John 1:10
What does John 1:10 mean?
A plain-English look at John 1:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 1:10 means
This verse highlights the profound paradox of the Word's presence in the world. He was already present in the created order because the world was made through Him. Yet, when He actually entered the world in human form, the very world He created did not recognize or acknowledge Him. This speaks to humanity's spiritual blindness and hardened hearts, failing to perceive the divine presence even when it was intimately involved in their existence.
John 1:10 in context
John 1 — The Word Made Flesh
John lifts the curtain higher than any other Gospel. Before there was a Bethlehem, there was the Word — with God, who was God, by whom all things were made. The same Word who was the agent of creation became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist points him out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; the first disciples follow him; Nathanael confesses him as the Son of God and King of Israel. The eternal becomes near enough to touch.
- Pre-existence of Christ
- Incarnation
- Light and life
- First disciples
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He was in the world, the world which came into being through him, but the world had no knowledge of him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862in the world he was, and the world through him was made, and the world did not know him:
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He was in the world: and the world was made by him: and the world knew him not.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He was in the world, and the world had [its] being through him, and the world knew him not.
Context
This verse begins to introduce the theme of rejection, a stark contrast to the universal illumination the true Light offers. After establishing the Word as the true Light and Creator in the preceding verses, this verse focuses on the world's tragic response to His presence. It serves as a somber prelude to the more specific rejection by "His own" in the following verse, building towards the pivotal moment of the Word becoming flesh amidst an unseeing world.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.
- Exodus 3:4
And when Jehovah saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
- Genesis 16:13
And she called the name of Jehovah that spake unto her, Thou art a God that seeth: for she said, Have I even here looked after him that seeth me?
- John 1:5
And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
- Hebrews 1:2
hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;
- 1 Corinthians 2:8
which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:
Sermon ideas from John 1:10
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 1:10 teaches us about pre-existence of christ
What John 1:10 teaches us about incarnation
What John 1:10 teaches us about light and life
What John 1:10 teaches us about first disciples
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