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John 3:26

in John 3

So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

KJV

And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

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This verse in John 3

Commentary

17 notes on this verse
And they came unto John,.... The Persic version reads, "he came unto John"; that disciple that had the controversy with the Jew about purifying, who not knowing well how to answer him, and which might be the case of more, applied to John: and said unto him, Rabbi; or "master"; or, "our master"; as the Syriac and Persic versions read, which was a title of great respect, and reverence, and much in use in those times; See Gill on Mat 23:7, Mat 23:

This site's exposition

a dispute arose between John’s disciples

on John 3:25-26

A dispute over ceremonial washing sets the scene. John's disciples bring him a report about the man he had testified to beyond the Jordan, now baptizing crowds of his own. Everyone is going to Him is the sting, and they hand John his own word back as a grievance.

This site's exposition

everyone is going to Him

Albert Barnes reads envy in the report. John Gill notes that the Persic version has one disciple come, the man who could not answer the Jew in the dispute about purifying. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown call John's reply one of the noblest and most affecting utterances ever spoken.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

Tractates on John 13 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"They came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to him:" that is, What sayest thou? Ought they not to be hindered, that they may rather come to thee?

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

The Jews then asserted Christ to be the greater person, and His baptism necessary to be received. But John's disciples did not understand so much, and defended John's baptism. At last they come to John, to solve the question: And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, behold, the Same baptizeth.

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 2 · Written before 444.

proposed

Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to Whom thou barest witness, behold, the Same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on the Gospel of John 29 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

And observe, I pray you, the Evangelist's inoffensiveness. He does not speak in the way of invective, but as far as he is able softens the charge, merely saying, that "a question arose"; whereas the sequel (which he has also set down in an inoffensive manner) makes it plain that what was said was said from jealousy. "They came," saith he, "unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him." That is, "He whom thou didst baptize"; for this they imply when they say, "to whom thou barest witness," as though they had said, "He whom thou didst point out as illustrious, and make remarkable, dares to do the same as thou." Yet they do not say, "He whom thou didst baptize" baptizeth; (for then they would have been obliged to make mention of the Voice that came down from heaven, and of the descent of the Spirit;) but what say they? "He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness"; that is, "He who held the rank of a disciple, who was nothing more than we, this man hath separated himself, and baptizeth." For they thought to make him jealous, not only by this, but by asserting that their own reputation was now diminishing. "All," say they, "come to Him." Whence it is evident, that they did not get the better of the Jew with whom they disputed; but they spoke these words because they were imperfect in disposition, and were not yet clear from a feeling of rivalry.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on John, Chapter 3 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

"And they came to John and said to him: Rabbi! He who was beyond the Jordan with you," he was with you as a lesser, because you baptized him, whom you also exalted: whence they add: "To whom you bore witness": in the first chapter: …
9 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Alcuin of York

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 804.

proposed

Meaning, Passing by thee, all men run to the baptism of Him Whom thou baptizedst.

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on John · Written before 1274.

proposed

They referred this issue to John; hence he says, They went to John. If we examine this closely, we see that they were trying to incite John against Christ. Indeed, they are like the gossip and the double-tongued: "Those who gossip and are double-tongued are …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on John · Written before 1107.

proposed

Those who had disputed about purification, that is, baptism, come to their teacher and begin to incite him, saying: "Teacher! He Who was with you, Who held the rank of a disciple, has separated and is baptizing"; He about Whom you testified, that is, Whom …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Let it not be said that all Christ's followers are unlearned and ignorant men. The principles of the Pharisees, and the peculiarities of their sect, were directly contrary to the spirit of Christianity; yet there were some in whom even those high thoughts were cast down and brought into obedience to Christ. The grace of Christ is able to subdue the greatest opposition.

The Nineteenth Century5 voices

Came unto John - Came to him with their complaint; envious and jealous at the success of Jesus, and evidently irritated from the discussion, as if their master was about to lose his popularity. Rabbi - Master. See the notes at Mat 23:7. Acknowledging him as their master and teacher. That was with thee - Who was baptized by thee. Thou barest witness - See Joh 1:29-35. All men come to him - This was the source of their difficulty.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Rabbi, &c.--"Master, this man tells us that He to whom thou barest such generous witness beyond Jordan is requiting thy generosity by drawing all the people away to Himself. At this rate, thou shalt soon have no disciples at all." The reply to this is one of the noblest and most affecting utterances that ever came from the lips of man.
The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him. On one account, this passage deserves the special attention of all devout readers of the Bible. It contains the last testimony of John the Baptist concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. That faithful man of God was the same at the end of his ministry that he was at the beginning. the same in his views of self—the same in his views of Christ. Happy is that church whose ministers are as steady, bold, and constant to one thing, as John the Baptist! We have, firstly, in these verses, a humbling example of the petty jealousies and party-spirit which may exist among professors of religion. We are told, that the disciples of John the Baptist were offended, because the ministry of Jesus began to attract more attention than that of their master. "They came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you barest witness, behold the same baptizes, and all men come to him." The spirit exhibited in this complaint, is unhappily too common in the Churches of Christ. The succession of these complainers has never failed. There are never lacking religions professors who care far more for the increase of their own party, than for the increase of true Christianity; and who cannot rejoice in the spread of religion, if it spreads anywhere except within their own denomination.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

And they came unto John - That he might decide the question.

The words behind it

27 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

John 4:1When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John13 worksJohn 1:7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.8 worksJohn 3:22After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.5 worksJohn 12:19Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”4 worksGalatians 6:12–13Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.4 worksJames 3:14–18But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
John 1:15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”4 worksRomans 5:18So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men.4 worksJohn 1:38Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”4 worksNumbers 11:28Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”4 works1 Corinthians 3:3–5for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?3 worksJohn 1:26–36“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.3 worksIsaiah 45:23By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.3 worksGalatians 5:20–21idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,3 worksActs 19:26–27And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.3 worksJohn 11:48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”3 worksJohn 3:2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”3 worksMatthew 23:7the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    John 1:7

    He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.

    it leads to

    • Acts 19:4

      Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

    • John 1:36

      When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

    • John 1:32–34

      Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.

    • John 5:33–35

      You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

    • John 1:12

      But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

  • Through

    John 1:15

    John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”

    it leads to

    • Matthew 3:11

      I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and…

    • Colossians 1:17

      He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

  • Through

    John 12:19

    Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”

    it leads to

    • Acts 17:6

      But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,

Where this verse is studied

About John

Nicodemus Visiting Jesus, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1899. Public domain.
Nicodemus Visiting Jesus, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1899. Public domain.
John: the study guide →Read John 3 →
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on John 13; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 3; Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 2; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of John 29; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.

Read on in John 3 →