What's in a Word?

2

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

“Son of God, oh, love's pure light” (“Silent Night”)

Driving back from Durham last week, I was momentarily and agonizingly blinded by the brilliance and intensity of the nearly-setting sun. That blinding brilliance made me think of God who “lives in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16) and how Jesus is “the light of all mankind” (John 1:5). Zechariah, Isaiah, and John all contrast Jesus’ light with our darkened lives:

  • He comes “to shine on those living in darkness (Luke 1:76). 
  • “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned (Isa.9:2).
  • In Jesus “was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). 

It’s easy to grasp the contrast between light and dark. But what does “darkness has not overcome [the light]” mean? Of course darkness cannot overcome light. Whether a blazing sun, a spotlight, or a candle, light penetrates darkness; it always shines, however brightly (or not). Wondering if the word overcome means what I think it means, I explored various translations of the verb: 

  • The darkness has not overcome it.
  • The darkness has not comprehended it.
  • The darkness has apprehended it not.
  • The darkness has not understood, overpowered, appropriated, absorbed it. 
  • The darkness is unreceptive to it.
  • The darkness did not grasp it.
  • Darkness couldn’t put it out.

While I’m not a Biblical scholar, translator or linguist, I do know something about synonyms: they are never truly synonymous. However, each synonym can reveal a facet of a word in question, leading to a fuller, richer understanding of a text’s meaning. 

Overcome and overpowered (New International and English Standard versions) imply conquering. Light a candle, turn on a flashlight, and physically, darkness loses to the light; it isn’t overcoming anything. Where sin has created spiritual darkness, Jesus brings light. However dark our sins, they cannot conquer this Light.

Comprehended (King James version) indicates understanding something mentally. Jesus’ own people did not understand Him. Those walking in the darkness of sin today fail to comprehend who Jesus is. But even if they choose to continue in sin, their darkness will not overcome the Light. They - we - need Jesus to bring us into the light; we can’t comprehend it on our own.

Apprehended and grasped (American Standard and New American Standard versions) indicate physically grabbing something, but the words have a mental association as well. Darkness certainly cannot grasp the light physically, and it can never master it mentally.

Appropriated (Amplified version) means to take something, to use it for one’s own self, likely without the owner’s permission. I like the implication of this synonym: darkness can never take what is Christ’s alone. 

Absorbed (Amplified version) implies soaking in something mentally, but the physicality of that verb implies immersion. There’s no way darkness can surround the light, get immersed in it, and ever hope to prevail. That goes for physical light; that goes for Jesus’ light: “darkness couldn’t put it out” (The Message).

Finally, “the darkness is unreceptive to [the light]” (Amplified). In Jesus’ time, in ours, some people are simply unreceptive to a message of light, especially from the Source of light. Shining the light is a never-ending process; people continually walk in the darkness of evil and unbelief. 

Let us behold the Light of the World coming in Bethlehem, overcoming and conquering the darkness. Darkness can never snuff out the light; even a candle flame penetrates. Let your light shine. 

2 Comments

Your post is excellent as all of yours are. What a gift you have of writing so well that you help people understand God. Thank you!
Your post is excellent as all of yours are. What a gift you have of writing so well that you help people understand God. Thank you!

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