John 1:8
6 There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John.
7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
- KJV
- He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
- WEB
- He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
- ASV
- He was not the light, but [came] that he might bear witness of the light.
- DARBY
- *He* was not the light, but that he might witness concerning the light.
- BLB
- That one was not the Light, but [it is] so that he might testify concerning the Light.
- ÅB
- Han var ikke lyset, men han skulle vitne om lyset.
- OTB
- Han selv var ikke lyset; han kom bare for å vitne om lyset.
- B1930
- Han var ikke lyset, men han skulde vidne om lyset.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
John 1:20
He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
Read in contextJohn 3:28
You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
Read in contextActs 19:4
Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
Read in context