We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.
Parallel translations
- WEB I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.
- KJV I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
- BSB While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
- ESV We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
- NKJV I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
- NASB We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Jesus stresses the urgency of doing the Father's work while it is day, before the night comes. There is a limited time appointed for his mission.
Overview
Using day and night imagery, Jesus underscores the urgency and divinely appointed timing of his work. The "night" likely points to his approaching death, after which this phase of earthly ministry would end. The verse models faithful, timely obedience and reminds believers to labor for God while opportunity remains.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- John 12:35Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.
- Eph 5:16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- John 4:34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.
- Eccl 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
- John 11:9–10Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
- Gal 6:10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
- John 17:4I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.
- Col 4:5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
- John 5:36But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
- John 10:32Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
- Isa 38:18–19For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth.
- John 10:37If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
- Acts 4:20for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”
- John 5:19Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
- Luke 13:32–34He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 9:4 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.