John 1:39
What does John 1:39 mean?
A plain-English look at John 1:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 1:39 means
Jesus directly invited them with the simple yet profound words, "Come, and ye shall see." This was an invitation not just to a location but to an experience, a personal encounter. They accepted, spent the rest of that day with Him, indicating a significant initial period of instruction and fellowship. The mention of the "tenth hour" (around 4 PM) marks a specific historical moment, emphasizing the importance of this foundational day in their new journey of discipleship.
John 1:39 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 saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hour.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hour.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He said to them, Come and see. They went with him then and saw where he was living; and they were with him all that day: it was then about the tenth hour of the day.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862He saith to them, `Come and see;' they came, and saw where he doth remain, and with him they remained that day and the hour was about the tenth.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He saith to them: Come and see. They came and saw where he abode: and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He says to them, Come and see. They went therefore, and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
Context
This verse describes the immediate outcome of the disciples' desire to know where Jesus lived (v.38). Jesus' invitation, "Come, and ye shall see," leads to a direct, personal encounter and time spent with Him. This crucial early interaction signifies the beginning of their formal discipleship, moving them from initial interest to direct experience. It sets the pattern for future calls to discipleship, emphasizing personal invitation and experiential learning, as seen with later disciples.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 4:40
So when the Samaritans came unto him, they besought him to abide with them: and he abode there two days.
- Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
- John 1:46
And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
- Luke 24:29
And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them.
- Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- John 6:37
All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Sermon ideas from John 1:39
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 1:39 teaches us about pre-existence of christ
What John 1:39 teaches us about incarnation
What John 1:39 teaches us about light and life
What John 1:39 teaches us about first disciples
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