Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 1:10

"He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not." — John 1:10 (ASV)

“World” (GK 3180) refers to the current organization or culture in which people live, whether applied to the natural environment (16:21) or to the present order as contrasted with the spiritual order (6:14; 9:39; 11:27; et al). Here it plainly refers to the total environment that the Word created (1:3). The second part of the verse places the emphasis on the ancient world of men and women who did not recognize him. There was no flash of awareness concerning his real person.