John 12:35
What does John 12:35 mean?
A plain-English look at John 12:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 12:35 means
Jesus answers not with a title debate but with urgency: the light—His own presence—is among them for a little while. They must walk while they have this light, lest darkness overtake them. To walk in darkness is to be disoriented and lost. He presses them to respond to revelation rather than delay in speculation. The issue is moral and spiritual, not merely academic. Opportunity is time-bound; failure to act leads to hardening and confusion. By urging them to use the light rightly, He both warns of judgment and offers a gracious path to clarity and life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus said to them, For a little time longer the light will be among you; while you have the light go on walking in it, so that the dark may not overtake you: one walking in the dark has no knowledge of where he is going.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus, therefore, said to them, `Yet a little time is the light with you; walk while ye have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; and he who is walking in the darkness hath not known where he goeth;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus therefore said to them: Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, and the darkness overtake you not. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither be goeth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus therefore said to them, Yet a little while is the light amongst you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness may not overtake you. And he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.
Context
In the face of the crowd’s confusion about the Son of man, Jesus calls them to immediate response. He continues in the next verse to urge belief in the light so they may become sons of light. After this appeal, He withdraws and hides Himself, signaling an end to His public self-disclosure. John will then reflect on the tragic unbelief despite many signs, grounding it in Isaiah’s prophecy of blindness and hardening.
v.34The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
v.35This passage
v.36While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 9:4
We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
- Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
- John 11:10
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him.
- Isaiah 2:5
O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.
- John 1:5
And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
- John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.
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