John 12 47

John 12:47 kjv

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

John 12:47 nkjv

And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

John 12:47 niv

"If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

John 12:47 esv

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

John 12:47 nlt

I will not judge those who hear me but don't obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.

John 12 verses

John 12 47 Meaning

John 12:47 declares Jesus' primary mission during His first coming: not to immediately condemn humanity, but to offer salvation. If an individual hears Jesus' words and chooses not to believe them, Jesus, at that moment, does not pass judgment upon them. This is because His very purpose in coming into the world was to rescue and restore it, underscoring His identity as the Savior rather than an initial bringer of judgment.

John 12 47 Context

John chapter 12 serves as a pivotal chapter, concluding Jesus' public ministry and marking His final direct address to the multitudes before His Passion. Following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (12:12-19) and the arrival of Greeks seeking Him (12:20-22), Jesus speaks about His impending death as a means of glorification (12:23-33) and then makes a final appeal for belief in Him as the Light (12:35-36). The evangelist notes the persistent unbelief of many, despite overwhelming signs (12:37), linking it to Isaiah's prophecy. In this closing discourse, Jesus explicitly states that those who see and believe are not merely seeing Him but seeing the Father who sent Him (12:44-45). Verse 47 clarifies the nature of His initial coming – a salvific mission – directly countering any expectation that His presence brings immediate condemnation to those who resist His message, reserving that judicial function for a later time, implicitly through the very words He spoke (as elaborated in John 12:48).

John 12 47 Word analysis

• And if anyone hears: (καὶ ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ - kai ean tis akousē)

  • And (καὶ - kai): Connects to the preceding statements about belief and seeing God in Jesus.
  • if (ἐάν - ean): Introduces a conditional statement, highlighting a possible scenario.
  • anyone (τις - tis): Universal, referring to any individual person, emphasizing personal accountability.
  • hears (ἀκούσῃ - akousē): Aorist subjunctive. Signifies a distinct act of hearing. More than just auditory perception; implies an opportunity to take heed and respond to the message.

• My words: (τοὺς λόγους τοὺς ἐμούς - tous logous tous emous)

  • My (τοὺς ἐμούς - tous emous): Emphasizes the unique and authoritative source: Jesus himself.
  • words (λόγους - logous): Refers to Jesus' teachings, doctrines, commands, and the entirety of His revealed truth. It encapsulates His message about Himself, the Father, and salvation.

• and does not believe: (καὶ μὴ πιστεύσῃ - kai mē pisteusē)

  • does not (μὴ - mē): A negative particle often used with subjunctive verbs for subjective or conditional negation.
  • believe (πιστεύσῃ - pisteusē): Aorist subjunctive. To have faith in, to trust, to put confidence in. Here, it implies a deliberate refusal or failure to embrace Jesus' words as truth and life.

• I do not judge him: (ἐγὼ οὐ κρίνω αὐτόν - egō ou krinō auton)

  • I (ἐγὼ - egō): Emphatic pronoun, underscoring Jesus as the speaker and the one making the declaration.
  • do not judge (οὐ κρίνω - ou krinō): Present active indicative. Declares an immediate reality: during His first coming, His present activity is not one of condemnation. "κρίνω" (krinō) means to distinguish, decide, or pronounce judgment (often implying condemnation).

• for I did not come: (οὐ γὰρ ἦλθον - ou gar ēlthon)

  • for (γὰρ - gar): Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
  • I did not come (οὐ ἦλθον - ou ēlthon): Aorist active indicative. Explicitly states the purpose (or lack thereof) of His incarnation. "ἔρχομαι" (erchomai) often refers to one's mission or purpose in coming.

• to judge the world but to save the world: (ἵνα κρίνω τὸν κόσμον ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα σώσω τὸν κόσμον - hina krinō ton kosmon all' hina sōsō ton kosmon)

  • to judge (ἵνα κρίνω - hina krinō): Subjunctive for purpose, indicating a telos (goal/end). The purpose of His first coming was not for this action.
  • the world (τὸν κόσμον - ton kosmon): Refers to humanity as a whole, specifically those alienated from God. Highlights the universal scope of His mission.
  • but (ἀλλ᾽ - all'): Introduces a strong contrast.
  • to save (ἵνα σώσω - hina sōsō): Subjunctive for purpose, stating the actual purpose. "σώζω" (sōzō) means to rescue, preserve, make whole, deliver from danger or destruction, particularly from eternal death and the power of sin.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe": This phrase establishes a scenario of direct encounter with divine revelation, followed by an intentional or neglectful rejection. It underscores the personal responsibility attached to hearing Jesus' authoritative message. The emphasis is not merely on cognitive understanding but on faith (trust, commitment).
  • "I do not judge him": This is a powerful declaration about Jesus' character and mission during His earthly ministry. It reveals divine patience and a delay of immediate, personal condemnation. His presence is initially one of grace and invitation, not an immediate judicial verdict, even for those who reject Him at that moment.
  • "for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world": This clause provides the divine rationale for His non-judgmental stance. It defines the central, overarching purpose of His incarnation. "The world" highlights the vast, global scope of His saving love, positioning Jesus primarily as a rescuer from the condemnation that humanity naturally faces due to sin. This statement profoundly shaped the understanding of Christ's first advent for the early church.

John 12 47 Bonus section

This verse stands as a key counterpoint to common Messianic expectations of Jesus' time. Many anticipated a Messiah who would immediately bring down swift, punitive judgment on Israel's enemies and the unrighteous within the nation, establishing an earthly kingdom through force. Jesus' declaration here explicitly refutes such expectations, clearly delineating the nature and timing of His Messianic role. He arrived as a Healer and Savior, offering an opportunity for reconciliation, delaying the ultimate judgment which He will nonetheless preside over in His future capacity (John 5:27). The universal scope of "the world" (kosmos) also represents a significant expansion beyond typical Jewish nationalist hopes for the Messiah, signaling that His saving mission extends to all of humanity, both Jew and Gentile. It subtly distinguishes between the "Word made flesh" bringing light and life versus a judge pronouncing immediate sentence, reinforcing divine love and patience before justice.

John 12 47 Commentary

John 12:47 articulates Jesus' core mission in His first advent: salvation, not immediate condemnation. When people encounter His words and do not embrace them with faith, He does not presently act as their judge. This divine restraint reflects His ultimate purpose for being sent by the Father: to redeem and make whole a lost world. While judgment is inherent in the rejection of His truth, Jesus emphasizes that His initial presence is one of gracious invitation. His words, however, will indeed serve as the standard of judgment on the Last Day (John 12:48). This verse underscores divine patience and the radical, inclusive nature of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

• Practical Examples:
  • Delay of Judgment: When a person hears the Gospel but struggles with belief, Jesus' present disposition is one of mercy and ongoing invitation, not instant divine punishment.
  • Missional Focus: For believers, this verse motivates sharing the Gospel as an offer of salvation, reflecting Jesus' heart, rather than leading with judgment or condemnation.