American Standard Version
John 3:27
27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven.
John 3:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
- New International Version (NIV)To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
- English Standard Version (ESV)John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
- New King James Version (NKJV)John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
Context of John 3:27
25There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purifying. 26And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven. 28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.
Read all of John 3John 3:27 word by word
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰωάννης καὶ εἶπεν· οὐ δύναται ἄνθρωπος λαμβάνειν οὐδὲ ἓν ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ δεδομένον αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for John 3:27
- Numbers 16:9seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;
- Numbers 17:5And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.
- 1 Chronicles 28:4Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;
- Jeremiah 1:5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.
- Jeremiah 17:16As for me, I have not hastened from being a shepherd after thee; neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was before thy face.
- Amos 7:15and Jehovah took me from following the flock, and Jehovah said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
- Matthew 25:15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.
- Mark 13:34It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.
- Romans 1:5through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;
- Romans 12:6And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
- 1 Corinthians 1:1Paul, calledto bean apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
- 1 Corinthians 2:12But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
- 1 Corinthians 3:5What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.
- 1 Corinthians 4:7For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
- 1 Corinthians 12:11but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Commentaries on John 3:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27A man can receive nothing, etc. - Or, A man can receive nothing from heaven, unless it be given him. I have received, not only my commission, but the power also by which I have executed it, from above. As I took it up at God's command, so I am ready to lay it down when he pleases. I have told you from the beginning that I was only the forerunner of the Messiah, and was sent, not to form a separate party, but to point out to men that Lamb of God which…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27John answered - John did not enter into their feelings or sympathize with their love of party. He came to honor Jesus, not to build up a sect, He rejoiced at the success of the Messiah, and began to teach them to rejoice in it also. A man can receive nothing - All success is from heaven. All my success was from God. All the success of Jesus is from God. As success comes from the same source, we ought not to be envious. It is designed to answer the…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. 27-35John the Baptist spoke because of two concerns: Some people questioned whether his baptism was from God (see 1:26), and his disciples were worried because many people were beginning to follow Jesus instead of John (3:26).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 3:27
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries