 1:7, John 7:12, John 12:46, Isaiah 8:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:3 - Let Exodus 25:37 - give Exodus 40:24 - General Leviticus 24:2 - the lamps Numbers 8:2 - General 2 Samuel 21:17 - quench Job 25:3 - upon whom Job 38:19 - the way Psalms 27:1 - light Psalms 36:9 - in thy Psalms 84:11 - a sun Proverbs 8:14 - Counsel Isaiah 60:1 - General Ezekiel 21:27 - until Daniel 2:22 - and the Luke 1:79 - give John 3:19 - this John 3:26 - and all John 6:55 - meat Acts 3:2 - lame Romans 1:19 - for God Ephesians 5:8 - but 2 Timothy 1:10 - and hath Titus 2:11 - hath appeared James 1:17 - from the 1 John 1:5 - that God Revelation 21:23 - the Lamb

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;

Genesis 1:2
and the earth being without form and empty, and darkness on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moving gently on the face of the waters,

Genesis 1:5
And God called the light, Day. And He called the darkness, Night. And there was evening, and there was morning the first day.

Genesis 1:6
And God said, Let an expanse be in the midst of the waters, and let it be dividing between the waters and the waters.

Genesis 1:8
And God called the expanse, Heavens. And there was evening, and there was morning the second day.

Genesis 1:9
And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be collected to one place, and let the dry land appear. And it was so.

Genesis 1:11
And God said, Let the earth sprout tender sprouts, the plant seeding seed, the fruit tree producing fruit according to its kind, whichever seed is in it on the earth. And it was so.

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the seas, and over birds of the heavens, and over all beasts creeping on the earth.

Genesis 1:29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every plant seeding seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree seeding seed; it shall be food for you.

Job 26:7
He stretched out the north over the empty place; and He hung the earth on nothing.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That was the true light,.... Christ is that light, that famous and excellent light, the fountain of all light to all creatures; that gave light to the dark earth at first, and spoke light out of darkness; that light of all men in the earth, and of all the angels in heaven, and of all the saints below, and of all the glorified ones above: he is the true light, in distinction from typical lights; the "Urim" of the former dispensation; the candlestick, with the lamps of it; the pillar of fire which directed the Israelites by night in the wilderness; and from all the typical light there was in the institutions and sacrifices of the law; and in opposition to the law itself, which the Jews z magnify, and cry up as the light, saying, there is no light but the law; and in opposition to all false lights, as priests, diviners, and soothsayers among the Gentiles, Scribes, and Pharisees, and the learned Rabbins among the Jews, so much boasted of as the lights of the world; and to all false Christs and prophets that have risen, or shall rise, in the world.

Which lighteth every man that cometh into the world: the sense is, either that every man that is enlightened in a spiritual manner, is enlightened by him, which is true of Christ, as the Son of God, existing from the beginning; but not in the Socinian sense, as if they were enlightened by his human ministry and example; for the Old Testament saints were not enlightened by his preaching; and many were enlightened by the ministry of John the Baptist; and multitudes afterwards, through the ministry of the apostles; and very few, comparatively, were enlightened under the ministry of Christ; and none we read of, in this sense, enlightened by him, when, and as soon as they came into, the world: or, the meaning is, that he is that light which lighteth all sorts of men; which is true in, a spiritual sense: some connect the phrase, "that cometh into the world", not with "every man", but with the "true light"; and the Arabic version so reads, and joins it to the following verse; but this reading is not so natural and the order of the words requires the common reading; nor is the difficulty removed hereby; for still it is every man that is enlightened: it is best therefore to understand these words of the light of nature, and reason, which Christ, as the word, and Creator and light of men, gives to every man that is born into the world; and which serves to detect the Quakers' notion of the light within, which every man has, and is no other than the light of a natural conscience; and shows how much men, even natural men, are obliged to Christ, and how great a person he is, and how deserving of praise, honour, and glory. The phrase, "every man that cometh into the world", is Jewish, and often to be met with in Rabbinical writings, and signifies all men that are born into the world; the instances are almost innumerable; take one or two: on those words in Job 25:3 on whom doth not his light arise? it is asked a, who is he that cometh,

"Mlwe yab lkm, "of all that come into the world"; and says, the sun hath not lightened me by day, nor hath the moon lightened me by night! thou enlightenest those above, and those below, and "all that come into the world".''

Again, God is introduced thus speaking b:

"I am the God, לכל באי עולם, "of all that come into the world"; and I have not united my name, but to the people of Israel.''

