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John 1:7
ESV He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
NIV He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
NASB He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
CSB He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.
NLT to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
KJV The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
NKJV This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

What does John 1:7 mean?

John the Baptist's role as a witness is central to this statement. He is sent to tell other people about the coming Messiah, which is Jesus (Malachi 3:1). "Light" was the ultimate standard for Israel's worldview. Everything good was said to be "light," evil was "darkness." This distinction not only implies good and evil, but also knowledge and darkness. Just as Moses, the Old Testament law, and the temple were small lights pointing to Jesus, John the Baptist is a tiny light leading people to the One True Light. This leading is not merely to make people see, but so that they would believe.

John's ministry heavily revolved around baptism (John 1:25–28), which was already known to Jews of that time. Jews would sometimes baptize a person who wanted to convert to Judaism. But the Baptist was "converting" Jews! This is one reason he was interrogated by local religious leaders (John 1:19): why would God's chosen people need to repent and convert?
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