John 1:31
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’
I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
- KJV
- And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
- WEB
- I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”
- ASV
- And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water.
- DARBY
- and I knew him not; but that he might be manifested to Israel, therefore have I come baptising with water.
- BLB
- And I did not know Him, but so that He might be revealed to Israel, because of this, I came baptizing in water.”
- ÅB
- Og jeg kjente ham ikke; men for at han skulle åpenbares for Israel, derfor er jeg kommet og døper med vann.
- OTB
- Jeg selv kjente ham ikke, men grunnen til at jeg kom og døpte med vann var at han skulle bli åpenbart for Israel.”
- B1930
- Og jeg kjente ham ikke; men forat han skulde åpenbares for Israel, derfor er jeg kommet og døper med vann.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Read in contextLuke 1:17
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Read in contextJohn 1:33
I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Read in contextJohn 1:7
He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
Read in contextMark 1:3–5
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
Read in contextMatthew 3:6
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Read in contextLuke 3:3–4
He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
Read in contextMalachi 4:2–5
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
Read in context