YHN 8:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]Because of this, Yeshua told them, “I am the light for the world—whoever follows me won’t walk in the darkness but will have the light that gives life.”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; the one following me may certainly not walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

UST Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am the one who gives God’s good and true light to the people in the world. Anyone who becomes my disciple will never walk in sinful darkness again. Rather, that person will have God’s good and true light that gives eternal life.”

BSB Once again, Jesus spoke to [the people] [and] said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

MSB Once again, Jesus spoke to [the people] [and] said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

BLB Therefore Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. The one following Me shall not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

AICNT Continuation from John 7:52
¶ [Again][fn] Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

8:12, Again: Absent from some manuscripts. Latin(ff²).

OEB ¶ Jesus again addressed the people. ‘I am the light of the world,’ he said. ‘The person who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’

LSB Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

WEBBE Again, 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.”

WMBB Again, therefore, Yeshua 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.”

NET Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

LSV Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I AM the light of the world; he who is following Me will not walk in the darkness, but he will have the light of life.”

FBV Jesus spoke again to the people, telling them, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me you won't walk in darkness for you will have the life-giving light.”

TCNT Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will certainly not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

T4T Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am like a light [MET] for all the people in [MTY] the world. Just like a light reveals what has been in the darkness [MET], I reveal God’s truth to them. Those who walk in the darkness are unaware of what is around them. But those who become my disciples will always be aware of God’s truth [MET]. They will have my light which shows them how to have eternal life.”

LEB ¶ Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

BBE Then again Jesus said to them, I am the light of the world; he who comes with me will not be walking in the dark but will have the light of life.

Moff Then Jesus again addressed them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he who follows me will not walk in darkness, he will enjoy the light of life."

Wymth Once more Jesus addressed them. "I am the Light of the world," He said; "the man who follows me shall certainly not walk in the dark, but shall have the light of Life."

ASV Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.

DRA Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

YLT Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; he who is following me shall not walk in the darkness, but he shall have the light of the life.'

Drby Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

RV Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.
(Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth/follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. )

SLT Again therefore Jesus spake to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he following me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Wbstr Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

KJB-1769 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
(¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth/follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. )

KJB-1611 ¶ Then spake Iesus againe vnto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth mee, shall not walke in darkenesse, but shall haue the light of life.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Then spake Iesus agayne vnto them, saying, I am the light of ye world: He that foloweth me, doth not walke in darknesse, but shal haue the light of life.
(Then spake Yesus/Yeshua again unto them, saying, I am the light of ye/you_all world: He that followeth/follows me, doth/does not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.)

Gnva Then spake Iesus againe vnto them, saying, I am that light of the worlde: hee that followeth mee, shall not walke in darkenes, but shall haue that light of life.
(Then spake Yesus/Yeshua again unto them, saying, I am that light of the world: he that followeth/follows me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have that light of life. )

Cvdl Then spake Iesus agayne vnto them, and sayde: I am the light of the worlde. He that foloweth me, shal not walke in darknesse, but shal haue the light of life.
(Then spake Yesus/Yeshua again unto them, and said: I am the light of the world. He that followeth/follows me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.)

TNT Then spake Iesus agayne vnto them sayinge: I am the light of the worlde. He that foloweth me shall not walke in darcknes: but shall have the light of lyfe.
(Then spake Yesus/Yeshua again unto them saying: I am the light of the world. He that followeth/follows me shall not walk in darcknes: but shall have the light of life. )

Wycl Therfor eft Jhesus spak to hem, and seide, Y am the liyt of the world; he that sueth me, walkith not in derknessis, but schal haue the liyt of lijf.
(Therefore after Yhesus spake to hem, and said, I am the light of the world; he that sueth me, walkith not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.)

Luth Da redete JEsus abermal zu ihnen und sprach: Ich bin das Licht der Welt; wer mir nachfolget, der wird nicht wandeln in Finsternis, sondern wird das Licht des Lebens haben.
(So talked Yesus again to/for to_them and spoke: I am the light(n) the/of_the world; who to_me successor, the/of_the becomes not walk in darkness, rather becomes the light(n) the life have.)

ClVg Iterum ergo locutus est eis Jesus, dicens: Ego sum lux mundi: qui sequitur me, non ambulat in tenebris, sed habebit lumen vitæ.[fn]
(Again therefore spoke it_is to_them Yesus, saying: I I_am light world: who/which follows me, not/no he_walks in/into/on darkness, but will_have the_light of_life. )

8.12 Iterum ergo. Repulsis tentatoribus, sanata culpa mulieris, apertius subdit quid possit ex Divinitate, ne ambigant de eo homine an possit peccata dimittere. Ego sum lux mundi. Quæ nube carnis tegitur, et sic toleranda hominibus efficitur, unde et peccata possum dimittere et etiam hominem illuminare.

