John 3:20 Meaning and Explanation
“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Everyone who does evil hates the light and stays away from it, afraid that his deeds will be exposed.
What Does John 3:20 Mean?
Jesus continues the figure. The one practicing evil does not merely neglect the light; he hates it and will not come to it, as a man with a false ledger avoids the auditor. What he fears is exposure — that his deeds should be reproved, shown in their true colors.
Here is why the gospel can be resisted by minds that find no flaw in it: the struggle lies deeper than argument. Light is welcome to lovers of truth and threatening to keepers of secrets. The verse calls for self-examination before it permits any judgment of others — what am I keeping from the light? Exposure feels like death; but in Christ's hands it is the beginning of healing, for what his light reveals, his blood can cleanse (1 John 1:7).
John 3:20 in the Original Language
elencho (ἐλέγχω), 'reproved' -- to expose, to bring into the light and show a thing for what it is.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 3:20
What does John 3:20 mean?
Everyone who does evil hates the light and stays away from it, afraid that his deeds will be exposed.