John 3:27

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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
• New Living Translation (NLT)John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.

Context of John 3:27

25Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. 26And 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 answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' 29The 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.

John 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• A manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• ·οὐou · noG3756
• canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• ·ἐάνean · ifG1437
• exceptμήmē · notG3361
• it beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• heavenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for John 3:27

• Numbers 16:9is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them,
• Numbers 17:5And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you."
• 1 Chronicles 28:4Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
• Jeremiah 1:5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
• Jeremiah 17:16I have not run away from being your shepherd, nor have I desired the day of sickness. You know what came out of my lips; it was before your face.
• Amos 7:15But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
• Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
• Romans 1:5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
• Romans 12:6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
• 1 Corinthians 1:1Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
• 1 Corinthians 2:12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
• 1 Corinthians 3:5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
• 1 Corinthians 4:7For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
• 1 Corinthians 12:11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
• 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is 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

• John
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Born
• Condemn
• Condemnation
• Darkness
• Decrease
• Faith
• Increase
• Love
• Testify
• Truth

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