John 3:28

²⁶ So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

²⁷ John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’

²⁹ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

³⁰ He must increase; I must decrease.

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: You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
KJV: Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
WEB: You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’
ASV: Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him.
DARBY: Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him.
BLB: You⁺ yourselves testify to me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I am sent before Him.’

ÅB: Dere er selv mine vitner at jeg sa: Jeg er ikke Messias, men: Jeg er utsendt foran ham.
OTB: Dere kan bekrefte at jeg sa: ‘Jeg er ikke Messias, men jeg er sendt foran ham.’
B1930: I er selv mine vidner at jeg sa: Jeg er ikke Messias, men: Jeg er utsendt foran ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

John 1:20
He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
Read in context
John 1:23
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Read in context
Luke 1:16–17
Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
Read in context
Matthew 3:11–12
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Read in context
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 context
John 1:25
asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
Read in context
Matthew 3:3
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
Read in context
Mark 1:2–3
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
Read in context