John 1:4

In him was life, ¹  and the life was the light of mankind. ² 

Ps 49:6; Ps 60:1-3; Ps 84:11; Isa 35:4,5; Isa 42:6,7,16; Mal 4:2; Mt 4:16; Lu 1:78,79; Lu 2:32; Joh 1:8,9; Joh 5:21,26; Joh 8:12; Joh 9:5; Joh 11:25; Joh 12:35,46; Joh 14:6; Ac 26:23; 1Co 15:45; Eph 5:14; Col 3:4; 1Jo 1:2; 1Jo 1:5-7; 1Jo 5:11; Re 22:1; Re 22:16

¹ tn John uses ζωή (zwh) 37 times: 17 times it occurs with αἰώνιος (aiwnios), and in the remaining occurrences outside the prologue it is clear from context that “eternal” life is meant. The two uses in 1:4, if they do not refer to “eternal” life, would be the only exceptions. (Also 1 John uses ζωή 13 times, always of “eternal” life.)

sn An allusion to Ps 36:9, which gives significant OT background: “For with you is the fountain of life; In your light we see light.” In later Judaism, Bar 4:2 expresses a similar idea. Life, especially eternal life, will become one of the major themes of John’s Gospel.

² tn Or “humanity”; Grk “of men” (but ἄνθρωπος [anqrwpo"] is used in a generic sense here, not restricted to males only, thus “mankind,” “humanity”).