John 12:36

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

American King James Version (AKJV)

While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

American Standard Version (ASV)

While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

In so far as you have the light, put your faith in the light so that you may become sons of light. With these words Jesus went away and for a time was not seen again by them.

Webster's Revision

While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and concealed himself from them.

World English Bible

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.

English Revised Version (ERV)

While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.

Clarke's John 12:36 Bible Commentary

Children of light - Let the light, the truth of Christ, so dwell in and work by you that ye may be all light in the Lord: that as truly as a child is the produce of his own parent, and partakes of his nature, so ye may be children of the light, having nothing in you but truth and righteousness.

Did hide himself from them - Either by rendering himself invisible, or by suddenly mingling with the crowd, so that they could not perceive him. See John 8:59. Probably it means no more than that he withdrew from them, and went to Bethany, as was his custom a little before his crucifixion; and concealed himself there during the night, and taught publicly every day in the temple. It was in the night season that they endeavored to seize upon him, in the absence of the multitude.

Barnes's John 12:36 Bible Commentary

While ye have light - This implied two things:

1. that he was the light, or was the Messiah.

2. that he was soon to be taken away by death.

In this manner he answered their question - not directly, but in a way to convey the truth to their minds, and at the same time to administer to them a useful admonition. Jesus never aroused the prejudices of men unnecessarily, yet he never shrank from declaring to them the truth in some way, however unpalatable it might be.

Believe in the light - That is, in the Messiah, who is the light of the world.

That ye may be the children ... - That ye may be the friends and followers of the Messiah. See the notes at Matthew 1:1. Compare John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8; "Now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light."

Did hide himself from them - John 8:59. He went out to Bethany, where he commonly passed the night, Luke 21:37.

Wesley's John 12:36 Bible Commentary

12:36 The children of light - The children of God, wise, holy, happy.

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