1 John 2:11
in 1 John 2But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.
KJV
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
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This verse in 1 John 2
Commentary
19 notes on this verseWhoever does evil and hates his brother has extinguished the lamp of love, and therefore he walks in darkness.
This site's exposition
hates his brother
on 1 John 2:9-11
Love is the second test: If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. The one who loves has no cause of stumbling in him, the Greek skandalon, a trap. The one who hates does not know where he is going.
This site's exposition
the darkness has blinded his eyes
Hatred keeps a person in the dark and blinds him. The one who hates his brother walks without knowing where he is going, and the blindness deepens the longer the hatred stays.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"For he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth." A great thing, my brethren: mark it, we beseech you. "He that hateth his brother walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes." What so blind as these who hate their brethren? For that ye may know that they are blind, they have stumbled at a Mountain. The Stone which was "cut out of the Mountain without hands," is it not Christ, who came of the kingdom of the Jews, without the work of man? Has not that Stone broken in pieces all the kingdoms of the earth, that is, all the dominations of idols and demons? Has not that Stone grown, and become a great mountain, and filled the whole earth?
Do we point with the finger to this Mountain in like manner as the moon on its third day is pointed out to men? For example, when they wish people to see the new moon, they say, Lo, the moon! lo, where it is! and if there be some there who are not sharp-sighted, and say, Where? then the finger is put forth that they may see it. Sometimes when they are ashamed to be thought blind, they say they have seen what they have not seen. Do we in this way point out the Church, my brethren? Is it not open? Is it not manifest? Has it not possessed all nations? Is not that fulfilled which so many years before was promised to Abraham, that in his seed should all nations be blessed? It was promised to one believer, and the world is filled with thousands of believers. Behold here the mountain filling the whole face of the earth! Behold the city of which it is said, "A city set upon a mountain cannot be hid!" But those stumble at the mountain, and when it is said to them, Go up; "There is no mountain," say they, and dash their heads against it sooner than seek a habitation there.
If a man hates his brother, he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going. In his ignorance he goes down to hell, and in his blindness he is thrown headlong into punishment, because he withdraws from the light of Christ.
"He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and …
The person who loses sight of love will not know which way to turn when it comes to doing good works.
11 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
Those who hate Christ do not realize that they have become the inheritors of eternal fire. This is what the devil makes them suffer, because he has blinded their inner vision.
He who hates his brother is in darkness, etc. For he, ignorant, falls into hell, blind and unaware, withdrawing from the light of Christ who warns and says: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will …
He begins speaking about love for one's neighbor. He says that closeness or love for God is recognized first of all from love for one's neighbor. For it is impossible that one illumined by the knowledge of God and filled with love for Him should …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
He that hateth his brother - And he must hate, if he does not love him: there is no medium. Is in darkness - In sin, perplexity, entanglement. He walketh in darkness, and knoweth not that he is in the high road to hell.
Spiritual light is instilled by the Spirit of grace, and one of the first-fruits of that Spirit is love; he then who is possessed with malignity towards a Christian brother must needs be destitute of spiritual light; consequently he walks in darkness (
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); his life is agreeable to a dark mind and conscience, and he knows not whither he goes; he sees not whither this dark spirit carries him, and particularly that it will carry him to the world of utter darkness, because darkness hath blinded his eyes,
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But he that hateth his brother is in darkness,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But he that hateth his brother - The word here used would, in this connection, include both the mere absence of love, and positive hatred. It is designed to include the whole of that state of mind where there is not love for the brethren. Is in darkness - 1Jn 2:9. And walketh in darkness - He is like one who walks in the dark, and who sees no object distinctly. See the notes at Joh 12:35. And knoweth not whither he goeth - Like one in the dark.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"Where love is not, there hatred is; for the heart cannot remain a void" [BENGEL]. in the light--as his proper element. his brother--his neighbor, and especially those of the Christian brotherhood. The very title "brother" is a reason why love should be exercised. even until now--notwithstanding that "the true light already has begun to shine" (1Jo 2:8).
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
is in darkness . . . walketh--"is" marks his continuing STATE: he has never come out of "the darkness" (so Greek); "walketh" marks his OUTWARD WALK and acts. whither--Greek, "where"; including not only the destination to which, but the way whereby. hath blinded--rather, as Greek aorist, "blinded" of old.
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But he that hateth his brother is in darkness - He is still in his heathen or unconverted state; and walketh in darkness, his conduct being a proof of that state; and knoweth not whither he goeth - having no proper knowledge of God or eternal things; and cannot tell whether he is going to heaven or hell, because that darkness has blinded his eyes - darkened his whole soul, mind, and heart.
The words behind it
27 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | The [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μισῶν | mison | hating | G3404 → | 40 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφὸν | adelphon | brother | G80 → | 343 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σκοτίᾳ | skotia | darkness | G4653 → | 16 times |
| ἐστὶν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σκοτίᾳ | skotia | darkness | G4653 → | 16 times |
| περιπατεῖ | peripatei | walks | G4043 → | 94 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| οἶδεν | oiden | does he know | ||
| ποῦ | pou | where | G4226 → | |
| ὑπάγει, | hupagei | he is going, | G5217 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | because | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σκοτία | skotia | darkness | G4653 → | 16 times |
| ἐτύφλωσεν | etuphlosen | has blinded | G5186 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀφθαλμοὺς | ophthalmous | eyes | G3788 → | 100 times |
| αὐτοῦ.¶ | autou | of him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ὁThe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μισῶνhating
misonG3404 →40 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφὸνbrother
adelphonG80 →343 times
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
σκοτίᾳdarkness
skotiaG4653 →16 times
ἐστὶνis
estinG1510 →2333 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
σκοτίᾳdarkness
skotiaG4653 →16 times
περιπατεῖwalks
peripateiG4043 →94 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
οἶδενdoes he know
oiden
ποῦwhere
pouG4226 →
ὑπάγει,he is going,
hupageiG5217 →
ὅτιbecause
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
σκοτίαdarkness
skotiaG4653 →16 times
ἐτύφλωσενhas blinded
etuphlosenG5186 →
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ὀφθαλμοὺςeyes
ophthalmousG3788 →100 times
αὐτοῦ.¶of him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 John 1:6If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 2:4
If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- John 3:19–21
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- 1 John 4:20
Through
Titus 3:3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
it leads to
- Ephesians 2:1–3
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- Colossians 1:21
Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
- Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
- Ephesians 2:1–3
Through
Revelation 3:17You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:7
One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
- Proverbs 13:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 John
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Augustine of Hippo, Ten Homilies on 1 John 1; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Caesarius of Arles, SERMONS 90.6; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 John; Origen of Alexandria, SERMONS ON LEVITICUS 13.2.4 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 John.