Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
Verse

1 John 2:9

ESV Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.
NIV Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.
NASB The one who says that he is in the Light and yet hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.
CSB The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.
NLT If anyone claims, 'I am living in the light,' but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness.
KJV He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
NKJV He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

What does 1 John 2:9 mean?

Here, John reveals the new commandment hinted at in the previous verses. His statement is direct, simple, and easy to understand: those who claim to follow Christ, but demonstrate hatred for fellow Christians, are actually walking in darkness. It is impossible for one who hates other believers to honestly claim to have fellowship with Christ. This is stated in strong, clear terms.

In Hebrew thinking, "light" was the ultimate ideal. All good things were described in terms of "light," all evil things in terms of "darkness." So, it's not surprising to see the concept of "being in the light" used often in John's letter. God is light (1 John 1:5), we are to walk in the light as Christ is in the light (1 John 1:7), the true light is already shining (1 John 2:8), and whoever loves his brother abides in the light (1 John 2:10).

The Gospel of John refers to Jesus as "the Light" more than twenty times, seven of those in chapter 1 alone. In the book of Revelation, John also notes that God Himself will be our source of light (Revelation 22:5). Rejecting that light comes with consequences, both in this life and in eternity.
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