Once more c,

"Moses, our master, from the mouth of power, (i.e. God; see Matthew 26:64.) commanded to oblige, את כל באי העולם, "all that come into the world", to receive the commandments which were commanded the sons of Noah.''

z T. Bava Bathra, fol. 4. 1. a Vajikra Rabba, sect. 31. fol. 171. 4. b Midrash Ruth, c. l. v. 1. fol. 27. 3. c Maimon. Hilch. Melakim. c. 8. sect. 10. Vid. Misn. Roshhashana, c. l. sect. 2. T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol. 25. 4. & 26. 3. Sepher Bahir apud Zohar in Gen. fol. 30. 3. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 21. 2. & 22. 3. & 24. 3. & 27. 2. Caphter, fol. 56. 1. Jarchi in Exod. 15. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That was the true Light - Not John, but the Messiah. He was not a false, uncertain, dangerous guide, but was one that was true, real, steady, and worthy of confidence. A false light is one that leads to danger or error, as a false beacon on the shores of the ocean may lead ships to quicksands or rocks; or an “ignis fatuus” to fens, and precipices, and death. A true light is one that does not deceive us, as the true beacon may guide us into port or warn us of danger. Christ does not lead astray. All false teachers do.

That lighteth - That enlightens. He removes darkness, error, ignorance, from the mind.

Every man - This is an expression denoting, in general, the whole human race - Jews and Gentiles. John preached to the Jews. Jesus came “to be a light to lighten the Gentiles,” as well as to be the “glory of the people of Israel,” Luke 2:32.

That cometh into the world - The phrase in the original is ambiguous. The word translated “that cometh” may either refer to the “light,” or to the word “man;” so that it may mean either “this ‘true light that cometh’ into the world enlightens all,” or “it enlightens every ‘man that cometh’ into the world.” Many critics, and, among the fathers, Cyril and Augustine, have preferred the former, and translated it, “The true light was he who, coming into the world, enlightened every man.” The principal reasons for this are:

1. That the Messiah is often spoken of as he that cometh into the world. See John 6:14; John 18:37.
2. He is often distinguished as “the light that cometh into the world.” John 3:19; “this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world.” John 12:46; “I am come a light into the world.”

Christ may be said to do what is accomplished by his command or appointment. This passage means, therefore, that by his own personal ministry, and by his Spirit and apostles, light or teaching is afforded to all. It does not mean that every individual of the human family is enlightened with the knowledge “of the gospel,” for this never yet has been; but it means:

1. That this light is not confined to the “Jews,” but is extended to all - Jews and Gentiles.
2. That it is provided for all and offered to all.
3. It is not affirmed that at the time that John wrote all “were actually enlightened,” but the word “lighteth” has the form of the “future.” “This is that light so long expected and predicted, which as the result of its coming into the world, will ultimately enlighten all nations.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 1:9. Which lighteth every man — As Christ is the Spring and Fountain of all wisdom, so all the wisdom that is in man comes from him; the human intellect is a ray from his brightness; and reason itself springs from this Logos, the eternal reason. Some of the most eminent rabbins understand Isaiah 60:1, Rise and shine, for thy LIGHT is come, of the Messiah who was to illuminate Israel, and who, they believe, was referred to in that word, Genesis 1:3, And God said, Let there be LIGHT; and there was light. Let a Messiah be provided; and a Messiah was accordingly provided. See Schoettgen.

That cometh into the world. — Or, coming into the world - ερχομενον εις τον κοσμον: a common phrase among the rabbins, to express every human being. As the human creature sees the light of the world as soon as it is born, from which it had been excluded while in the womb of its parent; in like manner, this heavenly light shines into the soul of every man, to convince of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and it is through this light, which no man brings into the world with him, but which Christ mercifully gives to him on his coming into it, that what is termed conscience among men is produced. No man could discern good from evil, were it not for this light thus supernaturally and graciously restored. There was much light in the law, but this shone only upon the Jews; but the superior light of the Gospel is to be diffused over the face of the whole earth.

The following not only proves what is asserted in this verse, but is also an excellent illustration of it.

The GAYATRI, or holiest verse of the VEDAS, i.e. the ancient Hindoo Scriptures.

"Let us adore the supremacy of that divine Sun, the Godhead who illuminates all, who re-creates all; from whom all proceed; to whom all must return; whom we invoke to direct our understandings aright, in our progress towards his holy seat."

The ancient comment.

"What the sun and light are to this visible world, that are the supreme good and truth to the intellectual and invisible universe; and, as our corporeal eyes have a distinct perception of objects enlightened by the sun, thus our souls acquire certain knowledge by meditating on the light of truth, which emanates from the Being of beings; that is the light by which alone our minds can be directed in the path to blessedness." Sir Wm. Jones's works, vol. vi. p. 417.

Sir William observes that the original word Bhargas, which he translates Godhead, consists of three consonants, and is derived from bha, to shine; ram, to delight; and gam, to move:- the Being who is the light, the source of happiness, and the all-pervading energy.