John 11 10

John 11:10 kjv

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

John 11:10 nkjv

But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

John 11:10 niv

It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light."

John 11:10 esv

But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

John 11:10 nlt

But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light."

John 11 verses

John 11 10 Meaning

If one walks in the night, one stumbles, because light is not in him. The presence or absence of spiritual light directly impacts one's ability to navigate life's challenges and discern truth from falsehood.

John 11 10 Context

This verse occurs within the narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus is speaking with Martha, who is grieving Lazarus's death. The conversation naturally leads to discussions about life, death, and the spiritual condition of individuals. The immediate context is about the temporal nature of physical sight versus the eternal implications of spiritual light or blindness. Jesus often used metaphors of light and darkness to illustrate spiritual realities. The concept of stumbling in darkness reflects a spiritual inability to understand or follow God's ways.

John 11 10 Word analysis

• ἐὰν (ean): A conditional particle, meaning "if." It introduces a hypothetical situation.
• περιπατῇ (peripatē): From peripateō, meaning "to walk," "to conduct oneself," "to live." It implies a manner of living or conduct.
• ἐν (en): A preposition meaning "in."
• τῇ (tē): The definite article "the," feminine genitive singular, referring to nykti.
• νυκτὶ (nykti): From nyx, meaning "night." In this context, it refers to spiritual darkness or a time without divine illumination.
• σκάνδαλizεται (skandalizetai): From skandalizō, meaning "to cause to stumble," "to cause to fall," "to offend." It suggests tripping up, encountering an obstacle, or falling into error.
• ὅτι (hoti): A conjunction, meaning "because" or "that." It indicates the reason for stumbling.
• τὸ (to): The definite article "the," neuter nominative/accusative singular.
• φῶς (phōs): From phōs, meaning "light." In the New Testament, it often symbolizes truth, spiritual understanding, divine presence, and goodness.
• τοῦ (tou): The definite article "the," masculine genitive singular, referring to kosmou.
• κόσμου (kosmou): From kosmos, meaning "world." Here, it signifies the sphere of human existence and its prevalent condition, often in contrast to divine truth.
• ἐστιν (estin): The third-person singular present indicative of eimi, meaning "is" or "it is."
• ἐν (en): A preposition meaning "in."
• αὐτῷ (autō): The masculine dative singular pronoun, "in him" or "in it," referring back to the subject, the person who walks.

Group Analysis:

• "If anyone walks in the night": This phrase sets up a condition of living without spiritual guidance or clarity.
• "he stumbles": This describes the consequence of living in spiritual darkness – encountering errors, difficulties, and falling into sin or confusion.
• "because the light is not in him": This explains the cause of the stumbling: the absence of divine illumination, truth, or the presence of Christ.

John 11 10 Bonus Section

The metaphor of light and darkness is prevalent throughout Scripture, originating from creation (Gen 1:3). It's consistently used to differentiate good from evil, truth from falsehood, and God's presence from His absence. Jesus’ identification of Himself as the light of the world (John 8:12, 12:46) makes this statement particularly poignant, indicating that walking without Him is to walk in spiritual darkness. The "stumbling" is not merely physical but implies moral and spiritual errors resulting from a lack of divine illumination in one's soul. This contrasts with the believer’s responsibility to be "light in the Lord" (Eph 5:8) and to let their light shine, reflecting God’s glory.

John 11 10 Commentary

This verse highlights a crucial spiritual principle: our spiritual perception is directly tied to our adherence to or experience of divine truth, often represented by light. Walking in "night" signifies living detached from God's revealed truth or Christ's presence, leading to inevitable spiritual missteps. The light of God's word and the presence of Christ illuminate the path, preventing one from stumbling in the complexities of life or in the face of deception. Spiritual blindness leads to disorientation and falling prey to error. This underscores the necessity of maintaining an active, seeking relationship with God.