John 1:4

NET ©

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

NIV ©

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

NASB ©

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

NLT ©

Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.

MSG ©

What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.

BBE ©

What came into existence in him was life, and the life was the light of men.

NRSV ©

in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

NKJV ©

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

KJV
In
<1722>
him
<846>
was
<2258> (5713)
life
<2222>_;
and
<2532>
the life
<2222>
was
<2258> (5713)
the light
<5457>
of men
<444>_.
GREEK
en
<1722>
PREP
autw
<846>
P-DSM
zwh
<2222>
N-NSF
hn
<1510> (5713)
V-IXI-3S
kai
<2532>
CONJ
h
<3588>
T-NSF
zwh
<2222>
N-NSF
hn
<1510> (5713)
V-IXI-3S
to
<3588>
T-NSN
fwv
<5457>
N-NSN
twn
<3588>
T-GPM
anyrwpwn
<444>
N-GPM
NET © [draft] ITL
In
<1722>
him
<846>
was
<1510>
life
<2222>
, and
<2532>
the life
<2222>
was
<1510>
the light
<5457>
of mankind
<444>
.
NET © Notes

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”).