John 12 31

John 12:31 kjv

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

John 12:31 nkjv

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 12:31 niv

Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

John 12:31 esv

Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.

John 12:31 nlt

The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.

John 12 verses

John 12 31 Meaning

John 12:31 declares that the crucifixion of Jesus marks a pivotal, decisive moment of judgment for the entire fallen world system and the definitive expulsion of Satan, who holds sway over it. It signifies the commencement of a new era where Satan's power is broken, and God's sovereign rule through Christ is established, culminating in a cosmic turning point.

John 12 31 Context

John 12:31 occurs at a crucial juncture in Jesus' ministry, shortly before His arrest and crucifixion. Greek visitors wish to see Jesus (v. 20-22), symbolizing the Gentile world beginning to turn to Him. This leads Jesus to speak of the necessity of His death ("Unless a grain of wheat falls...") as the means to bring much fruit (v. 23-25). He then prays, "Father, glorify your name," and a voice from heaven responds, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again" (v. 28). This divine affirmation sets the stage for verse 31, where Jesus explains the cosmic implications of His impending "lifting up" (referring to both crucifixion and exaltation). The historical context is one of a Roman-occupied Judea, where the Jewish people anticipated a Messiah who would overthrow earthly rulers, but Jesus reveals His kingdom and victory would be achieved through a different kind of battle – a spiritual one on the cross. His words directly counter any expectation of a purely political Messiah by highlighting the spiritual nature of the conflict and victory.

John 12 31 Word analysis

• Now (ἄρτι - arti): This Greek adverb emphasizes immediacy and present decisiveness. It's not a future event but one unfolding or initiated at this very moment. It highlights the imminent and transformative impact of Jesus' cross. The 'now' points to the critical pivot point where old dominion ends and new begins.
• is (ἐστιν - estin): The present tense verb reinforces the active, ongoing nature of this judgment. It is not just about to happen, but it is happening, or at least being set into motion, by Jesus' work.
• the judgment (ἡ κρίσις - hē krisis): Krisis refers to a separation, decision, or discernment, as much as it does to condemnation. Here, it signifies a decisive turning point, a dividing line. It's the ultimate determination and separation of light from darkness, truth from falsehood, life from death, inaugurated by the cross. This judgment exposes the world's rebellion and seals its fate.
• of this world (τοῦ κόσμου τούτου - tou kosmou toutou): Kosmos refers not primarily to the physical earth but to humanity's organized system in opposition to God. It encompasses sinful society, humanistic philosophies, and powers alienated from the divine. The judgment is pronounced upon this entire human-governed system that rejects God's rule.
• now (νῦν - nyn): Again, emphasizing the immediate, present reality. It serves as a strong temporal marker, signifying the arrival of the moment when decisive action will take place concerning the 'ruler of this world.'
• will be cast out (ἐκβληθήσεται - ekblēthēsetai): Ekballō (from which this passive future form derives) means "to cast out, throw out, expel, banish." It denotes a forceful and decisive removal, not a gentle exit. This is a divine action that deprives the ruler of this world of his illegitimate authority.
• the ruler (ὁ ἄρχων - ho archōn): A title for one in authority, a chief, or a prince. Here it is singular and clearly identifies Satan, also referred to as "prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:2) or "god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4).
• of this world (τοῦ κόσμου τούτου - tou kosmou toutou): Repeats the reference to Satan's domain – the system of human society under sin. His authority, though real in its fallen state, is not inherent but usurpative.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now is the judgment of this world": This phrase asserts the decisive and imminent arrival of a cosmic reckoning. The cross, rather than a defeat, initiates the process of discerning and separating the kosmos from God's righteous standard. It means the system's true nature is exposed and its condemnation sealed.
• "now will the ruler of this world be cast out": This declares the dethroning of Satan. His power over the fallen kosmos, though not immediately abolished in every sense, receives a decisive blow through Christ's death and resurrection. He loses his legal claim and spiritual dominion, signaling the start of his eventual and complete expulsion from power and influence over humanity. This "casting out" implies a stripping of authority, a loss of effective reign, particularly over those who turn to Christ.

John 12 31 Bonus section

• The timing, "Now is," emphasizes that the moment of Christ's 'lifting up' (crucifixion, then resurrection and ascension) serves as the moment the divine verdict is issued and executed upon the worldly system and its dark sovereign.
• The "judgment of this world" also implies a choice placed before humanity: alignment with the world system or with Christ. Those who respond to the "lifting up" of Jesus (v. 32) are drawn out of this judged world.
• The phrase "ruler of this world" appears only in John's Gospel (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), consistently referring to Satan, highlighting the intensity of spiritual conflict around Jesus. This unique Johannine terminology emphasizes Satan's controlling influence over the organized human system apart from God.
• The passive voice "will be cast out" (ekblēthēsetai) signals a divine action; God Himself, through Christ's work, is the one casting out the devil, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty in salvation history.

John 12 31 Commentary

John 12:31 succinctly captures the profound cosmic impact of Jesus' imminent death. The cross, which appears as weakness and defeat to human eyes, is actually the decisive battlefield where God inaugurates judgment on the rebellious world system and definitively triumphs over Satan, its usurper ruler. This judgment isn't merely an external condemnation but an internal unveiling of the world's true nature—its hostility to God and reliance on spiritual darkness. Similarly, the "casting out" of Satan is not his immediate final annihilation, but the breaking of his legal power, authority, and persuasive influence over those who believe in Jesus. It is a decisive spiritual dethronement, which impacts the trajectory of salvation history and secures the ultimate destiny of Satan. The event on Calvary established Christ's absolute authority and power, which in turn leads to the drawing of "all people" to Him (Jn 12:32), initiating the reversal of Satan's dominion. Practically, for the believer, this means we live in the "now" where Satan is defeated, providing power over temptation and freedom from his enslaving lies, knowing his dominion is broken, though he still struggles to assert his waning influence.