John 3:29

John 3:29 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
• New International Version (NIV)The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

Context of John 3:29

27John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God]. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I stated, ‘I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ but, ‘I have [only] been sent ahead of Him [as His appointed forerunner and messenger to announce and proclaim His coming].’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete. 30He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease. 31“He who comes from [heaven] above is above all others; he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks [about things] of the earth [his viewpoint and experience are earthly]. He who comes from heaven is above all.

John 3:29 word by word

Ὁ ἔχων τὴν νύμφην νυμφίος ἐστίν. ὁ δὲ φίλος τοῦ νυμφίου, ὁ ἑστηκὼς καὶ ἀκούων αὐτοῦ, χαρᾷ χαίρει διὰ τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ νυμφίου. αὕτη οὖν ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ πεπλήρωται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that hathὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• He that hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• the brideνύμφηnumphē · brideG3565
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the bridegroomνυμφίοςnumphios · bridegroomG3566
• butδέde · thenG1161
• the friendφίλοςphilos · friendly/friendG5384
• which standethἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• hearethἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• rejoicethχαίρωchairō · to rejoiceG5463
• greatlyχαράchara · joyG5479
• becauseδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• of theφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
• voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• is fulfilledπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137

Cross-references for John 3:29

• Psalms 45:9Kings’ daughters are among Your noble ladies; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
• Isaiah 54:5For your husband is your Maker, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of the whole earth.
• Isaiah 62:4It will no longer be said of you [Judah], “Azubah (Abandoned),” Nor will it any longer be said of your land, “Shemamah (Desolate)”; But you will be called, “Hephzibah (My Delight is in Her),” And your land, “Married”; For the Lord delights in you, And to Him your land will be married [owned and protected by the Lord].
• Jeremiah 2:2“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I remember [earnestly] the lovingkindness and devotion of your youth, Your time of betrothal [like that of a bride during the early years in Egypt and again at Sinai], When you followed Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.
• Ezekiel 16:8“Then I passed by you [again] and looked on you; behold, you were maturing and at the time for love, and I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore [an oath] to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord God, “and you became Mine.”
• Hosea 2:19And I will betroth you (Israel) to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and loyalty, and in compassion.
• Matthew 22:2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
• 2 Corinthians 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy because I have promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
• Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
• Revelation 19:7Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us give Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come [at last] and His bride (the redeemed) has prepared herself.”
• Revelation 21:9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
• Judges 14:10His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for that was the customary thing for young men to do.
• Psalms 45:14She will be brought to the King in embroidered garments; The virgins, her companions who follow her, Will be brought to You.
• Matthew 9:15And Jesus replied to them, “Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
• Isaiah 66:11That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, That you may drink deeply and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.”
• Luke 2:10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.

Commentaries on John 3:29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29He that hath the bride - The congregation of believers. Is the bridegroom - The Lord Jesus - the Head of the Church. See Matthew 22:2, etc., where the parable of the marriage feast is explained. The friend of the bridegroom - The person whom the Greeks called the paranymph - there were two at each wedding: one waited on the bride, the other on the bridegroom: their business was to serve them, to inspect the concerns of the bridechamber, and afterwards to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29He that hath the bride … - This is an illustration drawn from marriage. The bride belongs to her husband. So the church, the bride of the Messiah, belongs to him. It is to be expected, therefore, and desireD, that the people should flock to him. But the friend of the bridegroom - He whose office it is to attend him on the marriage occasion. This was commonly the nearest friend, and was a high honor. Rejoiceth greatly - Esteems himself highly honored by…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-36Verses 22-36 John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace there would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. John knew that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion. The words of Jesus were…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29John the Baptist described Jesus as the bridegroom. He described himself as the bridegroom’s friend. John did not try to bring honor to himself. Instead, he gave honor to Jesus and showed that Jesus is greater than he is.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 27-3027-30. A man, &c.--"I do my heaven-prescribed work, and that is enough for me. Would you have me mount into my Master's place? Said I not unto you, I am not the Christ? The Bride is not mine, why should the people stay with me?? Mine it is to point the burdened to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, to tell them there is Balm in Gilead, and a Physician there. And shall I grudge to see them, in obedience to the call, flying as a cloud…Read the comment

Topics related to John 3:29

• Humility
• John

In the dictionaries

• Born
• Bride
• Condemn
• Condemnation
• Darkness
• Decrease
• Faith
• Increase
• Love
• Solomon, Song of

Commentaries on John 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings