CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/1-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/43_Jhn_01_10.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 1:10 - The Witness of John" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/1-10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/1-10.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 10</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad10.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/1-9.htm" title="John 1:9">◄</a> John 1:10 <a href="/john/1-11.htm" title="John 1:11">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/1.htm">New International Version</a> He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. <a href="/nlt/john/1.htm">New Living Translation</a> He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. <a href="/esv/john/1.htm">English Standard Version</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. <a href="/bsb/john/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. <a href="/blb/john/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and the world did not know Him. <a href="/kjv/john/1.htm">King James Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. <a href="/nkjv/john/1.htm">New King James Version</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. <a href="/nasb_/john/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. <a href="/nasb/john/1.htm">NASB 1995</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. <a href="/nasb77/john/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a> He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. <a href="/lsb/john/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. <a href="/amp/john/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> He (Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. <a href="/csb/john/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. <a href="/hcsb/john/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. <a href="/asv/john/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not. <a href="/cev/john/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The Word was in the world, but no one knew him, though God had made the world with his Word. <a href="/erv/john/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. <a href="/gwt/john/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him. Yet, the world didn't recognize him. <a href="/gnt/john/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. <a href="/isv/john/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through him. Yet the world did not recognize him. <a href="/msb/john/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. <a href="/net/john/1.htm">NET Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. <a href="/nheb/john/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through him, but the world did not recognize him. <a href="/wbt/john/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. <a href="/wey/john/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> He was in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world did not recognize Him. <a href="/web/john/1.htm">World English Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him: <a href="/blb/john/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and the world did not know Him. <a href="/ylt/john/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> in the world he was, and the world through him was made, and the world did not know him: <a href="/slt/john/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> He was in the world, and the world was by him, and the world knew him not.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. <a href="/cpdv/john/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him. <a href="/nabre/john/1.htm">New American Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. <a href="/nrsvce/john/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> He was in the world, and the world was under his hand, and yet the world knew him not. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/1.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> He was in the world, and the world existed by his hand, and the world knew him not.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/1.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. <a href="/godbey/john/1.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. <a href="/haweis/john/1.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. <a href="/mace/john/1.htm">Mace New Testament</a> he was in the world, even the world that had been made by him, but the world knew him not. <a href="/wey/john/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> He was in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world did not recognize Him. <a href="/worrell/john/1.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world knew Him not. <a href="/worsley/john/1.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and yet the world knew Him not: <a href="/parallel/john/1-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=53" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/1.htm">The Witness of John</a> …9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10<a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēn (V-IIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">He was</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2889.htm" title="2889: kosmō (N-DMS) -- Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).">world,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and though</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2889.htm" title="2889: kosmos (N-NMS) -- Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).">world</a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: egeneto (V-AIM-3S) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">was made</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: di’ (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">through</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Him,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2889.htm" title="2889: kosmos (N-NMS) -- Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).">world</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">did not</a> <a href="/greek/1097.htm" title="1097: egnō (V-AIA-3S) -- A prolonged form of a primary verb; to know in a great variety of applications and with many implications.">recognize</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Him.</a> 11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/1-1.htm">John 1:1-3</a> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a> For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. <a href="/hebrews/1-2.htm">Hebrews 1:2</a> But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a> The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. <a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19</a> 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. <a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a> 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.” <a href="/john/12-46.htm">John 12:46</a> I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness. <a href="/1_john/5-19.htm">1 John 5:19</a> We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. <a href="/romans/1-20.htm">Romans 1:20</a> For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. <a href="/1_corinthians/8-6.htm">1 Corinthians 8:6</a> yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. <a href="/acts/17-24.htm">Acts 17:24-25</a> The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. <a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">Genesis 1:1</a> In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. <a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3</a> He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. <a href="/psalms/33-6.htm">Psalm 33:6</a> By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. <a href="/proverbs/8-30.htm">Proverbs 8:30-31</a> Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence. / I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.was in.<a href="/john/1-18.htm">John 1:18</a> No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.<a href="/john/5-17.htm">John 5:17</a> But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.<a href="/genesis/11-6.htm">Genesis 11:6-9</a> And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do… and the world was.<a href="/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3</a> All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.<a href="/jeremiah/10-11.htm">Jeremiah 10:11,12</a> Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens… <a href="/hebrews/1-2.htm">Hebrews 1:2</a> Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;knew.<a href="/john/1-5.htm">John 1:5</a> And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.<a href="/john/17-25.htm">John 17:25</a> O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.<a href="/matthew/11-27.htm">Matthew 11:27</a> All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/1-4.htm">Existence</a> <a href="/luke/21-31.htm">Recognize</a> <a href="/john/1-9.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/1-15.htm">Existence</a> <a href="/john/1-31.htm">Recognize</a> <a href="/john/1-29.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">John 1</div>1. <a href="/john/1-1.htm">The divinity, humanity, office, and incarnation of Jesus Christ.</a> 15. <a href="/john/1-15.htm">The testimony of John.</a> 39. <a href="/john/1-39.htm">The calling of Simon and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>He was in the world This phrase emphasizes the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God becoming flesh and dwelling among humanity. It reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies such as <a href="/isaiah/7-14.htm">Isaiah 7:14</a>, which speaks of Immanuel, "God with us." The presence of Jesus in the world signifies God's direct intervention in human history, a pivotal moment that had been anticipated by the Jewish people.and though the world was made through Him This highlights the role of Jesus as the divine Logos, the Word through whom all things were created, as stated in <a href="/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3</a>. It connects to <a href="/genesis/1.htm">Genesis 1</a>, where God speaks creation into existence, and <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a>, which affirms that all things were created through and for Christ. This underscores His preexistence and divine authority over creation.the world did not recognize Him Despite Jesus' divine nature and the testimony of creation itself, humanity failed to acknowledge Him as the Messiah. This reflects the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart prevalent among people, as prophesied in <a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3</a>, which describes the suffering servant as "despised and rejected by men." It also foreshadows the rejection Jesus would face from His own people, as seen throughout the Gospels.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The central figure in this verse, referred to as "He," who is the Word made flesh and the Creator of the world. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_world.htm">The World</a> Refers to the created order, including humanity, which was made through Jesus but failed to recognize Him. 3. <a href="/topical/c/creation.htm">Creation</a> The act of bringing the universe into existence, attributed to Jesus as the divine Logos (Word).<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_creator_among_us.htm">The Creator Among Us</a> Jesus, the Creator, entered His creation, demonstrating His humility and love. Reflect on the significance of God becoming man and dwelling among us. <a href="/topical/r/recognition_and_rejection.htm">Recognition and Rejection</a> Despite being the Creator, Jesus was not recognized by the world. Consider how we might fail to recognize Jesus in our daily lives and the importance of seeking Him earnestly. <a href="/topical/t/the_mystery_of_the_incarnation.htm">The Mystery of the Incarnation</a> The Word becoming flesh is a profound mystery that calls for worship and awe. Meditate on the incarnation and its implications for our faith. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_blindness.htm">Spiritual Blindness</a> The world's failure to recognize Jesus highlights spiritual blindness. Pray for spiritual sight to see Jesus for who He truly is and to share this vision with others. <a href="/topical/c/creation's_testimony.htm">Creation's Testimony</a> Creation itself testifies to the Creator. Engage with the natural world as a means to deepen your understanding and appreciation of God's power and presence.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 1</a> <a href="/q/what_does_genesis_3_15's_enmity_mean.htm">What does confessing with the mouth mean for salvation?</a> <a href="/q/how_do_john_17_14_and_3_16_align.htm">In John 17:14, Jesus says His followers are hated by the world, yet John 3:16 says God loves the world—how can these views be reconciled? </a> <a href="/q/how_do_rulers_miss_jesus'_divinity.htm">1 Corinthians 2:8: How do we reconcile Paul's claim that rulers didn't recognize the Lord of glory with historical accounts of Jesus' public ministry and claims?