Jesus is headed back to Judea to see the weakening Lazarus and his disciples worry about stoning. Jesus makes light of it.
John 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
John 11:10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.
If however, anyone might wander around [teaching] in darkness, you trip up since the light isn't in you.
Wandering around in the dark causes conflict.
This verse repeats the wordplay of the last part of the previous verse. The word translated as "walk" has the sense of pacing back and forth, but it is used specifically for the pacing of a teacher in front of a class. It could refer to his opposition from teachers like the Pharisees. The word translated as "stumble" primarily means to "strike against." This is a play on words referring to his having rocks thrown at him. The new idea here is that the "light" is within us even in night. This is lost in the NIV, NLT, and other new translations. In the previous verse, it was the light of the world, an external light, the knowledge in society. Here, however, the light discussed is the light from within, our personal knowledge. Night is not the time to wander around, but it is tied to the next verse's idea about sleeping.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The word translated as "if" has more of a probability of "if" alone, more like our "when."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "a" isn't justified by the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "man" should be something more like "anyone."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "stumble" is not the common word usually translated as "stumble."
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "no" doesn't appear here but before the verb "is."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "light" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "it is" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "a" isn't justified by the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "person" should be something more like "anyone."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "night" is not shown in the English translation.
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "they" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "stumble" is not the common word usually translated as "stumble."
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "they" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "have" should be something more like "is."
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "no" doesn't appear here but before the verb "is."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "light" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "in" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "him" is not shown in the English translation.
But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").
if -- (CW) The Greek word meaning "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if.
a -- (IW)There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation but the following word is not a noun.
man -- (WW) -- The Greek word translated as "man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." As a subject, the word can be used either as masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."
walk -- "Walk" is a Greek verb that means "to walk up and down," "to walk about," and "to walk about while teaching." Jesus uses it somewhat humorously in the sense that we use "parade." The form is one of possibility, but that is implied by the "if/when."
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
night, -- "Night" is the noun that means "night," "midnight," and is a metaphor for darkness. --
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
stumbleth -- (CW) This word is only used three times by Jesus. Twice in parallel verses to means "stumble upon," even though it is not the common word for "stumble." Once to describe a storm beating against a house in last story in the Sermon on the Mount. " The word means "strike against" so in the context of walking, it means "stumble upon."
because - The word translated as "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
there -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
is -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
no -- (WP) The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. This word precedes the verb not the noun, "light."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
light -- The Greek word translated as "the light" means "light," "daylight [primarily], "opening," and "public visibility." Jesus uses it as a metaphor for "knowledge,"
in -- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
him. -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").
when -- (CW) The Greek word meaning "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if.
a -- (IW)There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation but the following word is not a noun.
person -- (WW) -- The Greek word translated as "man" in the singular means "anyone," "someone," "something," and "anything." As a subject, the word can be used either as masculine or feminine so "anyone" works best for a person. In the plural, it means "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."
walks -- "Walk" is a Greek verb that means "to walk up and down," "to walk about," and "to walk about while teaching." Jesus uses it somewhat humorously in the sense that we use "parade." The form is one of possibility, but that is implied by the "if/when."
at-- The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
night, -- "Night" is the noun that means "night," "midnight," and is a metaphor for darkness. --
they -- (WN) This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
stumble -- (CW) This word is only used three times by Jesus. Twice in parallel verses to means "stumble upon," even though it is not the common word for "stumble." Once to describe a storm beating against a house in last story in the Sermon on the Mount. " The word means "strike against" so in the context of walking, it means "stumble upon."
for - The word translated as "because" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."
they -- (WN) This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
have -- (WW) The verb "have" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions. -- When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
no -- (WP) The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. This word precedes the verb not the noun, "light."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
light -- The Greek word translated as "the light" means "light," "daylight [primarily], "opening," and "public visibility." Jesus uses it as a metaphor for "knowledge,"
missing "in" -- (MW) The untranslated word "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "during" (time), or "among" with a dative object as the one here.
missing "him" -- (MW) The untranslated word "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
ἐὰν [162 verses](conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). With the Greek word for "if" the sense is "if...than."
τις [252 verses](pron sg ,asc/fem nom) "What" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what." It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, \διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point? to what end?
περιπατῇ [13 verses](3rd sg pres subj act) "Walk" is peripateo, which means "to walk up and down," "to walk about," and "to walk about while teaching."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."
τῇ [821 verses](article sg fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
νυκτί [11 verses] (noun sg fem dat) "Night" is from nyx, which means "night," "midnight," and is a metaphor for darkness.
προσκόπτει, [3 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Stumbleth" is proskopto, which means "to strike against", "to stumble upon", "to encounter friction", "to offend," and "to take offense at." The root koptô means "to smite", "to pound," "to chop," "to cut off," and "to beat one's breast. The prefix means "against" or "towards." -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "stumbleth" is different than the verb used in the earlier verse. This verb means "to strike against" or "to stumble upon."
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "Because" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore." --
τὸ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
φῶς [21 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc)"The light" is phos, which means "light," "daylight [primarily], "illumination [of things and of the mind]," "light [of the eyes], "window," "opening," " public visibility," and "publicity." Christ uses it as a metaphor for "knowledge," but in Greek it is also a metaphor for "deliverance," "happiness," "victory," and "glory."
οὐκ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.
ἔστιν .[614 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Is" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with a dative object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."
αὐτῷ. [720 verses](adj sg masc dat) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."