John 1:23
What does John 1:23 mean?
A plain-English look at John 1:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 1:23 means
In response to the demand for his identity, John identifies himself by quoting Isaiah 40:3. He declares he is "the voice of one crying in the wilderness," whose mission is to "Make straight the way of the Lord." This confirms his prophetic role as the forerunner to the Messiah, preparing the hearts of people for the Lord's coming. He sees himself not as the main actor, but as a herald paving the way for a greater figure, precisely as Isaiah foretold.
John 1:23 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 · 2000He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He said, I am the voice of one crying in the waste land, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862He said, `I <FI>am<Fi> a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He said, I [am] [the] voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the path of [the] Lord, as said Esaias the prophet.
Context
Having been pressured to finally confess who he is in verse 22, John responds by defining himself not by a personal claim but by fulfilling a specific prophecy from Isaiah. This biblical identification immediately links his ministry to Old Testament expectations and establishes his role as distinct from any messianic figure, preparing the way for the Lord. It transitions the reader from questions about John to an anticipation of the one for whom John prepares the way.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 1:16
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God.
- John 3:28
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him.
- Luke 1:76
Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;
- Matthew 3:3
For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
- Isaiah 40:3
The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God.
- Mark 1:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight;
Sermon ideas from John 1:23
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 1:23 teaches us about pre-existence of christ
What John 1:23 teaches us about incarnation
What John 1:23 teaches us about light and life
What John 1:23 teaches us about first disciples
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