John 1:10 kjv

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

John 1:10 nkjv

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

John 1:10 niv

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

John 1:10 esv

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

John 1:10 nlt

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him.

John 1 verses

John 1 10 Meaning

John 1:10 states a profound spiritual tragedy: the Word, who is divine and was present within the creation He Himself brought into existence, was not recognized or known by the very world He made and entered. This verse encapsulates both Jesus' divine pre-existence and creative power, and humanity's inherent spiritual blindness and rejection of its Creator and Redeemer. It highlights a universal failure of acknowledgment despite direct divine presence.

John 1 10 Context

John 1:10 is an integral part of John's theological prologue (John 1:1-18), which introduces Jesus Christ as the pre-existent, divine Logos (Word). The verses leading up to this point establish the Word's eternal nature (Jn 1:1), His intimate relationship with God, and His role in creating all things (Jn 1:3). John 1:4-9 introduces the concept of the Word as light, shining in the darkness, but not being fully comprehended.

Verse 10 bridges the theological affirmations of the Word's nature and activity in creation with the sobering reality of the incarnation and humanity's response. It sets the stage for the specific account of Jesus coming "to His own" in verse 11 and their subsequent rejection, forming a universal statement about human spiritual inability before delving into the more specific failure of Israel. Historically and culturally, the world of John's audience would have been steeped in both Jewish monotheism and diverse Greco-Roman philosophies, some of which had abstract concepts of a "logos" or divine reason. John grounds this concept in the person of Jesus, asserting His unique identity as the Creator entering His creation, directly challenging any notion that the material world was evil or created by a lesser deity. The "world's" ignorance is a polemic against human wisdom that fails to recognize divine truth.

John 1 10 Word analysis

• He was: From the Greek ēn (ἦν), the imperfect tense of the verb "to be." This signifies continuous, ongoing existence rather than a beginning in time. It distinguishes the Word from creation (egeneto - came into being) and emphasizes His eternal, pre-existent nature, consistent with John 1:1 ("In the beginning was the Word").

• in the world: From the Greek en tō kosmō (ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ). The word kosmos (κόσμος) is profoundly significant in John's Gospel and often carries multiple layers of meaning:

  • The physical universe/creation: As in "the world was made through Him."
  • Humanity: Referring to people who inhabit the physical world.
  • The fallen system/realm hostile to God: Often imbued with negative spiritual connotations, representing humanity alienated from God, under the sway of evil.
  • In this phrase, it suggests Jesus' physical presence on Earth, living among humanity.

• and the world: Repetition of kosmos (κόσμος), linking back to the created order.

• was made: From the Greek egeneto (ἐγένετο), from the verb ginomai, meaning "came into being" or "was created." This starkly contrasts with ēn ("He was"), emphasizing that while the Word exists eternally, the world came into existence through Him, signifying Him as the Creator.

• through Him: From the Greek di' autou (δι’ αὐτοῦ). This pre-existent phrase indicates Jesus as the agent or instrumental cause of creation. It means creation did not simply happen by Him (the source), but through Him (the means or intermediary). He is the active participant, the effective agent.

• and the world: Another repetition of kosmos (κόσμος), here most prominently referring to humanity, the inhabitants of the created order, particularly in their alienated state from God.

• did not know Him: From the Greek ouk auton ginōskō (οὐκ αὐτὸν ἔγνω). The verb egnō (ἔγνω), from ginōskō, implies more than just intellectual awareness. It signifies a deeper, personal, experiential knowledge or recognition, an acknowledgment of truth, or an intimate relationship. The negation (ouk) highlights a profound, active failure or refusal to perceive and accept Him. This is not mere ignorance but a spiritual blindness and rejection.

Words-group analysis:

• "He was in the world": This phrase underlines the incarnation. The divine, pre-existent Son (the Word) who fashioned the cosmos then entered it personally and visibly. It sets the stage for His physical presence among humankind.
• "and the world was made through Him": This establishes Jesus' divine authority and creative power over the entire universe. It directly connects Him to God the Creator and reaffirms the theme from John 1:3. It emphasizes that the very substance and existence of creation are dependent on Him.
• "and the world did not know Him": This final, striking phrase reveals the deep spiritual problem. The creator of the universe, now present within it, is unrecognized by the beings He created. This lack of "knowing" implies an active rejection, a willful blindness to divine truth that has manifested in human history from the beginning. It underscores the spiritual darkness that permeates fallen humanity.

John 1 10 Bonus section

The tripartite use of kosmos in John 1:10 ("He was in the world [physical sphere], and the world [physical creation] was made through Him, and the world [humanity as a whole, specifically those alienated from God] did not know Him") is a hallmark of John's sophisticated theological writing. It highlights the cosmic scope of Christ's involvement with creation, from its very beginning to His incarnation within it, and the universal tragedy of humanity's unresponsiveness. This verse establishes a profound theological problem – the Creator is present and yet rejected – setting the stage for the Gospel's solution through the gift of spiritual understanding and belief, as hinted in later verses (Jn 1:12-13, 1 Jn 5:20). It reveals God's self-revelation being persistently met with human unresponsiveness, an enduring challenge that believers are called to overcome by living out their newfound knowledge of Him.

John 1 10 Commentary

John 1:10 powerfully distills the paradox of Christ's incarnational ministry: the eternal, divine Word, through whom all things came into existence, chose to dwell within His creation, only to be met with profound ignorance and rejection. This verse operates on multiple levels of "world" (kosmos). Firstly, Jesus' pre-existence "in the world" refers to His presence within the created order even before the incarnation, through His Spirit or divine emanation, reflecting divine immanence. Secondly, "the world was made through Him" unambiguously declares Him as the Creator, underscoring His sovereignty and linking Him intrinsically to God the Father. Thirdly, the devastating climax – "the world did not know Him" – highlights the moral and spiritual blindness of humanity. This is not simply a lack of intellectual understanding but a failure to recognize the divine reality staring them in the face, a rejection born of spiritual apathy or rebellion. This verse sets the stage for the theme of Light shining in darkness (John 1:5) and His "own" not receiving Him (John 1:11), lamenting humanity's tragic alienation from its very source of life and truth. It reminds us that knowing God is not automatic but requires a spiritual revelation and willingness to receive the light He brings.