8.12 Again therefore. Repulsis tentatoribus, healed guilt woman's, more_openly I_submit what can from Divinitate, not ambigant from/about by_him man an can sins to_release. I I_am light world. Which cloud of_flesh is_covered, and so toleranda to_humans it_is_done, from_where/who and sins I_can to_release and also man to_illuminate.

UGNT πάλιν οὖν αὐτοῖς ἐλάλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων, ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου; ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοὶ οὐ μὴ περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς.
(palin oun autois elalaʸsen ho Yaʸsous legōn, egō eimi to fōs tou kosmou; ho akolouthōn emoi ou maʸ peripataʸsaʸ en taʸ skotia, all’ hexei to fōs taʸs zōaʸs.)

SBL-GNT Πάλιν οὖν αὐτοῖς ⸂ἐλάλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς⸃ λέγων· Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου· ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ⸀ἐμοὶ οὐ μὴ περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἀλλʼ ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς.
(Palin oun autois ⸂elalaʸsen ho Yaʸsous⸃ legōn; Egō eimi to fōs tou kosmou; ho akolouthōn ⸀emoi ou maʸ peripataʸsaʸ en taʸ skotia, allʼ hexei to fōs taʸs zōaʸs.)

RP-GNT Πάλιν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησεν λέγων, Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου· ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοὶ οὐ μὴ περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἀλλ' ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς.
(Palin oun autois ho Yaʸsous elalaʸsen legōn, Egō eimi to fōs tou kosmou; ho akolouthōn emoi ou maʸ peripataʸsaʸ en taʸ skotia, all' hexei to fōs taʸs zōaʸs.)

TC-GNT Πάλιν οὖν [fn]αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησε λέγων, Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου· ὁ ἀκολουθῶν [fn]ἐμοὶ οὐ μὴ [fn]περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἀλλ᾽ ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς.
(Palin oun autois ho Yaʸsous elalaʸse legōn, Egō eimi to fōs tou kosmou; ho akolouthōn emoi ou maʸ peripataʸsaʸ en taʸ skotia, all hexei to fōs taʸs zōaʸs. )

8:12 αυτοις ο ιησους ελαλησε ¦ ο ιησους αυτοις ελαλησε TR ¦ αυτοις ελαλησεν ο ιησους CT

8:12 εμοι ¦ μοι WH

8:12 περιπατηση ¦ περιπατησει TR

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:12–20: Jesus is the light of the world

In this section Jesus returned to teaching in the temple during the festival of Booths. He declared that he was the light of the world. The Pharisees said that what Jesus said was not valid because he testified about himself. Jesus said that his testimony was valid because he knew where he came from and where he was going. And he said that his Father testified about him too, but they did not know either him or his Father.

Here are some other examples of headings for this section:

Jesus said that he was light for the world

Jesus’ testimony that he was the light of the world was valid

Paragraph 8:12

Jesus said he was the light of the world. He declared that those who follow him will always live in the light.

8:12a

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said,

¶ When Jesus talked to them again, he said,
¶ Then Jesus addressed the people again. He said,

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people: This passage probably originally followed 7:52. See the note on Section 7:53–8:11. In chapter 7, Jesus taught in the temple during the festival of Booths. Now he again addressed the people gathered there in the temple.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

When Jesus spoke to the people again, he said (NJB)

to the people: This phrase probably refers to the people who had gathered for the festival. Some think that Jesus spoke to the Pharisees here because they respond in the next verse (see GNT). However, Jesus spoke to the people in chapter 7, not just the Pharisees. So the phrase “Once again” suggests that he again spoke to the people. If possible, use a pronoun because it is not clear who he spoke to here. However, in some languages it may be necessary to make it more explicit. For example:

to the people (NIV)

8:12b

“I am the light of the world.

“I am the world’s light.
“I am the light for the people of the world.

I am the light of the world: The phrase light of the world means that the light is for the benefit of the world. This phrase is a metaphor. Jesus compared himself to light. Just as light makes it possible to see physical objects, so Jesus makes it possible to see or understand God and spiritual things.

