JHN 3:22-36

Johnʼs Testimony about Jesus

22After these things Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea, and he spent time there with them and was baptizing. [3:23] John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there, and people were coming and being baptized — [3:24] for John had not yet been thrown into prison. [3:25] Then a debate arose between John's disciples and a Jew concerning purification. [3:26] And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you beyond the Jordan — the one you testified about — look, he is baptizing, and all are coming to him." [3:27] John answered and said, "A man cannot receive a single thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. [3:28] You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.' [3:29] The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, having stood and listening to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. This joy of mine has been made full. [3:30] He must increase, and I must decrease." [3:31] The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. [3:32] What he has seen and heard — that he testifies to, and no one receives his testimony. [3:33] The one who has received his testimony has set his seal to this — that God is true. [3:34] For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. [3:35] The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. [3:36] The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who is not obeying the Son will not see life — the wrath of God remains on him.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Judea, debates over purification rituals were deeply significant, especially within Jewish communities. The mention of (debate) between John’s disciples and a Jew reflects the intense theological and ritual disputes common in Second-Temple Judaism. Baptism, as practiced by John and Jesus, was a contested symbol of repentance and renewal, often tied to eschatological expectations. John’s role as a baptizer placed him in a position of authority, yet his acknowledgment of Jesus’ superiority (, 'from above') underscores a shift in divine authority. The term (not obeying) carries a strong connotation of deliberate rejection, reflecting the cultural weight of obedience in Jewish and Greco-Roman honor-shame dynamics. John’s testimony positions Jesus as the bridegroom, a metaphor rooted in Jewish covenantal imagery, while John himself assumes the role of the friend, a figure of secondary honor. This passage highlights the tension between emerging Christian identity and existing Jewish practices.

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How other translations render this

JHN 3:22

KJV: After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
BSB: After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
Koinōnos: After these things Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea, and he spent time there with them and was baptizing.

JHN 3:23

KJV: And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
BSB: Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
Koinōnos: John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there, and people were coming and being baptized —

JHN 3:24

KJV: For John was not yet cast into prison.
BSB: (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
Koinōnos: for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

JHN 3:25

KJV: Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
BSB: Then a dispute arose between Johnʼs disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
Koinōnos: Then a debate arose between John's disciples and a Jew concerning purification.

JHN 3:26

KJV: 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.
BSB: So Johnʼs 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.”
Koinōnos: And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you beyond the Jordan — the one you testified about — look, he is baptizing, and all are coming to him.

JHN 3:27

KJV: John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
BSB: John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
Koinōnos: John answered and said, "A man cannot receive a single thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

JHN 3:28

KJV: Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
BSB: You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
Koinōnos: You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.

JHN 3:29

KJV: 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.
BSB: The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroomʼs voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
Koinōnos: The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, having stood and listening to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. This joy of mine has been made full.

JHN 3:30

KJV: He must increase, but I must decrease.
BSB: He must increase; I must decrease.
Koinōnos: He must increase, and I must decrease.

JHN 3:31

KJV: He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
BSB: The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
Koinōnos: The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

JHN 3:32

KJV: And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
BSB: He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
Koinōnos: What he has seen and heard — that he testifies to, and no one receives his testimony.

JHN 3:33

KJV: He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
BSB: Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
Koinōnos: The one who has received his testimony has set his seal to this — that God is true.

JHN 3:34

KJV: For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
BSB: For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
Koinōnos: For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

JHN 3:35

KJV: The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
BSB: The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
Koinōnos: The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

JHN 3:36

KJV: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
BSB: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
Koinōnos: The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who is not obeying the Son will not see life — the wrath of God remains on him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 3:25

a debate:The word translated 'a debate' refers to a searching inquiry or a controversial question, often implying a dispute or contention arising from such an investigation.

JHN 3:29

having stood:The phrase 'having stood' implies a posture of readiness, firmness, or established position, rather than simply the physical act of standing up.

JHN 3:31

from above:The word translated 'from above' can also carry the meaning of 'from the beginning' or 'again,' suggesting a divine origin or a renewed start.

JHN 3:36

not obeying:The word translated 'not obeying' implies a deliberate refusal to be persuaded or to trust, rather than just a simple act of disobedience.