</a> <a href="/q/why_are_followers_called_both_'friends'_and_'servants'.htm">John 15:15: How can Jesus call his followers 'friends' here, yet other scriptures refer to them as 'servants' or 'slaves' (e.g., Romans 1:1)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) In the world.--This manifestation in the flesh recalls the pre-incarnate existence during the whole history of the world, and the creative act itself. (Comp. <a href="/context/john/1-2.htm" title="The same was in the beginning with God.">John 1:2-3</a>, Note). The two facts are the constant presence of the true Light, and the creation of the world by Him. The world, then, in its highest creature man, with spiritual power for seeing the true Light, ought to have recognised Him. Spirit ought to have felt and known His presence. In this would have been the exercise of its true power and its highest good. But the world was sense-bound, and lost its spiritual perception, and "knew Him not." This verse brings back again the thought of <a href="/context/john/1-3.htm" title="All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.">John 1:3-5</a>, to prepare for the deeper gloom which follows.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 10, 11. - (c) The twofold effect of the pre-Incarnation activity in the elected nation and individuals. The highest expression of this truth was seen in the unique "coming" of which the evangelist had been the spectator and witness; but the words cannot be limited to it - they stretch back to the beginning of the creation of the world and on to the final consummation. They explain or divide the solemn theme of the previous announcement into two related proofs of the fact that the Light which illumines every man shineth in darkness, and that the darkness apprehendeth it not. Verse 10. - Of him who was evermore coming into the world, it is said, In the world he was, and the world was made (came into being) through him, and the world recognized him not. The κόσμος is a term specially used by St. John to denote the ordered whole of the universe, viewed apart from God (see Introduction). Sometimes this is emphasized by the pronoun, "This world," when it is contrasted with the higher and heavenly "order" to which the Lord's personality belonged, both before and after this manifestation in the flesh. From being thus the scene of ordered existence apart from God, it rapidly moves into the organized resistance to the will of God, and therefore it often denotes humanity taken as a whole apart from God and grace. It may be the object of the Divine love and compassion (<a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a>), while the redemption and deliverance of the world from sin is the great end of the ministry and work of Jesus (ver. 29); but throughout this gospel "the world" is the synonym of the adverse power and order of humanity, until it is illumined, regenerated, by the Spirit of God. The world here signifies humanity and its dwelling place, considered apart from the changes wrought in any part of it by grace. The three assertions concerning the world drop the imagery of light and life, and by their emphatic concatenation, without the assistance of a Greek particle, tell the tragic story of human departure from God. Thus only can the mystery of the previous verses be explained. At the very forefront of the argument of the Gospel is put a statement which concedes the strange perplexity of the rejection of the incarnate Logos. Not only does the entire narrative illustrate the awful fact, strange and inconceivable as such an idea appears when baldly stated, but the author generalizes the antipathy between the Logos and the world into a more comprehensive, damning, and yet undeniable, proposition. From the beginning, though the world came into being through the Logos, though he was in the world, in every atom of matter, in every vibration of force, in every energy of life, yet the world, notwithstanding all its power of recognizing the fact, yet the world, as concentrated in an antagonistic humanity, did not come to know him fully (ἔγνω). This is the lesson we learn from all the melancholy and tragic perversions of his glorious perfections which every heathenism and every cultus, and even every philosophy, has perpetrated. St. Paul says precisely the same thing: "The world by wisdom knew not God" (see also <a href="/romans/1-19.htm">Romans 1:19-22</a>, which might be taken as an inspired commentary on the whole passage). And the awful statement is still, with reference to the majority of men, true, that "the world knoweth not God, neither the Father, nor the Word, nor the Holy Ghost." <a href="/commentaries/john/1-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>He was ἦν (ēn) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. the τῷ (tō) Article - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. world, κόσμῳ (kosmō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2889.htm">Strong's 2889: </a> Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally). and [though] καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. the ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. world κόσμος (kosmos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2889.htm">Strong's 2889: </a> Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally). was made ἐγένετο (egeneto) Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. through δι’ (di’) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. Him, αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. the ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. world κόσμος (kosmos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2889.htm">Strong's 2889: </a> Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally). {did} not οὐκ (ouk) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. recognize ἔγνω (egnō) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1097.htm">Strong's 1097: </a> A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications. Him. αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/1-10.htm">NT Gospels: John 1:10 He was in the world and (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/1-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 1:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 1:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/1-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 1:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 1:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>