Devine Scripture

John 3:23

What does John 3:23 mean?

A plain-English look at John 3:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 3:23 means

This verse specifies John the Baptist's continued ministry, baptizing in Ænon near Salim. The mention of "much water there" explains the practical reason for John choosing this location—it was suitable for the immersive baptism he practiced. This detail confirms John's active role as a forerunner, preparing people for the coming Messiah even as Jesus was beginning His own baptismal ministry.

John 3:23 in context

John 3 — You Must Be Born Again

By night a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus, half-confessing him as a teacher sent from God. Jesus cuts past the compliment: 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Religion will not do; reformation will not do; only a new birth by water and the Spirit. The chapter rises to the most-quoted verse in the Bible — 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son' — and ends with John the Baptist's last public testimony: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'

  • New birth
  • The Spirit
  • God's love for the world
  • Faith and life

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now John was then giving baptism at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were given baptism.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and John was also baptizing in Aenon, nigh to Salem, because there were many waters there, and they were coming and were being baptized--

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And John also was baptizing in Ennon near Salim: because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And John also was baptising in Aenon, near Salim, because there was a great deal of water there; and they came to [him] and were baptised:

Context

In parallel to Jesus's activities in Judea, this verse confirms that John the Baptist's ministry was still ongoing. It provides geographical details and the reason for his chosen location, setting the scene for an inevitable comparison and shift in focus from John to Jesus. This parallel activity directly precedes the disciples of John raising questions about the differing ministries and the growing influence of Jesus.

v.22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

v.23This passage

v.24For John was not yet cast into prison.

Cross references

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

  • Jeremiah 51:13

    O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy covetousness.

  • Matthew 3:5

    Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan;

  • Revelation 14:2

    And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heardwasasthe voiceof harpers harping with their harps:

  • Luke 3:7

    He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

  • Ezekiel 43:2

    And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shined with his glory.

  • Ezekiel 19:10

    Thy mother was like a vine, in thy blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.

Sermon ideas from John 3:23

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

  • What John 3:23 teaches us about new birth

  • What John 3:23 teaches us about the spirit

  • What John 3:23 teaches us about god's love for the world

  • What John 3:23 teaches us about faith and life

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