Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

John 1:2–9

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
¶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
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.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

8 selected · 2 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

33 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 3

  1. Colossians 1:16–17Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

    17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

  2. 1 Corinthians 8:6Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

  3. Revelation 4:11Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

  4. Psalms 33:6Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    6By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

  5. Genesis 1:26Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    26¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

From verse 4

  1. John 8:12Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    12¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

  2. John 12:46Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

  3. 1 John 1:5–7Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

    6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

    7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  4. John 5:26Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

  5. John 9:5Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

From verse 5

  1. John 3:19–20Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

    20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

  2. John 12:36–40Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    36While 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.

    37¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

    38That 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?

    39Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

    40He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

  3. 1 Corinthians 2:14Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    14But 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.

  4. Job 24:13–17Rank 4 from verse 5
    Open

    13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

    14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

    15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.

    16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

    17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

  5. John 1:10Rank 5 from verse 5
    Open

    10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

From verse 6

  1. Malachi 3:1Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    1BEHOLD, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

  2. John 3:28Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

  3. Isaiah 40:3–5Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    3¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

    4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

    5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

  4. Acts 13:24Rank 4 from verse 6
    Open

    24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

  5. John 1:33Rank 5 from verse 6
    Open

    33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

From verse 7

  1. Acts 19:4Rank 1 from verse 7
    Open

    4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

  2. John 1:12Rank 2 from verse 7
    Open

    12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

  3. John 1:32–34Rank 3 from verse 7
    Open

    32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

    33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

    34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

  4. John 1:36Rank 4 from verse 7
    Open

    36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

  5. John 5:33–35Rank 5 from verse 7
    Open

    33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

    34But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

    35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

From verse 8

  1. John 1:20Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

  2. John 3:28Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

  3. Acts 19:4Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

From verse 9

  1. John 12:46Rank 1 from verse 9
    Open

    46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

  2. John 1:4Rank 2 from verse 9
    Open

    4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

  3. 1 John 2:8Rank 3 from verse 9
    Open

    8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

  4. Isaiah 49:6Rank 4 from verse 9
    Open

    6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

  5. 1 Thessalonians 5:4–7Rank 5 from verse 9
    Open

    4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

    5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

    6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

    7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:2

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:3

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

without

↗

Outside or on the exterior; beyond a boundary; lacking, absent, free from, not accompanied by, or apart from the person, thing, condition, means, or relation named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:4

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:5

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

darkness

↗

Sense 1: Absence of light. Sense 2: Obscurity, ignorance, distress, or moral evil by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

comprehended

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of comprehend. Sense 1: To understand or grasp in the mind. Sense 2: To take within bounds or measure. Sense 3: To include or sum up.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:6

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

name

↗

Sense 1: A word, appellation, or designation by which a person or thing is called or known. Sense 2: The person or persons named or represented. Sense 3: Reputation, character, renown, or remembrance. Sense 4: The authority, behalf, or standing represented by a name. Sense 5: As a verb, to call, designate, or mention by name.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:7

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

witness

↗

Sense 1: A person or thing that attests, testifies, records, or supplies evidence; also testimony, record, or the act of bearing testimony. Sense 2: To see in person, testify, attest, or give evidence.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

might

↗

Sense 1: Power or strength. Sense 2: An auxiliary expressing possibility or permission.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

believe

↗

Sense 1: To accept as true on testimony or evidence; to be persuaded. Sense 2: To trust or place confidence in.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:8

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

witness

↗

Sense 1: A person or thing that attests, testifies, records, or supplies evidence; also testimony, record, or the act of bearing testimony. Sense 2: To see in person, testify, attest, or give evidence.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

John 1:9

COMBINED MEANING

true

↗

Conforming to fact, reality, or a right standard; faithful, genuine, correct, or dependable.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

light

↗

Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

lighteth

↗

Third-person singular present form of light. Sense 1: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 2: To alight or come upon.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · John 1:1–14

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

1:1IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1:2The same was in the beginning with God.

Selected passage

1:3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Selected passage

1:4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Selected passage

1:5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Selected passage

1:6¶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Selected passage

1:7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Selected passage

1:8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Selected passage

1:9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Selected passage

1:10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

1:11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1:13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.