John 3:35
What does John 3:35 mean?
A plain-English look at John 3:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 3:35 means
This verse highlights the intimate and profound relationship between God the Father and the Son, stating that "The Father loveth the Son." This love is not merely affection but also involves the Father's absolute trust and delegation of authority. Consequently, the Father "hath given all things into his hand." This signifies Christ's complete authority over creation, salvation, and judgment, emphasizing His sovereign power and position as the divine agent through whom God works all things.
John 3:35 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 · 2000The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Father has love for the Son and has put all things into his hands.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the Father doth love the Son, and all things hath given into his hand;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The Father loveth the Son: and he hath given all things into his hand.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The Father loves the Son, and has given all things [to be] in his hand.
Context
Having established Jesus's divine message and His limitless reception of the Spirit, John now explains the ultimate source of Jesus's authority and wisdom: the Father's love. This verse reveals the deep, loving relationship between the Father and the Son, and the consequent delegation of all authority to Jesus. This foundational statement about Christ's universal authority sets the stage for the final, conclusive statement about the eternal consequences of believing or disobeying the Son.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
- 1 Corinthians 15:27
For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.
- Matthew 17:5
While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
- Matthew 3:17
and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
- John 5:22
For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;
- Genesis 41:44
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.
Sermon ideas from John 3:35
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 3:35 teaches us about new birth
What John 3:35 teaches us about the spirit
What John 3:35 teaches us about god's love for the world
What John 3:35 teaches us about faith and life
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