John 12:31 · Bible study
John 12:31 Commentary: Judgment and the Fall of Satan, Study
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Jesus' words on the judgment of this world and the casting out of its prince. What does the cross mean for Satan's power?
Research Summary
- Meaning: The cross is the moment of divine judgment on the world’s rebellion and the decisive defeat of Satan’s dominion.
- Key words: κρίσις (krisis, 'judgment' / crisis); ἄρχων (archōn, 'ruler'); ἐκβληθήσεται (future passive of ekballō, 'will be expelled').
- Main debate: Whether 'judgment' here means condemnation (Barnes, Gill) or restoration/ordering (Calvin) or a crisis of decision (Clarke).
- Theological theme: Christus Victor, the cross as cosmic victory over evil.
- Best use: To ground hope in the objective, already-accomplished defeat of Satan, even while we wait for its full outworking.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.
KJV King James Version 1769
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
now is a judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast forth;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Now is [the] judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out:
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Ahora es el juicio de este mundo: ahora el príncipe de este mundo será echado fuera.
Agora é o juízo deste mundo; agora será lançado fora o príncipe deste mundo.
Maintenant a lieu le jugement de ce monde; maintenant le prince de ce monde sera jeté dehors.
Jetzt geht das Gericht über die Welt; nun wird der Fürst dieser Welt ausgestoßen werden.
Nu is het oordeel dezer wereld; nu zal de overste dezer wereld buiten geworpen worden.
Ora avviene il giudizio di questo mondo; ora sarà cacciato fuori il principe di questo mondo;
Teraz jest sąd świata tego, teraz książę świata tego precz wyrzucony będzie.
Ныне суд миру сему; ныне князь мира сего изгнан будет вон.
現在 這 世界 受 審判， 這 世界 的王 要被趕 出去。
Now is this world to be judged: now will the ruler of this world be sent out.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 12:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that 'the prince of this world' is Satan, the personal adversary who holds rebellious humanity in bondage. They also agree that the cross is the decisive event that breaks his power. Where they differ is on the meaning of 'judgment' (κρίσις, krisis). Barnes sees it as 'the decisive scene, the eventful period, the crisis' when it is determined who rules. Calvin takes judgment as 'reformation' or restoration to proper order, noting the Hebrew mishpat can mean a well-ordered state. Clarke and Gill find a more punitive sense: the condemnation of the Jewish world for rejecting Christ, or the separation of God's elect from the world of the ungodly. Yet all see the cross as the axis on which cosmic history turns, Satan's dominion is broken, and a new order begins.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Judgment as condemnation: The world is pronounced guilty; the cross exposes its rejection of Christ. Relies on the forensic sense of κρίσις and parallel passages like John 3:18-19.
- Judgment as crisis/decision: The cross is the moment when the world’s true allegiance is revealed—a decisive separation. Points to the immediate context of Greeks seeking Jesus and the crowd’s divided response.
- Judgment as restoration/ordering: Calvin’s view: judgment brings a well-ordered state (quoting Hebrew mishpat). The cross restores the world from confusion to proper order under God.
What is clear: The prince of this world is Satan, and his power is definitively broken through Jesus' death on the cross, inaugurating a new era of salvation for all who believe.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'the prince of this world' | All major commentators identify him as Satan, the personal adversary who holds sway over the unbelieving world. | Some stress that he is a created being with limited authority (usurped, not rightful); others note that Jewish tradition sometimes identified him with the angel of death. All agree he is not a rival god. |
| Nature of 'judgment' | The cross marks a decisive turning point in cosmic history. The world’s rebellion is exposed and dealt with. | Calvin sees judgment as restoration to a well-ordered state (Hebrew mishpat). Barnes and Gill see it as condemnation of the world (especially the Jewish world for rejecting Christ). Clarke adds a third view: the crisis of decision, where the world’s true character is revealed. |
| Timing of Satan's expulsion | The cross is the decisive event that breaks Satan's power; he is 'cast out' in principle. | Some see this as already accomplished, with the residue of his influence being gradually eliminated (the process of conversion). Others emphasize that his final expulsion awaits the end (Revelation 20:10), and the cross is the guarantee. |
| Scope of 'this world' | The term 'world' (kosmos) in John often refers to the human system in rebellion against God. | Clarke and Gill see a focus on the Jewish world of that generation that rejected Jesus. Barnes and Calvin see a broader sense: the entire fallen world order under Satan's sway. Both readings are represented in the commentaries. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus speaks these words just after a voice from heaven has affirmed the Father’s glory (vv.28, 30). Greeks have come seeking him (v.20), signaling that the message is about to go beyond Israel. In that heightened moment, Jesus declares a 'now' repeated twice: the hour of his death is simultaneously the hour of judgment and of Satan’s expulsion.
