John 3:19
What does John 3:19 mean?
A plain-English look at John 3:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 3:19 means
This verse reveals the nature of judgment: it is not merely God's arbitrary decree but the natural consequence of human choice. The "light"—Jesus, the embodiment of truth and holiness—has come into the world, exposing sin. However, people preferred the "darkness" of their sin over the illuminating truth, precisely because their "works were evil." This demonstrates that humanity's condemnation is self-inflicted, a result of loving evil more than the purifying truth of God.
John 3:19 in context
John 3 — You Must Be Born Again
By night a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus, half-confessing him as a teacher sent from God. Jesus cuts past the compliment: 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Religion will not do; reformation will not do; only a new birth by water and the Spirit. The chapter rises to the most-quoted verse in the Bible — 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son' — and ends with John the Baptist's last public testimony: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'
- New birth
- The Spirit
- God's love for the world
- Faith and life
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And this is the judgment, that the light hath come to the world, and men did love the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And this is the judgment: Because the light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light; for their works were evil.
Context
After detailing the immediate judgment (or lack thereof) based on belief or unbelief, this verse explains the *basis* for that judgment. It clarifies that judgment results from humanity's preference for darkness over the light that has entered the world through Christ. This explanation of human choice and its consequences then leads into a more detailed examination of why people choose darkness and what motivates those who come to the light.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 12:43
for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.
- Romans 1:32
who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.
- Luke 12:47
And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;
- John 8:12
Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- John 15:22
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.
- John 7:7
The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil.
Sermon ideas from John 3:19
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 3:19 teaches us about new birth
What John 3:19 teaches us about the spirit
What John 3:19 teaches us about god's love for the world
What John 3:19 teaches us about faith and life
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