John 1:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.

Berean Standard Bible:

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

American Standard Version:

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For^{G3754} the law^{G3551} was given^{G1325} by^{G1223} Moses^{G3475}, but grace^{G5485} and^{G2532} truth^{G225} came^{G1096} by^{G1223} Jesus^{G2424} Christ^{G5547}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for John 1:17

John 1:17 is a pivotal verse in the Gospel of John, encapsulating the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant in Christian theology. The verse contrasts two significant concepts in biblical history: the Law, represented by Moses, and grace and truth, personified in Jesus Christ.

The Law, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, was a set of commandments and rituals that governed the religious and moral life of the Israelites. It was central to Jewish identity and practice, providing a framework for worship, ethics, and societal order. However, the Law also highlighted humanity's inability to fully adhere to God's standards, underscoring the need for a savior who could bridge the gap between God and humanity.

In contrast, the verse introduces the concepts of grace and truth as embodied in Jesus Christ. Grace refers to the unmerited favor and love of God, which is freely given to humanity through Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Truth, in this context, signifies the ultimate revelation of God's character and purposes, which Jesus reveals not only in his teachings but through his very nature as the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

Historically, this verse reflects the early Christian understanding of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and laws. It speaks to the heart of the Christian message: that through Jesus, believers are no longer bound by the strictures of the Law but are invited into a relationship with God characterized by grace and truth. This shift from law to grace is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, not something that can be earned through adherence to the Law.

In summary, John 1:17 succinctly captures the essence of the Christian gospel by juxtaposing the dispensation of the Law, which served to reveal sin and the need for redemption, with the new era of grace and truth ushered in by Jesus Christ, offering forgiveness, a new relationship with God, and the promise of eternal life.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G3754
   There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅτι
   Transliteration: hóti
   Pronunciation: hot'-ee
   Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
   
2. Strong's Number: G3551
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: νόμος
   Transliteration: nómos
   Pronunciation: nom'-os
   Description: from a primary (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.
   
3. Strong's Number: G1325
   There are 377 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δίδωμι
   Transliteration: dídōmi
   Pronunciation: did'-o-mee
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
   
4. Strong's Number: G1223
   There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: διά
   Transliteration: diá
   Pronunciation: dee-ah'
   Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
   
5. Strong's Number: G3475
   There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Μωσεύς
   Transliteration: Mōseús
   Pronunciation: mo-oo-sace'
   Description: of Hebrew origin; (מֹשֶׁה); Moseus, Moses, or Mouses (i.e. Mosheh), the Hebrew lawgiver:--Moses.
   
6. Strong's Number: G5485
   There are 147 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: χάρις
   Transliteration: cháris
   Pronunciation: khar'-ece
   Description: from χαίρω; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):--acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).
   
7. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
8. Strong's Number: G225
   There are 1319 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀλήθεια
   Transliteration: alḗtheia
   Pronunciation: al-ay'-thi-a
   Description: from ἀληθής; truth:--true, X truly, truth, verity.
   
9. Strong's Number: G1096
   There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: γίνομαι
   Transliteration: gínomai
   Pronunciation: ghin'-om-ahee
   Description: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
   
10. Strong's Number: G2424
    There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
    Transliteration: Iēsoûs
    Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
    Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.
    
11. Strong's Number: G5547
    There are 530 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Χριστός
    Transliteration: Christós
    Pronunciation: khris-tos'
    Description: from χρίω; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.