1 John 2:11

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The apostle John addresses believers immediately after declaring their sins are forgiven, contrasting those who love their brother with those who hate him. (1 John 2:10-12)

The words — μισῶν (misōn) denotes active hostility, while ἀδελφὸν (adelphon) specifies the familial bond of fellow believers. ἐν (en) locates the hater within a state of spiritual obscurity.

The thread — The darkness motif parallels John 12:35’s warning to walk while possessing the Light, and 1 John 1:6’s assertion that claiming fellowship while walking in darkness is a lie.

Why it lands — The text states that hatred toward a brother places a person in darkness and blinds their eyes, making directional clarity impossible. It demands immediate self-examination of one’s relational conduct as proof of spiritual standing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Cross-references

John 12:35 Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Proverbs 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”
2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 John 2:9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness.
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.