English Standard Version
John 3:31
31He 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 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.
- New King James Version (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.
- New Living Translation (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.
Context of John 3:31
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. 30He must increase, but I must decrease." 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. 32He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
Read all of John 3John 3:31 word by word
ὁ ἄνωθεν ἐρχόμενος ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν. ὁ ὢν ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐστιν καὶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς λαλεῖ. ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐρχόμενος ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- He that comethὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- He that comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- from aboveἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- aboveἐπάνωepanō · aboveG1883
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
Cross-references for John 3:31
- John 3:13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
- John 6:33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
- John 8:23He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
- Ephesians 1:20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- Ephesians 4:8Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
- John 1:15(John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
- John 5:21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
- Matthew 28:18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
- Acts 10:36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
- Romans 9:5To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
- Ephesians 1:21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
- Philippians 2:9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
- 1 Peter 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
- Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
- John 3:12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
- 1 Corinthians 15:47The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.
Commentaries on John 3:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31Is above all - This blessed bridegroom, who has descended from heaven, John 3:13, is above all, superior to Moses, the prophets, and me. He that is of the earth - John himself, who was born in the common way of man. Speaketh of the earth - Cannot speak of heavenly things as Christ can do; and only represents Divine matters by these earthly ordinances; for the spirit and meaning of which, you must all go to the Messiah himself.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31He that cometh from above - The Messiah, represented as coming down from heaven. See John 3:13; John 6:33; John 8:23. It has been doubted whether the remainder of this chapter contains the words of “John the Baptist” or of “the evangelist.” The former is the more probable opinion, but it is difficult to decide it, and it is of very little consequence. Is above all - In nature, rank, and authority. “Is superior to all prophets” Hebrews 1:1-2; “to all…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. 31Jesus came from heaven. Because of this, he alone was able to make the Father known (1:18; 3:13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-3431-34. He that, &c.--Here is the reason why He must increase while all human teachers must decrease. The Master "cometh from above"--descending from His proper element, the region of those "heavenly things" which He came to reveal, and so, although mingling with men and things on the earth, is not "of the earth," either in Person or Word. The servants, on the contrary, springing of earth, are of the earth, and their testimony, even though divine in…Read the comment
Topics related to John 3:31
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
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