John 1:31 kjv

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

John 1:31 nkjv

I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."

John 1:31 niv

I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

John 1:31 esv

I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."

John 1:31 nlt

I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel."

John 1 verses

John 1 31 Meaning

John 1:31 succinctly defines the divine purpose behind John the Baptist's water baptism ministry: it was expressly designed by God to publicly reveal and present Jesus Christ as the long-awaited Messiah to the people of Israel. Although John and Jesus were related, John explicitly states he did not fully comprehend Jesus' unique identity or divine mission until it was supernaturally disclosed to him. His baptism was not an end in itself but a preparatory act, strategically paving the way for Jesus' manifestation as the Anointed One to His chosen nation.

John 1 31 Context

John 1:31 is nestled within John the Baptist's inaugural public testimonies. It follows directly his astonishing declaration of Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29) and His preeminence (Jn 1:30). The earlier verses (Jn 1:19-28) recount the official inquiry from Jerusalem's religious authorities regarding John's identity and authority, during which he consistently denied being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet, positioning himself solely as the "voice crying in the wilderness" from Isaiah. Historically, first-century Israel eagerly awaited a Messiah, and John's fervent preaching and unique baptism drew vast crowds, stimulating widespread speculation. This verse provides John's definitive, Spirit-led explanation of his mission's ultimate goal: to serve as the divine instrument for unveiling Jesus to His covenant people.

John 1 31 Word analysis

• "I myself" (κἀγώ - kágō): This emphatic pronoun highlights John's personal confession. It stresses that his testimony regarding Jesus was not based on prior familial acquaintance, despite them being cousins (Lk 1:36), but on an independent, divine revelation given to him directly from God.
• "did not know him" (οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν - ouk ēdein autón): This does not imply a lack of general acquaintance but rather that John did not possess intuitive or personal knowledge of Jesus' specific Messianic identity and divine mission until it was explicitly revealed to him by God. His discernment depended entirely on God's chosen sign (Jn 1:33).
• "but for this purpose" (ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα - all' hina): This strong adversative conjunction ("but") introduces a divine purpose clause. It powerfully shifts the focus from John's limited human knowledge to God's sovereign and overriding intention for John's ministry, indicating that his actions were a means to a greater, divinely appointed end.
• "I came baptizing" (ἐγὼ ἦλθον βαπτίζων - egō ēlthen baptizōn): This signifies John's active, deliberate participation in his God-given commission. The Greek participle emphasizes the ongoing nature of his baptismal work, which served as a consistent backdrop for the eventual unveiling of Jesus. His baptism with water symbolized repentance and readiness for the Messiah.
• "with water" (ἐν ὕδατι - en hydati): Specifies the medium of John's baptism, differentiating it from the Spirit baptism Jesus would bring. It signifies a preparatory, symbolic cleansing, prompting introspection and readiness for the greater cleansing of sins.
• "that he might be revealed" (ἵνα φανερωθῇ - hina phanerōthē): This states the ultimate objective of John's entire ministry. "Revealed" implies making plain what was previously hidden or unrecognized. The passive voice strongly indicates that God is the primary agent behind this revelation; He used John to bring His Son into public light.
• "to Israel" (τῷ Ἰσραήλ - tō Israēl): Designates the initial primary audience of this revelation. God's plan for salvation, deeply rooted in His covenant with Abraham, would begin with His chosen people, fulfilling the ancient promises and Messianic expectations specific to Israel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I myself did not know him": This critical phrase establishes the integrity and divine authentication of John's witness. It dispels any notion that John's identification of Jesus was born of personal bias, pre-existing friendship, or human speculation, firmly rooting his profound declaration in divine revelation alone.
• "but for this purpose I came baptizing with water": This reveals the specific theological architecture of John's preparatory work. His widespread water baptism, distinct from other Jewish purifications of the time, was not an arbitrary act but a strategically ordained movement designed by God to draw the nation's attention, preparing the ground for Jesus' public entrance and acceptance.
• "that he might be revealed to Israel": This elucidates the precise telos (purpose) of John's forerunner ministry. His entire commission served the singular, momentous goal of presenting the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus, publicly and unmistakably to His own people, the children of God's covenant, fulfilling generations of prophetic anticipation.

John 1 31 Bonus section

• John's repeated insistence on his own non-knowledge until God's revelation serves as an apologetic point against early Christian sects (e.g., in Acts 19:1-7) who might have elevated John or continued his distinct movement separate from Jesus' ministry.
• The meticulous planning implied in "for this purpose" reflects God's precise sovereign control over human history and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Every detail, including John's ministry, was perfectly timed and purposed.
• "Revealed to Israel" is significant because while salvation would ultimately extend to all nations, the initial focus and fulfillment of covenant promises were undeniably directed toward the Jewish people, positioning Jesus first and foremost as the Jewish Messiah.

John 1 31 Commentary

John 1:31 unveils the profound, divinely appointed purpose of John the Baptist's influential ministry: to serve as the critical bridge between prophecy and fulfillment, between expectation and manifestation. John, with utmost humility, declares that his recognition of Jesus as the Messiah did not spring from their familial relationship or his own wisdom, but from a specific, supernatural sign given by God (Jn 1:33). This confession underscores the authenticity of his testimony and ensures that Jesus' identity is validated by God, not by human endorsement. John's popular baptismal movement, therefore, was not an end in itself; rather, it functioned as the very mechanism orchestrated by God to draw a nation, making ready a populace for the public unveiling of Jesus as the Christ to Israel. John faithfully played his God-ordained role, preparing the hearts and minds of the people, so that when Jesus appeared, His arrival would be clearly seen as the culmination of God's redemptive plan for His chosen people.

• Example: Just as an elaborate ceremony prepares guests for the appearance of an esteemed dignitary, John's baptisms cultivated an expectant spiritual environment, setting the stage for the definitive moment when Jesus stepped forward into public view as God's anointed One.