40And he went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and he remained there. [10:41] And many came to him and were saying: "John performed no sign, but everything John said concerning this man was true." [10:42] And many believed in him there.
JHN 10:40-42
Johnʼs Testimony Confirmed
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, the Jordan River held deep symbolic significance for Jewish audiences, particularly as a site of purification and renewal. John the Baptist’s ministry there was tied to prophetic traditions of preparing the way for God’s intervention. Baptism was not merely a ritual act but a public declaration of repentance and readiness for the coming kingdom. The absence of miraculous signs in John’s ministry would have been notable, as signs were often expected to validate a prophet’s authority. Yet, the crowd’s acknowledgment that John’s testimony about Jesus was true underscores the reliability of John’s prophetic role. For many, believing in Jesus meant more than intellectual agreement; it involved a commitment to trust in His identity and mission. This passage reflects the tension between Jewish expectations of prophetic validation and the emerging recognition of Jesus as the fulfillment of John’s message.
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How other translations render this
JHN 10:40
- KJV
- And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
- BSB
- Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
- Koinōnos
- And he went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and he remained there.
JHN 10:41
- KJV
- And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
- BSB
- Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”
- Koinōnos
- And many came to him and were saying: "John performed no sign, but everything John said concerning this man was true.
JHN 10:42
- KJV
- And many believed on him there.
- BSB
- And many in that place believed in Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- And many believed in him there.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 10:40
- baptizing,:The word translated 'baptizing' literally means to immerse or plunge. It describes a full submersion, not just a sprinkling, reflecting a complete identification with the act.
JHN 10:41
- sign:The word translated 'sign' refers to an indicator or a distinguishing mark that points to something beyond itself, often with a miraculous or prophetic implication.
- true:The word translated 'true' here carries the sense of being unconcealed, authentic, and corresponding to reality, rather than merely being factually correct.
JHN 10:42
- believed:The word translated 'believed' implies more than intellectual assent; it signifies a deep trust, reliance, and commitment to the person or message.