He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.
- BSB If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness.
- NKJV He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
- NASB The one who says that he is in the Light and yet hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.
- NLT If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Claiming to be in the light while hating a fellow believer proves one is still in darkness. Love is the test of true light.
Overview
John applies the light/darkness theme to relationships: hatred of a brother exposes a person as still in spiritual darkness, whatever they profess. Love and hatred reveal one's true spiritual condition. This is a central test of authentic faith running through the letter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Jn 4:20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
- 1 Jn 2:11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
- 1 Jn 3:13–17Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
- Ps 82:5They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
- 1 Cor 13:1–3Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
- 2 Pet 1:9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
- 1 Jn 2:4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- 1 Jn 1:6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
- John 9:41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
- Rom 2:18–21And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Jesus is the Word of life made manifest, the propitiation for our sins, the Son in whom is eternal life — 'that you may know that you have eternal life.'
How 1 John 2:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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