John 1:9 Meaning and Explanation
“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The real Light has come, and its reach is every single person born into the world.
The Context of John 1:9
Having said that John the Baptist was not the Light, the Gospel now names the true one. The 'true Light' is Christ, and the writer marks the sweep of His coming: He gives light to every man entering the world.
What Does John 1:9 Mean?
After clearing away any confusion about John, the writer turns to the real thing. This is 'the true Light,' the genuine article that every lesser lamp only hinted at. And its reach is staggering: it lights 'every man that cometh into the world.' Its reach is every person born, the whole world over, every nation included. There is a candle that the true Light has set going in the heart of every human being, a knowledge that we were made and are not alone.
The word for 'true' here means real and genuine, the original of which all others are copies. Conscience, the longing for meaning, the ache after God: these are the early light of Christ touching every life. And He drew near. The Light that touches all came into the world in person, in Jesus. The same God who left a glimmer in every heart came near enough to be seen, so that the glimmer could become a sunrise.
John 1:9 in the Original Language
alethinos (ἀληθινός), 'true' -- real, genuine, the authentic original as opposed to a copy or shadow.
How to Apply John 1:9 Today
No one is left outside the reach of this Light. The quiet sense that life means something, that we were made and are not alone, is the true Light already touching us. In Christ that first glimmer was meant to become full day, and the invitation to walk toward it belongs to every one of us.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 1:9
What does John 1:9 mean?
The real Light has come, and its reach is every single person born into the world.
What is the context of John 1:9?
Having said that John the Baptist was not the Light, the Gospel now names the true one. The 'true Light' is Christ, and the writer marks the sweep of His coming: He gives light to every man entering the world.
How can I apply John 1:9 today?
No one is left outside the reach of this Light. The quiet sense that life means something, that we were made and are not alone, is the true Light already touching us. In Christ that first glimmer was meant to become full day, and the invitation to walk toward it belongs to every one of us.