1 John 2:11
What does 1 John 2:11 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 2:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 2:11 means
Hatred locks a person in darkness. It does not merely reflect ignorance; it deepens it. One who hates a brother “walketh in the darkness” and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. Moral and spiritual perception wanes under the power of hostility. The heart grows hard, the path confused, and fellowship with God is contradicted. John wants his readers to feel the danger: hatred is incompatible with the light now shining in Christ. Where it rules, blindness follows, and genuine knowledge of God is absent despite any claims otherwise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But 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.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and 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.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But 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.
Context
This verse completes the love/darkness contrast of verses 9–11 by showing hatred’s blinding effect. With the relational test laid out, John will pause to encourage his readers in verses 12–14, assuring them of forgiveness, knowledge of God, and victory over the evil one. These affirmations fortify the community before he issues a strong warning against loving the world and its desires in verses 15–17.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 12:35
Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
- John 12:40
He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them.
- Titus 3:3
For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
- 2 Corinthians 3:14
but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.
- Revelation 3:17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:
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