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Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 12:31 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.
  • BSB Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
  • NKJV Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
  • NASB Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
  • NLT The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.

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

Now is the judgment of the world and the casting out of its prince. The cross defeats Satan and judges the world.

Overview

Jesus declares that his impending death is the decisive moment of judgment, when Satan, the 'prince of this world,' is overthrown. The cross, seemingly a defeat, is in truth the triumph that breaks the enemy's hold. This is central to the gospel, that Christ conquers sin, death, and the devil through his sacrifice.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 18

  • 2 Cor 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
  • 1 Jn 3:8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
  • 1 Jn 5:19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
  • John 14:30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
  • Eph 6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
  • Heb 2:14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
  • Col 2:15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
  • John 16:8–11And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
  • Rev 20:2–3And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
  • 1 Jn 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
  • Rev 12:9–11And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
  • Eph 2:1–2And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
  • Matt 12:28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
  • Gen 3:15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
  • Luke 10:17–19And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
  • Acts 26:18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
  • Isa 49:24Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
  • John 5:22–27For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 12:31YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.

How John 12:31 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.