King James Bible
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
John acknowledges Moses as the divinely appointed mediator of the Torah at Sinai, establishing the foundation of Israel's covenant relationship with God. The passive voice ('was given') emphasizes that the law originated from God, not Moses himself. The contrast introduces a superior revelation through Christ, where 'grace' (unmerited favor) and 'truth' (ultimate reality about God) arrive as inseparable companions. This pairing echoes the Hebrew 'chesed ve'emet' (covenant love and faithfulness), suggesting Jesus embodies and surpasses the very attributes God revealed to Moses in Exodus 34:6.