John 12:36 kjv
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
John 12:36 nkjv
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
John 12:36 niv
Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
John 12:36 esv
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." The Unbelief of the People When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
John 12:36 nlt
Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light." After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
John 12 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 1:4-5 | "...In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." | Christ as the True Light |
| John 1:7 | "He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe." | Witness to the Light |
| John 3:19-21 | "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil... But the man who does evil hates the light, nor will he come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." | Light vs. Darkness & Deeds |
| John 8:12 | "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" | Jesus: Light of the World |
| John 9:5 | "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." | Jesus: Light of the World |
| Acts 26:18 | "...to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." | Spiritual transition: darkness to light |
| Eph 5:8-14 | "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and test whatever pleases the Lord... Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light." | Children of Light, Awakening |
| 1 Thess 5:5-6 | "You are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." | Children of Light, Alertness |
| 1 John 1:5-7 | "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." | Fellowship, Walking in Light |
| Ps 27:1 | "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?" | God as Light and Salvation |
| Ps 36:9 | "For with you is the fountain of life; In your light do we see light." | Light from God |
| Prov 6:23 | "For the commandment is a lamp, And the teaching is light; And the reproofs of discipline are the way of life," | Instruction as Light |
| Isa 9:2 | "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." | Prophecy of Light (Messiah) |
| Mic 7:8-9 | "Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." | God as Light in adversity |
| Mal 4:2 | "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays..." | Sun of Righteousness (Messiah) |
| Rom 2:19-20 | "...and to be able to instruct those who are foolish and immature. You, therefore, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?" | Consistency of belief and practice |
| Phil 2:15 | "...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." | Shining as Children of God |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." | Called out of Darkness |
John 12 verses
John 12 36 Meaning
Jesus exhorts his listeners to "believe in the light" so that they may "become sons of light." This calls for a steadfast trust in divine truth and presence, which illuminates understanding and grants spiritual identity and purpose.
John 12 36 Context
This verse comes from John's Gospel, Chapter 12, where Jesus is teaching the crowds in Jerusalem just days before his crucifixion. He has just arrived in a triumphant entry, but he is now addressing a mixed crowd, some of whom have just seen Him, while others are grappling with belief and disbelief. Jesus is speaking about his impending death, referring to it as his "hour" or being "lifted up." He uses agricultural imagery of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to bear fruit. The preceding verses describe a plea from the Greeks to see Jesus and Jesus' response about his hour having come. In this context, the call to believe in the light and become children of light is a crucial instruction amidst a time of spiritual decision and the cusp of redemptive events.
John 12 36 Word Analysis
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The Greek name for Joshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation." The central figure of Christianity, believed to be the Son of God.
- said (εἶπεν - eipen): Aorist indicative active, 3rd person singular of λέγω (legō), meaning to speak or say.
- these (ταῦτα - tauta): Neuter plural, accusative, demonstrative pronoun. Referring to the discourse or events immediately preceding.
- things (εἶπεν - eipen) / words (λόγος - logos): Though not explicitly written, the antecedent for "these" refers to Jesus' recent statements, implied. (Some versions have tauta which can be translated as 'these things').
- while (ἕως - heōs): A temporal conjunction meaning "until" or "while."
- ye (ὑμεῖς - hymeis): 2nd person plural pronoun, nominative. Addressing the crowd present.
- have (ἔχετε - echete): 2nd person plural, present indicative active of ἔχω (echō), to have, to possess.
- the (τὸ - to): The neuter singular definite article.
- light (φῶς - phōs): Greek for "light," symbolizing divine truth, revelation, purity, and salvation.
- believe (πιστεύετε - pisteuete): 2nd person plural, present imperative active of πιστεύω (pisteuō), meaning to trust, believe in, rely upon. The present tense implies a continuous, ongoing action.
- in (εἰς - eis): Preposition, typically indicates motion into, towards, or belief in.
- the (τὸ - to): The neuter singular definite article.
- light (φῶς - phōs): As above.
- that (ἵνα - hina): Conjunction of purpose. Introduces a subordinate clause indicating the reason or result.
- ye (ὑμεῖς - hymeis): As above.
- may (γένησθε - genēsthe): 2nd person plural, aorist subjunctive passive of γίνομαι (ginomai), to become, to be made, to be. The subjunctive is used after ἵνα to express purpose.
- children (υἱοὶ - huioi): Masculine plural, nominative of υἱός (huios), son. While "sons" literally, it's used here for children generally in the sense of progeny or those belonging to something.
- of (τῶν - tōn): Genitive plural masculine/neuter definite article. Indicates possession or origin.
- light (τοῦ φωτὸς - tou phōtos): Genitive singular of φῶς (phōs), "of light."
- of (τῶν - tōn) / your (ὑμῶν - hymōn): Although not explicitly stated in many texts, the genitive here signifies "sons of the light," meaning belonging to the light or characteristic of it. The possessive "your" is often implied in English translation to make the meaning clearer. The phrase "children of light" is significant, implying identification with and embodiment of light's qualities.
Word Group Analysis
- Believe in the light: This is an imperative, a command for a present and continuous action of trusting in and relying upon the divine illumination Jesus represents. It is not a one-time assent, but a commitment to follow its guidance.
- That ye may become children of light: This states the purpose of believing. Becoming "children of light" signifies adoption into a family that embodies truth, righteousness, and spiritual clarity, distinguishing them from the darkness.
John 12 36 Bonus Section
The concept of "children of light" is a significant thematic element in Johannine literature and Paul's epistles. It signifies not just passive reception of divine illumination, but an active participation and representation of that light in the world. This stands in contrast to the "children of darkness" or those who "love darkness rather than light" as discussed elsewhere in John's Gospel (John 3:19). The call to "believe in the light" implies a continual, active engagement with divine truth as presented in Jesus, fostering a disposition of openness and willingness to have one's life exposed and purified by this light. This active belief leads to an inherited spiritual identity, akin to a son belonging to his father's household, characterized by the father's qualities.
John 12 36 Commentary
Jesus calls for a faith that actively embraces His revelation ("the light"). This belief isn't passive intellectual assent; it's a dynamic trust that transforms the believer, making them children who reflect the very nature of that divine light. To be a "child of light" means to be characterized by truth, righteousness, and transparency, mirroring God's own luminous nature, and living a life exposed to, rather than hidden from, divine truth. This transformation aligns one with God's redemptive plan, particularly in the context of Jesus' impending sacrifice, which is the ultimate revelation of God's light to a darkened world.