And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
JOHN 12:47KJVWhat does John 12:47 mean?
John 12:47 shows Jesus saying that if someone hears his words but does not believe, he does not judge that person, because his purpose in coming was not to judge the world but to save it. Jesus emphasizes his mission of offering salvation rather than condemnation to those who hear him.
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem shortly before his arrest. He clarifies that his main reason for coming into the world is to bring rescue and hope, not to pass judgment on those who do not accept his message. This statement highlights the gracious and saving intent behind Jesus’s ministry at that moment in the story.
The Greek behind John 12:47
- κόσμον (kosmon): This word means "world" and is used twice in the verse, showing that Jesus’s mission is broad and inclusive, directed toward all people rather than a select group.
- σώσω (sōsō): This is the verb "to save." Jesus uses it to make clear that his focus is on deliverance and rescue, not punishment.
- κρίνω (krinō): This word means "to judge." Jesus’s use of it here stresses that judgment is not his present focus; instead, he is offering an opportunity for people to respond to his message.
Why John 12:47 matters
- John 12:47 clears up the idea that Jesus’s first coming was about condemnation; instead, he stresses the open offer of salvation to everyone who hears him.
- This verse helps explain the tone of Jesus’s ministry in the Gospel of John, where he repeatedly invites people to believe rather than threatening them with judgment.
- The statement prepares readers for later teachings about judgment, showing that any future judgment is not the main point of Jesus’s earthly mission, but rather a result of rejecting the salvation he offers.