John 1:12 kjv

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:12 nkjv

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

John 1:12 niv

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God?

John 1:12 esv

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 1:12 nlt

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1 verses

John 1 12 Meaning

John 1:12 declares that for all who actively received Jesus, the Living Word, God bestowed upon them the unique authority and privilege to be truly born into God's family and become His children. This profound spiritual adoption and new birth are specifically granted to those who place their trust and belief in all that Jesus' name represents – His person, character, and redemptive work. It distinguishes between humanity's universal experience and the specific, divinely empowered transformation available only through faith in Christ.

John 1 12 Context

John 1:12 follows a foundational passage (Jn 1:1-5) introducing Jesus as the divine Word, the source of life and light, present at creation. It directly succeeds John 1:9-11, which speaks of the True Light (Jesus) coming into the world and how "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him." Verse 12 serves as a stark contrast and crucial pivot, offering hope and divine privilege to those who, unlike "His own," do receive Him.

Historically, the Jewish people greatly valued their physical lineage from Abraham as a guarantee of their relationship with God. This verse powerfully counters that belief, declaring that true sonship with God is not a matter of ethnic heritage or natural birth but a spiritual reality based on personal reception and belief in Christ. It sets the stage for the rest of John's Gospel, which consistently presents belief in Jesus as the sole condition for eternal life and entry into God's family, contrasting this with various forms of human effort or inherited status.

John 1 12 Word analysis

• But (δὲ - de): A crucial connective indicating a shift or contrast. Following the general rejection of Jesus (Jn 1:11), this "but" introduces a significant exception and hope, marking a turning point from universal darkness to individual light.
• as many as (ὅσοι - hosoi): Implies universality of opportunity, irrespective of race, social standing, or past. It contrasts with the limited scope of the covenant initially given to Israel and emphasizes that this spiritual benefit is available to anyone who meets the stated condition.
• received (ἔλαβον - elabon): An active aorist verb, signifying a definite, deliberate act of taking or welcoming. It implies more than passive acceptance or intellectual acknowledgment; it means to take to oneself, to welcome intimately, to embrace. This reception involves a personal response of trust and submission.
• Him (αὐτόν - auton): Refers directly back to "the Word" (Logos) introduced in Jn 1:1, who "became flesh" (Jn 1:14). It underscores that this personal reception is directed towards Jesus Christ Himself, in all His divine identity and redemptive purpose.
• to them He gave (ἔδωκεν - edōken): Denotes a unilateral, gracious bestowal from God. This "giving" is a divine gift, not something earned or merited by human effort or performance. It highlights God's initiative in salvation (Jn 3:16; Eph 2:8).
• the right (ἐξουσίαν - exousian): Carries the meaning of authority, power, or privilege. It's not merely a permission but an imparted capacity, a divinely granted warrant and enablement to stand as a child of God. This right establishes a new, legally recognized status and access.
• to become (γενέσθαι - genesthai): Signifies a transformation or a transition into a new state of being. It indicates that human beings are not inherently children of God by natural birth but become so through a spiritual process initiated by God upon belief. This highlights the concept of a "new birth" (Jn 3:3-7).
• children of God (τέκνα Θεοῦ - tekna Theou): This profound designation speaks to an intimate, relational adoption and new spiritual parentage. "Tekna" (children) emphasizes kinship and birth into a family, implying an inheritance and participation in the family's nature and character. This is distinct from "servants" or "creatures." (cf. Rom 8:15-17; 1 Jn 3:1-2).
• even to those who believe (τοῖς πιστεύουσιν - tois pisteuousin): This phrase clarifies and reiterates what "received Him" entails. It defines reception as an active, ongoing, present-tense state of believing. It points to saving faith as the means.
• in His name (εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ - eis to onoma autou): In biblical thought, "name" (ὄνομα - onoma) embodies the totality of a person's character, reputation, authority, and power. To believe "in His name" is to place one's entire trust in who Jesus is (the divine Son, the Word made flesh) and what He has done (His redemptive work on the cross, His resurrection). It's not just intellectual assent but a commitment to His person.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But as many as received Him": This phrase sharply contrasts with the general rejection, highlighting a personal, active response of acceptance to Jesus Christ. It underscores the choice each individual has regarding the light that has come into the world.
• "to them He gave the right to become children of God": This emphasizes divine grace and authority. The ability to enter into God's family is not a human accomplishment but a privilege divinely bestowed. The transformation into a child of God is a sovereign act of God.
• "even to those who believe in His name": This final clause provides the clear condition for receiving this divine privilege. "Receiving" Him is specified as "believing in His name," indicating that true faith involves entrusting oneself completely to all that Jesus is and represents. This underscores that saving faith is the essential pathway to salvation and sonship.

John 1 12 Bonus section

The word "right" (ἐξουσίαν - exousian) granted to believers here signifies far more than mere permission; it is a profound impartation of divine authority to assume a new spiritual identity. This concept is distinct from humanly conferred rights; it is a supernaturally granted legal and relational standing before God. The emphasis on "becoming" children of God underlines the radical transformation that occurs; it’s a change of status, nature, and relationship, signifying a true regeneration and not simply a metaphorical title. The implication is that if one has the right "to become" God's child, then upon believing, they are a child of God (cf. 1 Jn 3:2), experiencing both present reality and future inheritance.

John 1 12 Commentary

John 1:12 succinctly encapsulates the Gospel message: humanity's lost state is redeemed through a divine initiative, freely given to those who respond in faith. It is not birthright, adherence to law, or human merit that qualifies one for God's family, but rather a deliberate act of "receiving" Jesus Christ, which is equated with "believing in His name." This "receiving" is an active surrender and trust in His full person and redemptive work. In turn, God grants the "right" (authority, privilege) to experience a spiritual rebirth, moving from being mere creatures to becoming adopted children, sharing an intimate relationship and eternal inheritance with God the Father. This verse foundationalizes Christian experience as one of gracious transformation, entirely contingent on faith in the person of Jesus Christ.