John 1:31

Translations

Modern

I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”

Traditional

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Literal

And I did not know Him, but so that He might be revealed to Israel, because of this, I came baptizing in water.”

Latin

…et ego nesciebam eum, sed ut manifestetur in Israël, propterea veni ego in aqua baptizans.

Original

Greek

English

I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”

Notes

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

John the Baptist Baptism Encounters with Jesus John’s Profile of Discipleship

Events

John's Witnessc. AD 27

Related verses

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.
John 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.’
John 1:7
He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
Luke 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.”
Malachi 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.
Isaiah 40:3–5
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
Mark 1:3–5
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
Matthew 3:6
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Luke 3:3–4
He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
Acts 19:4
Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
Luke 2:39–42
When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Luke 1:76–80
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

Parallels

Matthew 3:13–17 Mark 1:9–11 Luke 3:21–22

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Baptism of Jesus Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Jew John, Gospel of Lamb of God Peter, the Apostle 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 1:31

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