John 1:5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.
I love to look at the shades of meaning found in various Bible words. Today I want to look at the word katalambano. In the NASB 2020 it is translated “grasp”. This is only partially what this word means. In this translation it simply says that the darkness of this world cannot grasp the light. Light is revelation and without revelation we continue in darkness. The Amplified Bible brings out other shades of meaning in this passage, check it out.
Jn.1:5 – Amp – The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].
“to come to understand something which was not understood or perceived previously — ‘to understand, to realize, to grasp, to comprehend.’ – ‘I (now) understand how true it is that God does not show favoritism’ Ac 10:34; ‘and realized that they were uneducated men’ Ac 4:13; ‘and the darkness did not comprehend it’ Jn 1:5. It is also possible to understand in Jn 1:5 in the sense of ‘to overcome’. In Jn 1:5 a word play involving both meanings may be intended, something which is typical of Johannine style.”
So John is also saying that people who are still in darkness cannot understand spiritual truth. When we are in darkness spiritual truth sounds quite foolish to us, it doesn’t even seem to make sense. This word, katalambano, also implies that darkness cannot overpower the light. Light is superior and full of power. Whenever light comes darkness is defeated. Walking in the light is also walking in the power of God. The next shade of meaning in this word is to appropriate. Someone who is not walking in the light of God’s revelation cannot apply God’s word to their lives. They may say they believe God’s word but it doesn’t fit into their world. This word also teaches that darkness cannot absorb or take in God’s word, it is totally unreceptive to the things of God. Here is how Loew and Nina’s Wordbook defines katalambano.
If we walk in the light we begin to grasp God’s word, we take it in and appropriate it into every part of our lives. Darkness cannot overpower us because we walk in the light of God’s revelation.
