Bible Strands
John 1:4
In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The unnamed evangelist opens his Gospel with a theological prologue addressed to a broad audience, establishing the identity and work of the Word before any narrative begins.
The words — ζωή (zōē, "life") appears twice: first anarthrous, denoting life as a quality or category, then with the definite article (ἡ ζωή), pointing to a specific, defined life — the life that belongs to the Word.
The thread — The light-life connection recurs in John 8:12 and 12:46, where Jesus claims the light identity for Himself; John 5:26 grounds the Son's possession of life in the Father's grant.
Why it lands — The verse is not a metaphor but an identification: the light men encounter is not a reflection but the life of the Word Himself, and to receive it is to receive Him.
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
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Cross-references
- John 8:12 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.”
- John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
- John 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.
- 1 John 1:5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
- John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
- Luke 1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
- John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
- Isaiah 42:6 “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
- John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- 1 John 5:11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.