John 1:4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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”).