Devine Scripture

John 1:22

What does John 1:22 mean?

A plain-English look at John 1:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 1:22 means

Frustrated by John's denials, the delegates pressed him to declare *who* he was, demanding an answer they could take back to those who sent them. They needed a definitive statement from him. This question highlights their authority and their need for a concrete report, underscoring the political and religious tension surrounding John's ministry. It forces John to move from what he is not to explicitly state his God-given purpose and identity.

John 1:22 in context

John 1 — The Word Made Flesh

John lifts the curtain higher than any other Gospel. Before there was a Bethlehem, there was the Word — with God, who was God, by whom all things were made. The same Word who was the agent of creation became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist points him out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; the first disciples follow him; Nathanael confesses him as the Son of God and King of Israel. The eternal becomes near enough to touch.

  • Pre-existence of Christ
  • Incarnation
  • Light and life
  • First disciples

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So they said to him, Who are you then? We have to give some answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

They said then to him, `Who art thou, that we may give an answer to those sending us? what dost thou say concerning thyself?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

They said therefore to him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

Context

Following John's denials of being the Christ, Elijah, or the prophet in verses 20-21, the Jewish delegation's persistence in this verse underscores their urgent need for clarification. They are demanding a positive identification from John. This pressure sets the stage perfectly for John to finally articulate his true prophetic role, moving beyond what he is not to what he is, and allowing him to point beyond himself, as he does in the subsequent verse.

v.21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.

v.22This passage

v.23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.

Sermon ideas from John 1:22

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What John 1:22 teaches us about pre-existence of christ

  • What John 1:22 teaches us about incarnation

  • What John 1:22 teaches us about light and life

  • What John 1:22 teaches us about first disciples

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