John 3:29
What does John 3:29 mean?
A plain-English look at John 3:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 3:29 means
John uses a bridal metaphor to explain his relationship to Jesus: Jesus is the "bridegroom" and John is merely the "friend of the bridegroom." The friend's role is to ensure the wedding is successful and then rejoice in the bridegroom's happiness. John's joy is made full, not by his own prominence, but by hearing the bridegroom's voice and seeing the bride (representing the church or believers) go to the true groom. This illustrates true humility and selfless devotion.
John 3:29 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 · 2000He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He who has the bride is the husband: but the husband's friend, whose place is by his side and whose ears are open to him, is full of joy because of the husband's voice: such is my joy, and it is complete.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he who is having the bride is bridegroom, and the friend of the bridegroom, who is standing and hearing him, with joy doth rejoice because of the voice of the bridegroom; this, then, my joy hath been fulfilled.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He that has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices in heart because of the voice of the bridegroom: this my joy then is fulfilled.
Context
Following the reminder of his role as a forerunner, John now beautifully illustrates his relationship with Jesus using a wedding analogy. This verse portrays Jesus as the Bridegroom and himself as the loyal friend who rejoices in the Bridegroom's success, not his own. This imagery conveys his humble joy and acceptance of his subordinate role, directly setting up his iconic statement about the necessary increase of Jesus and decrease of himself.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 16:24
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.
- Matthew 25:1
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
- Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
- Matthew 22:2
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
- Luke 15:6
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
- Philippians 2:2
make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
Sermon ideas from John 3:29
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 3:29 teaches us about new birth
What John 3:29 teaches us about the spirit
What John 3:29 teaches us about god's love for the world
What John 3:29 teaches us about faith and life
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