The phrase 'prince of this world' (ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου τούτου) appears only in John’s Gospel (here, 14:30, 16:11). Jewish rabbinical writings use 'prince of the world' (sar ha-olam) for Satan or sometimes for a high angel ruling the nations. Satan is not a rival god, but a creature who has usurped authority over the rebellious world system. The early church had to defend this language against Gnostic views that the creator of the material world was evil. John's use of 'ruler' (ἄρχων) consistently distinguishes Jesus, the true King, from the usurper.
The verb 'will be cast out' (ἐκβληθήσεται) is future passive, Satan is expelled, not by his own choice, but by a greater power. Vincent notes that John uses ἐκβάλλω every time for casting out from a holy place or society (e.g., driving money-changers from the temple, 2:15; casting out the blind man, 9:34). The cross is the act that expels the usurper from his stolen domain.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for John 12:31. The Greek text is stable across major manuscript traditions. The double νῦν (‘now’) appears in all witnesses, and the reading ἐκβληθήσεται (‘will be cast out’) is undisputed.
Reception History
From the early church, John 12:31 was read as the announcement of Christ’s victory over Satan. Irenaeus and Athanasius used it to argue that the cross broke the power of the evil one. In the Middle Ages, the verse underpinned the theology of Christ’s descent into hell and the harrowing of Hades. Reformers like Calvin drew on it to show that Christ’s death was not merely a moral example but a cosmic judgment that dethroned the usurper. In modern theology, the verse is a key text for the Christus Victor model of atonement, popularized by Gustav Aulén. Hymns such as 'All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name' and 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God' echo its confidence that the prince of this world is cast down. The phrase has also been used in spiritual warfare teaching, reminding believers that Satan’s authority is broken even though his activity continues.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Now is the judgment of this world: The cross functions as the crisis point, a verdict on the world’s rebellion. Not a future court scene, but a present decision about who rules.
- Now the prince of this world will be cast out: Satan’s hold is broken. The cross is his defeat, not his final imprisonment, but the certain beginning of his overthrow.
- And I, if I am lifted up, will draw all people to myself (v.32): The same event that judges the world also becomes the magnet that saves. Judgment and mercy meet at the cross.
Five-point outline
- The setting: Greeks seek Jesus; the hour has come (vv.20, 23). The curtain rises on a global mission.
- The crisis: 'Now is the judgment of this world.' The cross is the courtroom where the world’s guilt is exposed and its destiny decided.
- The enemy: 'The prince of this world' is named. He is real, personal, and powerful, but not all-powerful.
- The expulsion: 'Will be cast out.' The passive voice shows God is the actor. The cross is God’s decisive move against the usurper.
- The promise: The cross will draw all kinds of people (v.32). The defeat of Satan is not destruction but liberation, room is made for the nations.
Illustration hooks
- Courtroom drama: A judge pronounces sentence on the defendant, but the sentence is not the end, it clears the way for a new beginning (like an eviction notice on a squatter).
- D-day vs V-day: The cross is D-day, the decisive invasion that ensures eventual victory, though mopping-up operations continue. Satan’s power is broken objectively, even if we still feel his attacks.
