John 3:19

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

This is the verdict: The light has come into the world, but people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ κρίσις, ὅτι τὸ φῶς ἐλήλυθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, καὶ ἠγάπησαν οἱ ἄνθρωποι μᾶλλον τὸ σκότος ἢ τὸ φῶς, ἦν γὰρ πονηρὰ αὐτῶν τὰ ἔργα.

Transliteration

Hautē de estin hē krisis, that the phōs elēlythen eis ton kosmon, and ēgapēsan hoi anthrōpoi mallon to skotos ē to phōs, for was ponēra autōn ta erga.

Grammar Details

• *Hautē*: demonstrative pronoun, nominative, feminine, singular - this
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - and/but
• *estin*: present, 3rd singular - is
• *krisis*: nominative, feminine, singular - judgment
• *hoti*: conjunction - that/because
• *phōs*: nominative, neuter, singular - light
• *elēlythen*: perfect, 3rd singular - has come
• *eis*: preposition + accusative - into
• *kosmon*: accusative, masculine, singular - world
• *ēgapēsan*: aorist, 3rd plural - loved
• *anthrōpoi*: nominative, masculine, plural - men/people
• *mallon*: adverb - rather/more
• *skotos*: accusative, neuter, singular - darkness
• *ē*: conjunction - than
• *ēn*: imperfect, 3rd singular - were
• *ponēra*: nominative, neuter, plural - evil
• *autōn*: personal pronoun, genitive, masculine, plural - their
• *erga*: nominative, neuter, plural - works/deeds

Word Meanings

• *krisis*: judgment/verdict/separation
• *phōs*: light/illumination [metaphor for revelation/truth]
• *skotos*: darkness/obscurity [metaphor for evil/ignorance]
• *ponēra*: evil/wicked/bad/corrupt

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  This is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And this is the condempnacion: that light is come into the worlde and the me loved darcknes more then light because their dedes were evill.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But this is ye codempnacion, that the light is come in to the worlde, and men loued the darknesse more the ye light: for their workes were euell.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And this is the condemnation, that that light came into the worlde, and men loued darknesse rather then that light, because their deedes were euill.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And this is the condempnation: that lyght is come into the worlde, and men loued darknesse rather then lyght, because their deedes were euyll.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And this is the judgment, that the light hath come to the world, and men did love the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.

Referenced Verses

• John 1:4 : 4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of mankind.
• John 8:12 : 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life."
• 2 Thess 2:12 : 12 in order that all who did not believe the truth but delighted in wickedness might be judged.
• 2 Pet 3:3 : 3 First of all, you should understand that in the last days, mockers will come, following their own evil desires,
• John 9:39-41 : 39 Jesus said, 'For judgment I came into this world, so that those who are blind may see and those who see may become blind.' 40 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this and asked, 'Are we also blind?' 41 Jesus replied, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now that you claim, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
• Acts 24:21-26 : 21 Unless it was for this one statement I made while standing among them: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged before you today.' 22 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the proceedings and said, 'When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.' 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and not to prevent his friends from attending to his needs. 24 After some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discussed righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and said, 'That is enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.' 26 At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him money, so he sent for him often and conversed with him.
• Rom 1:32 : 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them.
• Rom 2:8 : 8 But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth and obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and anger.
• 2 Cor 2:15-16 : 15 For we are the fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To one, we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is adequate for such a task?
• John 10:26-27 : 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
• John 12:43 : 43 For they loved the approval of people more than the approval of God.
• John 15:22-25 : 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these works, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'
• John 1:9-9 : 9 The true Light that gives light to everyone 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. 11 He came to His own, but His own people did not receive Him.
• John 5:44 : 44 How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the one and only God?
• John 7:7 : 7 'The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify about it that its works are evil.'
• John 7:17 : 17 'If anyone wants to do His will, they will know whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own authority.'
• Isa 30:9-9 : 9 These are a rebellious people, deceitful children, unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction. 10 They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.' 11 'Leave the way, turn aside from the path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!' 12 Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: 'Because you have rejected this message and relied on oppression and deceit, leaning on them for support—'
• Matt 11:20-24 : 20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent: 21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.’ 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.
• Luke 10:11-16 : 11 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a warning to you. Yet know this: The kingdom of God has come near.' 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town. 13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles performed in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. 16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.
• Luke 12:47 : 47 That servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare or act according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.
• Luke 16:14 : 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and sneered at him.
• Heb 3:12-13 : 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
• 1 Pet 2:8 : 8 and, 'a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.' They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were determined to do.
• John 8:44-45 : 44 You are from your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me.