John 12:36
New International Version
Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

New Living Translation
Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

English Standard Version
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Berean Standard Bible
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

Berean Literal Bible
While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light." Jesus spoke these things, and having gone away, He was hidden from them.

King James Bible
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

New King James Version
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

New American Standard Bible
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus proclaimed, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

NASB 1995
“While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

NASB 1977
“While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He departed and hid Himself from them.

Legacy Standard Bible
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.

Amplified Bible
While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].” Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them.

Christian Standard Bible
While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Have faith in the light while it is with you, and you will be children of the light." After Jesus had said these things, he left and went into hiding.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light." After Jesus had said this, he was concealed as he left.

Good News Translation
Believe in the light, then, while you have it, so that you will be the people of the light." After Jesus said this, he went off and hid himself from them.

International Standard Version
As long as you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." After Jesus had said this, he went away and hid from them.

Majority Standard Bible
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

NET Bible
While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.

New Heart 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
In the degree that you have light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." Jesus said this, and went away and hid 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
while you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” Jesus spoke these things, and having gone away, He was hid from them,

Berean Literal Bible
While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light." Jesus spoke these things, and having gone away, He was hidden from them.

Young's Literal Translation
while ye have the light, believe in the light, that sons of light ye may become.' These things spake Jesus, and having gone away, he was hid from them,

Smith's Literal Translation
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye might be the sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and having departed, he was hid from them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things Jesus spoke; and he went away, and hid himself from them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may be sons of the Light.” Jesus spoke these things, and then he went away and hid himself from them.

New American Bible
While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light.” After he had said this, Jesus left and hid from them.

New Revised Standard Version
While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become the sons of the light. Jesus spoke these things, and went away and hid himself from them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“While The Light is with you, believe in The Light, that you might be the children of The Light.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become the sons of light. These things spoke Jesus, and he departed, and concealed himself from them.

Godbey New Testament
While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may be the sons of light. And Jesus spoke these things, and having gone out was hidden from them.

Haweis New Testament
While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of the light. These things spake Jesus, and going away, concealed himself from them.

Mace New Testament
while ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light, after having said these things, Jesus retir'd, and conceal'd himself from them.

Weymouth New Testament
In the degree that you have light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." Jesus said this, and went away and hid Himself from them.

Worrell New Testament
While ye have the Light, believe on the Light, that ye may become sons of Light" These things spake Jesus, and, going away, He was hidden from them.

Worsley New Testament
While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and then went away, and concealed himself from them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Predicts His Death
35Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. 37Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.…

Cross References
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

1 Thessalonians 5:5
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

1 John 1:5-7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:12-13
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. / He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,

Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Isaiah 42:6-7
“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, / to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.

Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

Isaiah 2:5
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Psalm 27:1
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?


Treasury of Scripture

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.

believe.

John 1:7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

John 3:21
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

the children.

Luke 16:8
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Ephesians 5:8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

1 Thessalonians 5:5,8
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness…

and departed.

John 8:59
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 10:39,40
Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, …

John 11:54
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

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John 12
1. Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.
9. The people flock to see Lazarus.
10. The chief priests consult to kill him.
12. Jesus rides into Jerusalem.
20. Greeks desire to see Jesus.
23. He foretells his death.
37. The people are generally blinded;
42. yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him;
44. therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith.














While you have the light
This phrase emphasizes the urgency and immediacy of responding to Jesus, who is the "light of the world" (John 8:12). The Greek word for "light" is "phōs," which signifies not only physical light but also spiritual illumination and truth. In the historical context, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience familiar with the concept of light as a symbol of God's presence and guidance, as seen in the Old Testament (e.g., Psalm 27:1). The urgency is a call to recognize and accept Jesus' divine revelation before it is too late.

believe in the light
Here, "believe" is translated from the Greek word "pisteuō," which means to have faith or trust. This is not merely intellectual assent but a deep, personal trust in Jesus as the Messiah. The call to "believe in the light" is an invitation to embrace Jesus' teachings and to live in accordance with His truth. Historically, this belief was counter-cultural, as it required a shift from traditional Jewish expectations of the Messiah to accepting Jesus' radical message of salvation.

