John 10:41 kjv
And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
John 10:41 nkjv
Then many came to Him and said, "John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true."
John 10:41 niv
and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true."
John 10:41 esv
And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."
John 10:41 nlt
And many followed him. "John didn't perform miraculous signs," they remarked to one another, "but everything he said about this man has come true."
John 10 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 1:7 | "He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light..." | John's purpose was to testify about Jesus, the light. |
| Jn 1:19-27 | John denies being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. | John clearly defined his role as distinct from the Messiah. |
| Jn 1:29 | "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | John's pivotal testimony identifying Jesus. |
| Jn 3:27-30 | John affirms Jesus must increase, while he must decrease. | John's humble witness acknowledges Jesus' preeminence. |
| Jn 5:33 | "You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth." | Jesus Himself confirms the truthfulness of John's witness. |
| Jn 5:36 | "...the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, these very works that I am doing, bear witness about me..." | Jesus' works also bore witness, supplementing John's verbal testimony. |
| Deut 18:21-22 | "How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?"... "If the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does not come to pass... then the Lord has not spoken that word." | Verifying a true prophet: their words come true. John's words came true in Jesus. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me..." | Prophecy of John's role as forerunner. |
| Isa 40:3 | "A voice crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord!'" | John fulfills this prophecy as the voice preparing Jesus' way. |
| Matt 3:1-6 | John's preaching of repentance and baptism in the wilderness. | Description of John's ministry, focused on verbal proclamation. |
| Matt 11:11 | "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." | John's greatness as a prophet acknowledged, despite lack of signs. |
| Jn 20:30-31 | "Now Jesus did many other signs... but these are written so that you may believe..." | Signs given by Jesus were meant to elicit faith. John performed none, yet elicited faith by his word. |
| 1 Cor 1:22 | "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom..." | The Jewish expectation for signs, contrasted with John's sign-less ministry. |
| Acts 2:22 | "...Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs..." | Contrast between John's ministry and Jesus', who was validated by signs. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." | John was a prophet, but Jesus is God's final Word. |
| Mk 6:14-16 | People speculating about Jesus, some thought he was John risen. | John's impactful ministry led to some confusion about his identity after his death. |
| Jn 11:45 | "Many of the Jews... saw what he had done, believed in him..." | Some believed based on Jesus' signs; here, belief comes from John's words. |
| Jn 4:39 | "Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the word of the woman..." | Belief through a human witness, echoing how John's words led to belief. |
| Jn 2:23 | "Many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing." | Juxtaposition of belief through signs vs. belief through a true word. |
| Jn 8:44 | "...he is a liar and the father of lies." | Emphasizes the significance of "truth" in contrast to spiritual deception. |
| Matt 7:15-20 | "You will recognize them by their fruits." | While John didn't do signs, the truthfulness of his message validated him. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not man, that he should lie..." | The truth of God's word is foundational, fulfilled through John's testimony about Jesus. |
John 10 verses
John 10 41 Meaning
John 10:41 describes the positive reception Jesus received after retreating across the Jordan, to the place where John the Baptist had ministered. Many people came to Him, not primarily because of signs Jesus performed at that location, but because they reflected on John the Baptist's ministry. They acknowledged that John had performed no miraculous signs himself, yet everything he had testified about Jesus of Nazareth proved to be true, validating Jesus' claims and identity.
John 10 41 Context
John 10:41 appears at a pivotal point following Jesus' contentious discourse on the Good Shepherd in Jerusalem. After openly proclaiming His oneness with the Father (John 10:30) and His divine sonship, the Jewish leaders attempted to stone Him for blasphemy (John 10:31-39). Jesus then strategically withdraws from Jerusalem and crosses the Jordan River to Bethany, "the place where John had first baptized" (John 10:40). This geographical relocation is significant, moving from an area of intense hostility to one strongly associated with John the Baptist's ministry. In this less hostile region, a receptive audience emerges. This verse contrasts the stubborn unbelief of the Jerusalem Jews with the faith that blossoms in response to John's fulfilled prophecy, validating Jesus' claims not through new miracles there, but through the enduring truth of John's earlier words.
