Devine Scripture

John 1:24

What does John 1:24 mean?

A plain-English look at John 1:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 1:24 means

This brief statement reveals that the delegates questioning John were sent specifically from the Pharisees. This detail is significant because the Pharisees were a strict religious sect, highly influential, known for their meticulous adherence to the Law and their traditional interpretations. Their sending of a formal delegation suggests their deep suspicion and concern about John's ministry, potentially seeing it as a challenge to their authority or theological understanding.

John 1:24 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

And they had been sent from the Pharisees.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they had been sent from the Pharisees.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Those who had been sent came from the Pharisees.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And those sent were of the Pharisees,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they that were sent were of the Pharisees.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they were sent from among the Pharisees.

Context

This verse provides crucial background information by identifying the senders of the delegation as the Pharisees. This detail is strategically placed after John's prophetic self-identification in verse 23, explaining the continued scrutiny and the specific nature of the next question. Knowing the Pharisees' legalistic concerns helps the reader understand the reason behind their subsequent query about John's baptizing activity, as they were keenly interested in religious authority and practice.

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.

v.24This passage

v.25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 11:39

    And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

  • Acts 23:8

    For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

  • John 3:1

    Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

  • Matthew 23:26

    Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.

  • Philippians 3:5

    circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

  • John 7:47

    The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray?

Sermon ideas from John 1:24

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

  • What John 1:24 teaches us about pre-existence of christ

  • What John 1:24 teaches us about incarnation

  • What John 1:24 teaches us about light and life

  • What John 1:24 teaches us about first disciples

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