Bible Strands
John 1:5
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Evangelist's prologue, written to a community of believers, positioning the identity of the Logos before the narrative of John the Baptist begins. It sits between the declaration that the life was the light of men (1:4) and the introduction of the Baptist (1:6).
The words — The BSB's "overcome" translates καταλαμβάνω (katelaben), whose literal sense is "comprehend, grasp, seize." The darkness does not merely fail to destroy the Light; it fails to grasp it.
The thread — John 3:19 states the verdict: men loved darkness rather than the Light. John 12:36 urges belief while the Light is still present, and 1 Corinthians 2:14 explains why the natural mind cannot receive it.
Why it lands — The Light is already in the room; the question is not whether it will win but whether you will comprehend it. The verse removes the option of waiting for a clearer sign.
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
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Cross-references
- John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- John 12:36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Job 24:13 Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.
- John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
- Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
- Proverbs 1:22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 1:29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.