1 John 2:9
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →To claim to be in the light while hating a brother is to remain in darkness still.
What Does 1 John 2:9 Mean?
John applies the test of light to relationships. The one who says he is in the light yet hates his brother is, despite his claim, in darkness even until now. Hatred and the light cannot share the same heart.
How we treat others reveals where we truly stand. A profession of walking in God's light is exposed as false by hatred toward a brother. This is not about occasional friction but a settled hostility. The light of Christ, when it dwells in us, melts hatred into love. To remain in bitterness is to remain in the dark, whatever we may claim with our lips.
In the Original Language
adelphos (ἀδελφός), 'brother' -- a fellow believer, the immediate object of the love John commands.