If the meaning of this metaphor is not clear in your language, here are other ways to translate this metaphor:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
I am like the light which shines for the world
Use a metaphor or simile and make clear how Jesus was like the light of the world. For example:
I am the light which gives light to the minds of people in the world
I am like a light which shines in the minds of people, and gives them understanding

Refer to your translation of light in 1:4–5, 7–9. For the Old Testament background of this metaphor, see Psalms 27:1, 36:9, 119:105.

the light: When Jesus said that he was the light for the whole world, he meant that he was unique. Jesus said that he was the light, not just a light, not one among many lights. He was the only true source of the knowledge of God. In your translation, try to maintain this emphasis.

the world: The phrase the world refers to the people in the world. Jesus is the light for all people all over the world. In some languages it is more natural to make this more explicit. For example:

to people in the whole world

for all people everywhere

8:12c

Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness,

The person who follows me will never walk in darkness,
My followers will not live in the dark.
Those who trust and obey me will not have to live their lives in the dark without God.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness: The pronoun Whoever refers to anyone and everyone who trusts and obeys Jesus. It is possible to use a singular or plural form. For example:

The one who follows me (NET)

All/Those who follow me

follows Me: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as follows means “to go with someone, to go along behind them.” Figuratively it began to mean “to go with someone as their disciple, which means one learns from him and obeys him.” See John 1:43.

will never walk in the darkness: The verb phrase walk in the darkness is a metaphor that means to live in sin and not know God. People who follow Jesus will always have God in their lives, so they will never walk in darkness. For example:

will never live in darkness (NCV)

will never live in the dark (GW)

in the darkness: Here, darkness is a metaphor which means “evil” or “the absence of God and all that is good.” See the note on this word at 1:5a. In some languages a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. However, it is important to use the idea of darkness because it is an important idea in the Bible.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
they will never live like people who are in the dark
Change the metaphor to a simile and make the meaning explicit. For example:
will never be like those who are in darkness who do not know God

8:12d

but will have the light of life.”

but they will have the light that gives life.”
They will have the light that brings true/eternal life.”

but will have the light of life: The Greek conjunction that BSB translates as but here connects a negative statement (8:12c) to a positive statement (8:12d). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Here it emphasizes that Jesus’ followers will have the light that leads to true life, eternal life. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis.

Here are some ways to indicate the emphasis:

Use the conjunction but as in the BSB.
Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:
The one who follows me, he does not walk in darkness. Rather/Instead he has in him the light which gives life.
Do not use a conjunction. For example:
Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life. (CEV)
Change the order of the clauses. For example:
Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness. (GNT)

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

the light of life: This phrase is a metaphor that refers to the light that produces true life. This light was Jesus himself. Jesus makes it possible for people to know God and so to have true life, eternal life. It is important to use the idea of light because it is an important idea in the Bible.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the light that leads to life (NLT)

the light that gives life (CEV)

my light which shows them how to have eternal life (T4T)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

In this verse Jesus begins speaking to a crowd near the treasury in the temple some time after the events of [John 7:1–52](../07/01.md). John does not mark the beginning of this new event.

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

πάλιν & αὐτοῖς ἐλάλησεν & λέγων

again & ˱to˲_them spoke & saying

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [spoke to the people again, and he said]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου & ἀλλ’ ἕξει τὸ φῶς τῆς ζωῆς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πάλιν Οὖν αὐτοῖς ἐλάλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων Ἐγώ εἰμί τό φῶς τοῦ κόσμου ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοί οὒ μή περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ ἀλλʼ ἕξει τό φῶς τῆς ζωῆς)

Jesus uses light to refer to God’s truth and goodness that are revealed to the world by Jesus. He is the embodiment of God’s truth and goodness. See the discussion of light and darkness in the General Notes to this chapter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile. Alternate translation: [I am the one who reveals God’s truth and goodness, that is like a light, to the world … but will have that truth and goodness of life]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τοῦ κόσμου

˱of˲_the world

Here, world refers to all the people in the world. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of the people of the world]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοὶ

¬the the_‹one› following (Some words not found in SR-GNT: πάλιν Οὖν αὐτοῖς ἐλάλησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων Ἐγώ εἰμί τό φῶς τοῦ κόσμου ὁ ἀκολουθῶν ἐμοί οὒ μή περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ ἀλλʼ ἕξει τό φῶς τῆς ζωῆς)

Here, following means to become Jesus’ disciple and obey his teachings. See how you translated a similar phrase in [1:43](../01/43.md). Alternate translation: [the one who becomes my disciple] or [the one who obeys me]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐ μὴ περιπατήσῃ ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ

Jesus uses the phrase walk in the darkness to refer to living a sinful life. If this might confuse your readers, you could use a simile. Alternate translation: [may certainly not live as if he were living in the darkness of sin]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

φῶς τῆς ζωῆς

light light ¬the ˱of˲_life

Here, John records Jesus using the of to describe light that gives life. If this use of the possessive form is not clear in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [light that brings life]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῆς ζωῆς

¬the ˱of˲_life