John 3:27
25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- KJV
- John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
- WEB
- John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
- ASV
- John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven.
- DARBY
- John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it be given him out of heaven.
- BLB
- John answered and said, “A man is not able to receive one [thing] unless it shall be given to him from heaven.
- ÅB
- Johannes svarte og sa: Et menneske kan ikke få noe uten at det er gitt ham fra himmelen.
- OTB
- Johannes svarte: «Et menneske kan ikke få noe uten at det er gitt dem fra himmelen.
- B1930
- Johannes svarte og sa: Et menneske kan ikke få noget uten at det er gitt ham fra himmelen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Read in context1 Corinthians 4:7
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Read in context1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Read in context1 Peter 4:10–11
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Read in contextAmos 7:15
And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Read in context1 Corinthians 2:12–14
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Read in contextJeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Read in contextMatthew 25:15
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Read in context