John 1:26

Translations

Modern

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

Traditional

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Literal

John answered them, saying, “I baptize in water, but in the midst of you stands One whom you do not know,

Latin

Respondit eis Joannes, dicens: Ego baptizo in aqua: medius autem vestrum stetit, quem vos nescitis.

Original

Greek

English

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

Notes

John 1:25–26

Jewish baptisms were ritual washings for becoming ceremonially pure following contact with impurity (Leviticus 8:6; Numbers 19:7).
John announced the Christ's arrival and required participants to confess their sins and be baptized (Matthew 3:6). Baptism later became the symbol of membership in the kingdom of God (Acts 2:38; see also John 4:1–2).

John 1:19–12:50

Jesus reveals himself to the world through his miracles and teachings. People reacted differently:

Some wanted to believe in him.
Others opposed him.

This division becomes more obvious as the book continues. Jesus ended his public ministry with a final call for people to believe in him (12:44–50).

John 1:19–51

John’s Gospel focuses less on John the Baptist compared to the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 3:1–6; Mark 1:2–6; Luke 1:1–24, 57–80; 3:1–13). However, the apostle John wants us to understand that John the Baptist correctly identified and honored Jesus.

John the Baptist’s disciples leave him to follow Jesus. Jesus continued the work that John had begun. As the ministry of Jesus grew, John’s ministry became smaller, just as John had said (John 3:30).

Theme notes and profiles

Elijah John the Baptist Baptism John’s Profile of Discipleship

Events

John's Witnessc. AD 27

Related verses

Acts 1:5
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
John 1:10–11
He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
Luke 3:16
John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Mark 1:8
I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 3:11
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.
John 8:19
“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
Acts 11:16
Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
John 17:3
Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
John 17:25
Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
John 16:3
They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
Malachi 3:1–2
“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.

Parallels

Isaiah 40:1–5 Matthew 3:1–12 Mark 1:1–8 Luke 3:1–20

People

John: The Baptist, a prophet who prepared the way for Jesus

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) John the Baptist John, Gospel of Prophecy Witness

Topics

Baptism: John's Jesus, the Christ: Testimony of John the Baptist Concerning (At Bethabara) John: Mission of John: Testifies to the Messiahship of Jesus

John 1:26

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