Historically and culturally, John the Baptist was a revered prophetic figure who had drawn large crowds throughout Judea. His ministry emphasized repentance and preparing the way for one "coming after him who is mightier than he" (Matt 3:11, Jn 1:27). The people's recognition that John had not performed sēmeia (signs/miracles), yet his predictions about Jesus proved true, demonstrated a deep understanding of prophetic authentication distinct from miraculous displays. It was a cultural expectation that true prophets' words would come to pass, setting them apart from false prophets. Thus, the verification of John's prophecy gave immense credibility to Jesus among the people gathered there.
John 10 41 Word analysis
- And many: Kai polloi. Denotes a significant number of people, indicating widespread recognition or receptiveness outside Jerusalem. Suggests a contrast with the few, often hostile, in the city.
- came to Him: Ēlthon pros auton. They actively sought Jesus out. Implies intentionality and interest in His person and message. The location, where John had baptized, drew them to a known area of prophetic activity.
- and were saying: Kai elegon. Imperfect tense in Greek, indicating a continuous or repeated action, suggesting an ongoing affirmation or collective discussion among the many. It reflects a considered conclusion, not a spontaneous utterance.
- 'John performed no sign': Iōannēs men sēmeion ouk epoiēsen. This is a crucial distinction.
sēmeion(σημεῖον) refers to a miraculous deed, a powerful work meant to point to a divine reality or authority. John did not perform such acts (unlike Moses or Jesus). His ministry was focused solely on preaching, baptizing, and bearing verbal witness. This emphasizes that his credibility did not rest on supernatural displays but on the truth of his prophetic word. - 'but everything John said': panta hosa eipen Iōannēs. Highlights the totality of John's prophetic testimony. "Everything" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of John's truthful witness about Jesus' identity, purpose, and significance.
- 'about this man': peri toutou. Refers explicitly to Jesus. This demonstrates their clear understanding that John's prophecies pointed directly and exclusively to Jesus, distinguishing Him from any other claimant.
- 'was true': alēthē ēn.
alēthēs(ἀληθής) means true, authentic, genuine, real, reliable. The past tense (ēn- was) confirms the fulfilled nature of John's prophecy in Jesus' ministry. This is the cornerstone of their belief, valuing prophetic accuracy above miraculous display as proof.
Words-group analysis
- "And many came to Him and were saying": This phrase shows a positive collective response from a substantial number of people, contrasted with the recent rejection Jesus faced in Jerusalem. It indicates a readiness to believe, possibly prompted by their earlier exposure to John's message at this very spot.
- "John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true": This powerful confession demonstrates profound discernment. It highlights that the validity of Jesus' ministry was not solely dependent on His own miracles (though important elsewhere) but also on the fulfilled testimony of a respected prophet, John. It contrasts a ministry validated by "signs" with one validated by the veracity of "word" (prophecy fulfilled), showing the efficacy of true testimony leading to belief. This acknowledges Jesus' true identity based on prior, independent, prophetic confirmation.
John 10 41 Bonus section
The significance of Jesus returning to "the place where John had first baptized" (John 10:40) cannot be overstated. It was at Bethany beyond the Jordan that John had first pointed to Jesus as the "Lamb of God" (Jn 1:29) and testified about His preexistence and role as the Son of God (Jn 1:30-34). Returning to this specific location re-contextualized Jesus' entire ministry within John's earlier, foundational prophetic witness. This geographical link served as a powerful reminder of John's undeniable prophecies concerning Jesus, validating Him for those who were familiar with John's ministry there. The locale itself becomes part of the evidence supporting Jesus' divine claims, bringing the circle of John's preparatory work to a place of fulfillment in the hearts of these new believers.
John 10 41 Commentary
John 10:41 serves as a profound affirmation of Jesus' identity and mission, coming as a moment of solace and validation after intense conflict. It reveals that authentic belief can arise not only from witnessing dramatic miracles but also, crucially, from the discerning recognition of fulfilled prophecy and reliable witness. The people gathered here did not require new signs from Jesus at this specific location. Instead, their faith was anchored in the undeniable fact that John the Baptist, a prophet widely revered despite performing no miracles himself, had consistently and accurately spoken about "this man," Jesus. John's role was primarily as a truthful messenger, preparing the way, and his word concerning Jesus had proven infallibly true through Jesus' life, teachings, and deeds. This verse underscores the supreme value of prophetic testimony when it is confirmed by subsequent events, inviting a faith that is grounded in divine truth and continuity between the Old Covenant's prophetic promise and its New Covenant fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It marks a moment where John's foundational work yields a harvest of belief in Jesus.