Passage
John 1.11
Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT
Immediate context (±2 verses)
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ASV (ASV)
"9. There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not."
"11. He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not."
"12. But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:9-13, ASV)
WEB (WEB)
"9. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him."
"11. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him."
"12. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13. who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:9-13, WEB)
KJV (KJV)
"9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not."
"11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not."
"12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: power: or, the right, or, privilege 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:9-13, KJV)
YLT (YLT)
"9. He was the true Light, which doth enlighten every man, coming to the world; 10. in the world he was, and the world through him was made, and the world did not know him:"
"11. to his own things he came, and his own people did not receive him;"
"12. but as many as did receive him to them he gave authority to become sons of God, to those believing in his name, 13. who, not of blood nor of a will of flesh, nor of a will of man but, of God were begotten." (John 1:9-13, YLT)
Setting
- Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- Audience: later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- Time period: events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95
Theological reading
Key words
No Strong's-tagged lexicon matches found in this passage. (Lexicon coverage is curated, ~159 of the most apologetically-loaded Greek/Hebrew terms.)
Why these four translations
ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.
The four:
- ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.
See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.