so that you may become sons of light
The phrase "sons of light" is a Hebraic expression indicating those who belong to or are characterized by light. In the Greek, "sons" (huioi) implies a close relationship and likeness. This transformation into "sons of light" suggests a profound change in identity and purpose, aligning believers with God's kingdom. Scripturally, this echoes themes from the Dead Sea Scrolls, where the community saw themselves as "sons of light" in opposition to the "sons of darkness." It signifies a life transformed by Christ, marked by righteousness and truth.

These things Jesus spoke
This phrase underscores the authority and intentionality of Jesus' words. The Greek verb "laleō" (spoke) indicates a deliberate act of communication. Jesus' teachings are not random but purposeful, aimed at revealing divine truth and calling people to faith. Historically, Jesus' public ministry was a time of direct teaching and revelation, where His words carried the weight of divine authority.

and then He went away and was hidden from them
The act of Jesus going away and being "hidden" (Greek: "kryptō") signifies a shift in His ministry. This withdrawal can be seen as a symbolic act, indicating that the opportunity to respond to His message is limited. It also foreshadows the coming events of His passion, where He would be physically removed from His followers. Historically, this reflects the increasing opposition Jesus faced, leading to His crucifixion. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly opportunities to respond to God's call.

(36) While ye have light, believe in the light.--Better, as above, According as ye have the light. The words are repeated and placed in the most emphatic position in the sentence.

That ye may be the children of light.--Better, that ye may become sons of light. (Comp. for this phrase Notes on John 17:12; Luke 10:6; Luke 16:8; also Ephesians 5:8.) The thought here is the one familiar in St. John, that the believer should become like unto Him in whom he believed. Those who believed in the light should receive light, and become themselves centres whence light should radiate to others and illumine their own paths.

These things spake Jesus, and departed.--(Comp. Note on Luke 21:37.) He retired probably to Bethany. . . .

Verse 36. - But he concludes with one more glorious invitation. As, up to this moment, you have the Light, Believe in the Light; treat it as light - receive the revelation I have given you (cf. the ninth and eleventh chapters); "Work while it is called today;" "stumble not;" make no irreparable mistake. "Become " - so walk that ye may become yourselves sons of Light, illumined and luminous. This fine expression is found in Luke 16:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; and, with alteration of υἱοὶ into τέκρα, in Ephesians 5:8. This last word, public word, of Jesus, which was in part accepted by some of his hearers, as we see from ver. 42, corresponds with the Beatitudes, and sustains one at least of the main theses of the prologue: "The Life was the Light of men." These things spake Jesus, and departed, and was hidden from them. This utterance records the close of the Lord's public ministry, and therefore the solemn termination of the various scenes and discourses preserved in the synoptic narrative. The people of his love saw him no more till he appeared as a criminal in the hands' of the officers of the Sanhedrin, on his way to the Praetorium. In the silence of the home- at Bethany he probably spent the last day of his earthly ministry, which terminated in the marvelous converse at the Last Supper. "This time it was no mere cloud which obscured the sun, for to them the sun itself had set." And now, through several verses, the evangelist presents his own reflections on the cause of the strange paradoxical proceeding which led "his own" not to receive him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
While
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

you have
ἔχετε (echete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Light,
φῶς (phōs)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457: Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.

believe
πιστεύετε (pisteuete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Light,
φῶς (phōs)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457: Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

you may become
γένησθε (genēsthe)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

sons
υἱοὶ (huioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.

of light.”
φωτὸς (phōtos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457: Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.

[After] Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

had spoken
ἐλάλησεν (elalēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

these things,
Ταῦτα (Tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

He went away
ἀπελθὼν (apelthōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 565: From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.

[and] was hidden
ἐκρύβη (ekrybē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2928: To hide, conceal, lay up. A primary verb; to conceal.

from
ἀπ’ (ap’)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

them.
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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