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This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
John 3:19 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  • BSB And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
  • NKJV And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  • NASB And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.
  • NLT And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

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.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 24

  • John 8:12Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
  • 2 Th 2:12that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
  • John 9:39–41Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”
  • John 12:43for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.
  • Rom 2:8but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
  • Rom 1:32who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
  • John 5:44How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
  • John 15:22–25If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
  • 2 Pet 3:3knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts,
  • Luke 12:47That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
  • John 1:4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
  • Heb 3:12–13Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;
  • John 7:7The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.
  • John 1:9–11The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
  • Luke 10:11–16‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
  • John 8:44–45You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.
  • 1 Pet 2:8and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
  • John 10:26–27But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
  • Acts 24:21–26unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”
  • Isa 30:9–12For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear Yahweh’s law;
  • Matt 11:20–24Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.
  • 2 Cor 2:15–16For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;
  • John 7:17If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
  • Luke 16:14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

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 3:19YouTube · 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 3:19 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.