John 3:34
What does John 3:34 mean?
A plain-English look at John 3:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 3:34 means
John explains why Jesus's testimony is utterly reliable: "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God." Jesus is divinely appointed and communicates God's exact message. Furthermore, God "giveth not the Spirit by measure" to His Son. This means Jesus possesses the Spirit in its fullness, without limitation, enabling Him to perfectly embody and convey the divine will and truth, unlike any human prophet who receives the Spirit in parts or for specific tasks.
John 3:34 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 · 2000For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For he whom God has sent says God's words; and God does not give him the Spirit by measure.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for he whom God sent, the sayings of God he speaketh; for not by measure doth God give the Spirit;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God doth not give the Spirit by measure.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for he whomGod has sent speaks the words ofGod, forGod gives not the Spirit by measure.
Context
Building on the idea of receiving Jesus's witness as affirming God’s truth, this verse further explains the unique authority and empowerment of Jesus. It clarifies that Jesus, as God’s sent one, speaks God’s words perfectly and possesses the Spirit without measure. This profound statement about Jesus’s divine endowment leads to an explanation of the Father’s relationship with the Son, culminating in the ultimate power and glory given to Jesus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 11:2
And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.
- Matthew 12:18
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.
- John 8:47
He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.
- Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,
- John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:
- John 7:16
Jesus therefore answered them, and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.
Sermon ideas from John 3:34
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 3:34 teaches us about new birth
What John 3:34 teaches us about the spirit
What John 3:34 teaches us about god's love for the world
What John 3:34 teaches us about faith and life
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