John 1:30
What does John 1:30 mean?
A plain-English look at John 1:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 1:30 means
John reiterates his earlier testimony concerning Jesus, affirming that this is the one of whom he spoke: "After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for He was before me." This emphasizes Jesus' pre-eminence and pre-existence yet again, clarifying any potential confusion about their relative importance. John, who appeared first chronologically in ministry, acknowledges Jesus' superior rank and eternal being, reinforcing his identity as the divine Messiah.
John 1:30 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 · 2000This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This is he of whom I said, One is coming after me who is put over me because he was in existence before me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862this is he concerning whom I said, After me doth come a man, who hath come before me, because he was before me:
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752This is he of whom I said: After me there cometh a man, who is preferred before me: because he was before me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He it is of whom I said, A man comes after me who takes a place before me, because he was before me;
Context
Following the monumental introduction of Jesus as the Lamb of God in verse 29, John clarifies that this Jesus is indeed the superior figure he has been testifying about. This repetition of his earlier witness (cf. v.15) serves to solidify the connection and ensure there's no doubt about the identity of the person John has been preparing the way for, thus reinforcing the significance of the
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 1:27
even he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose.
- Luke 3:16
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:
- John 1:15
John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.
Sermon ideas from John 1:30
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 1:30 teaches us about pre-existence of christ
What John 1:30 teaches us about incarnation
What John 1:30 teaches us about light and life
What John 1:30 teaches us about first disciples
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