John 1:36
What does John 1:36 mean?
A plain-English look at John 1:36 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 1:36 means
As Jesus walks by, John the Baptist looks at Him and repeats his profound declaration: "Behold, the Lamb of God!" This second pronouncement, even more concise, serves to reinforce Jesus' identity and mission to John's disciples. It is a deliberate act of pointing them away from himself and directly towards Jesus, actively encouraging them to consider and follow the One who takes away the sin of the world, underscoring Jesus’ redemptive purpose.
John 1:36 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 · 2000and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!
KJV
King James Version · 1611And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And looking at Jesus while he was walking he said, See, there is the Lamb of God!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and having looked on Jesus walking, he saith, `Lo, the Lamb of God;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And, looking at Jesus as he walked, he says, Behold the Lamb ofGod.
Context
Building on the setup in verse 35 with John and his disciples, this verse captures a pivotal moment: John's second, deliberate articulation of Jesus as "the Lamb of God." This repetition is strategically placed not for the crowds, but for his specific disciples standing with him. It acts as a clear directive, serving as John's final, direct guidance to his followers, effectively handing them over to Jesus and setting the narrative in motion towards Jesus gathering His first disciples.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 1:19
but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ:
- John 1:29
On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!
- Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Isaiah 65:1
I am inquired of by them that asked notfor me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
- Isaiah 45:22
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.
Sermon ideas from John 1:36
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 1:36 teaches us about pre-existence of christ
What John 1:36 teaches us about incarnation
What John 1:36 teaches us about light and life
What John 1:36 teaches us about first disciples
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