John 12 35

John 12:35 kjv

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

John 12:35 nkjv

Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

John 12:35 niv

Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.

John 12:35 esv

So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

John 12:35 nlt

Jesus replied, "My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.

John 12 verses

John 12 35 Meaning

Jesus instructs the crowd to walk in the light while they still have it, lest the darkness overcome them. This signifies an urgent call to believe in Him and follow His teachings, as the opportunity to do so will not last forever.

John 12 35 Context

This verse is spoken by Jesus in John chapter 12, following His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The preceding verses (John 12:30-34) record a divine confirmation of His identity, with God's voice speaking from heaven. The people present interpreted this as thunder, or the voice of an angel, indicating a lack of spiritual discernment. Jesus, understanding their confusion and the imminent culmination of His earthly ministry, urges them to seize the present opportunity to walk in the light. The "light" is a recurring motif in John's Gospel, representing truth, righteousness, and spiritual life found in Jesus Himself. The impending darkness symbolizes His approaching crucifixion, death, and the spiritual blindness of those who reject Him.

John 12 35 Word Analysis

• Command: (Greek: peripateite - περιπατεῖτε)

  • Present imperative, active voice, second person plural.
  • Means "walk," but carries the connotation of conducting oneself, living, or behaving. It’s a continuous action.
  • Implies a call to a lifestyle, not a single deed.

• Light: (Greek: phos - φῶς)

  • Refers to spiritual illumination, truth, holiness, and the presence of God.
  • In John's Gospel, Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as the light (John 1:9, 8:12, 9:5, 12:46).

• While you have: (Greek: heos hou echate - ἕως οὗ ἔχετε)

  • Indicates a limited time frame.
  • "Echate" is present tense, second person plural, active voice of echo (ἔχω), meaning "to have" or "to hold."
  • Emphasizes the present availability of the light.

• The light: (Greek: to phos - τὸ φῶς)

  • Specific article "to" (the) points to a known or identified light.
  • This is Jesus Himself.

• Lest: (Greek: hina me - ἵνα μή)

  • A purpose clause, expressing a negative result to be avoided.

• Darkness: (Greek: skotia - σκοτία)

  • Opposite of light; represents ignorance, sin, evil, and spiritual death.
  • It is the absence of God's presence and truth.

• Overtake you: (Greek: katalabe hymas - καταλάβῃ ὑμᾶς)

  • Katalambanō (καταλαμβάνω) can mean to seize, apprehend, comprehend, or overcome.
  • Here it carries the sense of engulfing or overcoming, especially in the context of the light being extinguished or the opportunity passing.

• Word Group Analysis: "walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you"

  • This phrase functions as an urgent warning tied to the concept of divine opportunity. The call is to live actively according to the truth provided by Jesus ("the light") before the time for this opportunity expires ("while you have the light"), lest one succumb to spiritual ignorance and ruin ("darkness overtake you").

John 12 35 Bonus Section

The concept of "walking in the light" has deep roots in the Old Testament. The psalmist declared, "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (Ps 36:9). The prophet Isaiah also spoke of those walking in darkness seeing a great light (Isa 9:2). Jesus’ statement here is a fulfillment of these earlier declarations, identifying Himself as the ultimate and personal realization of that promised light. Furthermore, the stark contrast between light and darkness is a fundamental theme throughout Scripture, representing the eternal conflict between good and evil, God and Satan, truth and falsehood, salvation and perdition. This verse underscores the responsibility of every individual to choose where they will stand.

John 12 35 Commentary

This verse is a profound admonition concerning the critical importance of responding to Jesus Christ promptly. The "light" is a direct reference to Jesus Himself, the very source of spiritual truth and life. The imperative to "walk" is an ongoing commitment to live by His teachings and in His presence. The warning against "darkness" signifies the inevitable consequence of rejecting this light—a descent into spiritual ignorance and ultimately, judgment. The urgency is amplified by the awareness of limited time, emphasizing that the opportunity to embrace Christ is not perpetual. Those who fail to believe and follow Him during His earthly ministry, and by extension, at any time presented to them, risk being consumed by spiritual darkness.