OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 1:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ φῶς & φαίνει

the light & /is/_shining

John uses the light shines to refer to God’s truth and goodness being revealed as if it were a light shining. This truth and goodness was revealed to the world by Jesus. He is the embodiment of God’s truth and goodness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or with a simile. Alternate translation: “God reveals his truth and goodness” or “God’s truth and goodness is like a light that shines”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ & καὶ ἡ σκοτία

in the darkness & and the darkness

Here John uses darkness to refer to what is false and evil. It is the spiritual darkness of the people in the world who do not love Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or with a simile. Alternate translation: “in the false and evil world, and that evil world” or “in the evil world that is like a dark place, and that dark place”

αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν

it not grasped

Here the word translated overcome could also be translated as “understand.” It could mean: (1) the evil forces in the world did not conquer God’s truth and goodness. Alternate translation: “did not conquer it” (2) the people in the world who don’t know God do not understand his truth and goodness. Alternate translation: “did not comprehend it” (3) the evil forces of this world neither conquered nor understood God’s truth and goodness. Alternate translation: “did not conquer or comprehend it”

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν

it not grasped

Here, it refers to the light mentioned earlier in the verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “did not overcome the light”