John 3 31

John 3:31 kjv

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

John 3:31 nkjv

He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

John 3:31 niv

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

John 3:31 esv

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

John 3:31 nlt

"He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.

John 3 verses

John 3 31 Meaning

John 3:31 asserts the unparalleled authority and supreme nature of Jesus, based on His divine origin. He is described as "coming from above" and "from heaven," signifying His inherent connection to God and His universal supremacy over all creation and earthly matters. In stark contrast, human beings, described as "of the earth," are limited by their earthly nature, and their understanding and words are confined to that realm. The verse highlights the radical difference between the divine revelation embodied in Jesus and any human witness, emphasizing Jesus' ultimate source of truth and power.

John 3 31 Context

John 3:31 follows the famous discourse between Jesus and Nicodemus about spiritual rebirth and eternal life (vv. 1-21). Following this, the narrative shifts to John the Baptist's final testimony about Jesus (vv. 22-30). When John's disciples express concern that Jesus is baptizing and drawing more followers, John seizes the opportunity to humbly reaffirm his divinely appointed role as merely a forerunner and friend of the Bridegroom (Jesus). He reiterates that he is not the Christ but was sent ahead of Him, famously declaring, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (v. 30). Verse 31 acts as a powerful summation of this preceding testimony, providing the theological foundation for John's humility and Jesus' unparalleled preeminence. It emphasizes Jesus' ultimate superiority not based on mere human appointment or earthly popularity, but on His unique origin and divine nature, contrasting Him directly with any earthly figure, including John himself.

John 3 31 Word analysis

• He who comes from above (ὁ ἄνωθεν ἐρχόμενος, ho anōthen erchomenos):

  • ὁ (ho): The definite article, specifying "the one."
  • ἄνωθεν (anōthen): This Greek word means "from above" or "from heaven." Notably, in John 3:3 and 3:7, it also means "again" or "anew" (born anōthen). In verse 31, its primary sense is "from above," emphasizing Jesus' celestial origin. This directly links His existence and authority to the divine realm, in contrast to earthly birth. It denotes divine essence and authority, not merely location.
  • ἐρχόμενος (erchomenos): Present participle, "the one who is coming/has come." Highlights Jesus' active presence and continued relationship with His heavenly source.

• is above all (ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν, epanō pantōn estin):

  • ἐπάνω (epanō): "Above, over, on top of." Signifies superior position, preeminence, or mastery.
  • πάντων (pantōn): "All, everything, everyone." Denotes universal scope. Jesus' supremacy is absolute and extends over all creation, all people, all authority, and all earthly limitations.
  • ἐστίν (estin): "Is." The present indicative emphasizes an enduring state of being.

• he who is of the earth (ὁ ἐκ τῆς γῆς ὤν, ho ek tēs gēs ōn):

  • ὁ (ho): The one.
  • ἐκ (ek): "Out of, from." Denotes origin or source.
  • τῆς γῆς (tēs gēs): "The earth, ground, land." Refers to human beings whose origin and nature are terrestrial. This is an implied reference to John the Baptist, but also broadly to all humanity.
  • ὤν (ōn): Present participle of "to be," "being." Emphasizes the inherent nature or state of being from the earth.

• is earthly (ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐστίν, ek tēs gēs estin):

  • This phrase reiterates and emphasizes the inherent earthly nature and limitations of anyone whose origin is from the earth. It confirms their lack of divine wisdom or authority.

• and speaks of the earth (καὶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς λαλεῖ, kai ek tēs gēs lalei):

  • καὶ (kai): "And."
  • ἐκ τῆς γῆς (ek tēs gēs): Again, "from the earth." Applies to the manner and substance of speech.
  • λαλεῖ (lalei): "Speaks, proclaims, declares." The wisdom, message, and understanding of an earthly being are bound by human limitations and earthly perspectives. Their testimony originates from and pertains to the world, lacking access to the ultimate divine truth accessible to one "from above."

• He who comes from heaven (ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐρχόμενος, ho ek tou ouranou erchomenos):

  • This is a strong parallelism and emphatic restatement of the initial "He who comes from above."
  • τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (tou ouranou): "The heaven/sky." Uses a different word but reinforces the same divine origin as anōthen, underscoring Jesus' direct connection to the ultimate divine realm.

• is above all (ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν, epanō pantōn estín):

  • Another emphatic repetition of the declaration of Jesus' absolute supremacy. This chiastic structure (A-B-C-B'-A') serves to powerfully underscore Jesus' unparalleled divine nature and authority.

John 3 31 Bonus section

The profound dual emphasis in John 3:31 – Jesus' divine origin and His universal supremacy – serves as a crucial hermeneutical key for understanding all of Jesus' teachings and claims. Because He comes from "above" and "from heaven," His words are not merely human wisdom or earthly speculation; they are the very words of God, carrying divine authority (Jn 3:34, 12:49-50). This makes Jesus the ultimate arbiter of truth and the supreme authority on matters of salvation and the Kingdom of God. It implies that to reject His message is to reject heavenly truth itself, making it impossible to genuinely understand God's plan apart from His divine revelation. This verse challenges any system that attempts to equate human wisdom or religious tradition with the inherent and absolute authority that resides uniquely in Christ.

John 3 31 Commentary

John 3:31 functions as a profound theological declaration about the distinct natures and authoritative levels of Jesus and humanity. It resolves any potential misconception that John the Baptist, or any other prophet, could be comparable to Jesus. The core distinction is one of origin and inherent being. Jesus' origin "from above" or "from heaven" signifies His divine, eternal pre-existence and intrinsic union with the Father. This origin is the fount of His absolute authority and universal supremacy. His very presence on earth signifies a direct conduit of divine truth and power.

In sharp contrast, any individual "of the earth" – including the greatest of prophets like John the Baptist – is inherently limited by their earthly constitution and human perspective. Their words, while potentially inspired, originate from and relate to the created realm. They can point to the divine, but they do not embody it. This verse reinforces the exclusivity and uniqueness of Jesus' revelation. True spiritual insight and ultimate authority are found only in the One whose source is fundamentally heavenly, allowing Him to speak with ultimate truth and exert sovereignty over all things. The repetition of "is above all" underscores this supremacy, leaving no doubt about Jesus' unparalleled status as King and Lord, the ultimate and final Word from God.