- Changing of the guard: A tyrant is deposed. He may still resist, but his authority is gone. The new king sends heralds to announce the liberation.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Satan was 'cast out' at the cross, why does evil still seem so strong?
- Does 'judgment of this world' mean everyone outside Christ is condemned already?
- What does it mean for me practically that the 'prince of this world' has been defeated?
Leading a Discussion
This passage sits at the hinge of John's Gospel. Jesus has just received a voice from heaven, and he speaks of his coming death not as defeat but as a victory that judges the world and topples its ruler. For a small group, this is a chance to see how the cross changes everything, not just for individuals, but for the cosmic order.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What does Jesus say is happening 'now'? How does the double use of 'now' grab your attention?
- Observation: Who is 'the prince of this world'? What do the other verses (John 14:30; 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4) tell us about him?
- Interpretation: What does 'judgment of this world' mean? Does it mean condemnation, a crisis, or a restoration of order? What evidence do you see for each reading?
- Interpretation: The verb 'will be cast out' is passive, who does the casting? What does that tell us about Jesus’ role and the Father’s role?
- Application: If Satan was defeated at the cross, why do believers still experience temptation and spiritual warfare? How does this verse shape how we pray?
- Application: Jesus says the cross will 'draw all people' (v.32). How does that encourage us in evangelism, especially when it feels like the world is hostile?
- Application: What is one area of your life where you still need to live in the reality that the 'prince' has been cast out?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 3:15 | I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” |
| Isaiah 49:24 | Shall the plunder be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered? |
| Matthew 12:28 | But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you. |
| Luke 10:17 | The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” |
| Luke 10:19 | Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. |
| John 5:22 | For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, |
| John 5:27 | He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. |
| John 14:30 | I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke presents two main interpretations of this verse. One sees it as judgment falling on the Jewish nation for rejecting Christ, with Satan being cast out. The other takes it as Jesus himself being cast out and condemned by the world, though he will draw all people to himself through the cross.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets "judgment" as "crisis" — the decisive moment when Christ's death breaks Satan's long hold on the world. For Barnes, the cross is the grand turning point, the battle that shatters the devil's kingdom and secures God's authority over humanity.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin interprets "judgment" as the world's restoration to proper order, not condemnation. Christ's death begins that well-ordered state by casting out Satan's tyrannical dominion. Yet this casting out is not a one-time event; its power is daily manifested over time.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses the immediacy of the moment: "now" marks Christ's death as the decisive turning point. At the cross, the world receives its judgment, and Satan, its prince, is driven out as a defeated enemy.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill sees the judgment of this world as having multiple meanings: it could refer to the Jewish world condemned for rejecting Christ, the Gentile world where God separates His elect, or the vindication of Christ's chosen people. He notes that Jewish writers call the devil "the prince of the world," meaning he has usurped a dominion from which Christ will now expel him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the stark difference in how the approaching hour of Christ's death was viewed. The world, under Satan's influence, saw it as imminent relief from a troubler, but Christ saw it as the moment the prince of this world would be cast out. He alone recognized the triumph of the Cross.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads the arrival of Greek proselytes as the signal that Jesus' hour for glorification through death has arrived. He stresses that Jesus' death, like a grain of wheat, is the necessary condition for bearing fruit among all nations. For Lange, this moment marks the transition from Jesus' ministry to Israel to his universal mission, with his exaltation
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry finds it striking that Jesus' soul was troubled precisely when one would expect him to be most pleased--right after great spiritual enlargement. This timing shows that deep distress can follow even seasons of high favor, and that Christ's humanity was real enough to experience that jarring shift.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the title "prince of this world" appears only in John's Gospel. He also observes that in John's writings, the verb "cast out" is almost always used for expulsion from a holy place or sacred society, not a general removal.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that "now" marks the decisive moment when Christ's own thirst intensified as he faced his baptism of suffering. At this same instant judgment falls on the world, and Satan loses his hold, being cast out from his possession and from the borders of Christ's kingdom.