John 3:26 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.
John 3:26 nkjv
And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified?behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"
John 3:26 niv
They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan?the one you testified about?look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."
John 3:26 esv
And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness ? look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."
John 3:26 nlt
So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us."
John 3 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 1:6-7 | There was a man sent from God, whose name was John...to bear witness of the Light... | John's divine mission to witness |
| Jn 1:19 | ...the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" | John's identity questioned |
| Jn 1:26-27 | John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water...coming after me..." | John points to the greater one |
| Jn 1:29 | The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God..." | John identifies Jesus as Lamb |
| Jn 1:32-34 | John bore witness...He who sent me to baptize with water said...this is the Son of God. | John's direct testimony of Jesus |
| Jn 3:27 | John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." | John's humble perspective |
| Jn 3:28 | "You yourselves bear me witness that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.'" | John clarifies his role |
| Jn 3:30 | "He must increase, but I must decrease." | John's mission completed |
| Jn 4:1 | When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John | Jesus' greater following acknowledged |
| Lk 1:17 | He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts...and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.' | John's role as forerunner |
| Lk 3:16 | John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." | John foretells Jesus' baptism |
| Mt 3:11 | "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance...He who is coming after me is mightier than I..." | John's subordinate role |
| Acts 19:3-5 | He said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." ...then they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. | Distinction between baptisms |
| Php 2:3 | Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. | Humility and valuing others |
| Rom 12:3 | For I say...that no one among you should think of himself more highly than he ought to think... | Avoidance of self-exaltation |
| 1 Cor 3:6-7 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase...so neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. | God is the source of growth |
| 1 Cor 1:12-13 | ...everyone of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." Is Christ divided? | Warning against sectarianism |
| James 3:16 | For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. | Consequences of jealousy |
| Jn 6:37 | All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. | Coming to Jesus is divine will |
| Jn 6:44 | No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him... | Divine drawing to Jesus |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another. | God controls prominence |
John 3 verses
John 3 26 Meaning
John 3:26 records the concern of John the Baptist's disciples, who approached him with an observation about Jesus' burgeoning ministry. They reported that Jesus, the one John himself had previously testified about, was now baptizing and drawing a large following, even eclipsing John's own popularity. This statement, delivered with a hint of concern or jealousy, sets the stage for John the Baptist's humble and pivotal response regarding Jesus' supremacy and his own diminished, yet divinely appointed, role.
John 3 26 Context
John 3:26 is part of a larger dialogue between John the Baptist and his disciples, following Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus. The immediate preceding context (John 3:22-24) establishes that both John and Jesus were in Judea baptizing, though John was still active, implying a period of overlapping ministries. John 3:25 alludes to a dispute between John's disciples and a Jew about purification, possibly a debate that led to their bringing up Jesus' popularity. The verse then directly sets the scene for John's profound theological discourse (John 3:27-36), where he humbly articulates his purpose as a witness to the Christ and Jesus' supreme authority, effectively re-directing his disciples' attention from himself to Jesus. Historically, this period marks the transition from John's preparatory ministry to the full manifestation of Jesus' messianic work. It highlights the prevailing culture of religious teachers attracting followers, and the natural human tendency towards rivalry when perceived competition arises in influence or popularity.
John 3 26 Word analysis
And they came (Καὶ ἦλθον – Kai ēlsthon): Signifies a purposeful approach, indicating the disciples' intent to communicate something significant to John. The immediate reason is implied in the following verse: their concern or mild distress over Jesus' growing influence.
to John (πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην – pros ton Iōannēn): Emphasizes their direct address to their teacher and master. Their loyalty lies with him.
and said (καὶ εἶπον – kai eipon): A direct declaration, presenting their observation.
Rabbi (Ῥαββί – Rhabbi): A respectful term of address for a religious teacher, signifying their recognition of John's authority and their personal discipleship to him. It highlights the nature of their relationship.
He who was with you (ὃς ἦν μετὰ σοῦ – hos ēn meta sou): An indirect, yet pointed, reference to Jesus without directly naming Him. This emphasizes John's earlier association with Jesus, particularly during John's baptism of Jesus.
across the Jordan (πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου – peran tou Iordanou): A specific geographical detail, likely referring to Bethany beyond the Jordan (Jn 1:28). This grounds the report in a tangible past event that John would remember vividly.
to whom you bore witness (ᾧ σὺ μεμαρτύρηκας – hō sy memartyrēkas): Reminds John of his own powerful and public testimony concerning Jesus. The disciples use John's own words and actions as a premise for their current observation, possibly with a subtle challenge or a "look what happened now!" tone. It draws a clear link to John's earlier declaration of Jesus' unique identity (e.g., "Lamb of God").
look (ἴδε – ide): An exclamation, urging immediate attention to the presented facts. It conveys urgency and surprise.
He is baptizing (οὗτος βαπτίζει – houtos baptizei): Indicates Jesus' current and active ministry. The directness emphasizes Jesus' new and ongoing action, perceived by the disciples as competition.
and all are coming to Him (καὶ πάντες ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτόν – kai pantes erchontai pros auton): This "all" is a hyperbole, expressing the dramatic shift in popularity and the perceived exodus of people from John's ministry to Jesus'. It vividly portrays the perceived threat or concern the disciples felt for John's dwindling following compared to Jesus' rapid growth. This phrase forms the core of their unspoken anxiety.
"He who was with you... to whom you bore witness": This phrase groups Jesus' identity through John's previous association and testimony, serving as the backdrop against which the disciples now highlight Jesus' rising popularity. It implies a "remember what you said about him? Well, now he is gaining all the followers!"
"He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him": This group of phrases articulates the core observation and the disciples' implicit concern. The contrast between the single individual "He is baptizing" and the overwhelming "all are coming to Him" effectively portrays the perceived shift in allegiance and popularity. It represents the "problem" as viewed from the disciples' human-centric perspective.
John 3 26 Bonus section
This verse not only sets the stage for John's profound declaration in John 3:27-30 but also serves as a subtle theological counterpoint to earthly measures of success in ministry. The disciples’ concern—that all were now coming to Jesus—highlights the human tendency to evaluate ministry effectiveness by size and popularity. John's immediate reply, drawing on heavenly prerogative ("A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven," Jn 3:27), immediately elevates the discussion above such temporal concerns. This passage is a timeless lesson for believers regarding humility in ministry, reminding us that any influence or effectiveness we have is ultimately a gift from God, not a product of our own efforts or a reason for rivalry. It redirects the focus from human performance to divine sovereignty.
John 3 26 Commentary
John 3:26 serves as a crucial transition point in John's Gospel, bridging the profound theological exposition of rebirth with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) and John the Baptist's ultimate declaration of Christ's supremacy. The disciples of John approach him with an understandable human concern: Jesus' ministry, once highlighted by John himself, is now outstripping John's own. Their statement, "He who was with you... look, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him," conveys a mix of observation, bewilderment, and a protective loyalty towards their master, John. They are focused on earthly measures of success—numbers and popular acclaim—which are naturally linked to their rabbi's standing. This human tendency towards rivalry and concern for reputation is starkly contrasted by John the Baptist's subsequent response, which reveals a divine understanding of his own subservient role and Jesus' ultimate authority and origin. The verse brilliantly sets up John's final and most explicit testimony, providing a real-life scenario where his profound humility and Christ-exalting message can be demonstrated.