John 1:5 nasb — The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

NASB

"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

— John 1:5, NASB

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John 1:5 in Other Translations

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John 1 — Context

2

He was in the beginning with God.

3

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4

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

5

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7

He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

8

He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

John 1:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 1:5 say?
John 1:5 in the NASB reads: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Where is John 1:5 in the Bible?
John 1:5 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 1, verse 5.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 1:5.
What translation should I read John 1:5 in?
John 1:5 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 1:5?
John 1:5 reads (NASB): “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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