God’s Word Translation
John 3:29
29“The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel.
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 answered, “People can’t receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. 28You are witnesses that I said, ‘I’m not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’ “The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel. 30He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance. 31“The person who comes from above is superior to everyone. I, a person from the earth, know nothing but what is on earth, and that’s all I can talk about. The person who comes from heaven is superior to everyone
Read all of John 3John 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 45:9The daughters of kings are among your noble ladies. The queen takes her place at your right hand and wears gold from Ophir.
- Isaiah 54:5Your husband is your maker. His name is the Lord of Armies. Your defender is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of the whole earth.
- Isaiah 62:4You will no longer be called Deserted, and your land will no longer be called Destroyed. But you will be named My Delight, and your land will be named Married. The Lord is delighted with you, and your land will be married.
- Jeremiah 2:2“Go and announce to Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: I remember the unfailing loyalty of your youth, the love you had for me as a bride. I remember how you followed me into the desert, into a land that couldn’t be farmed.
- Ezekiel 16:8“ ‘I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares the Almighty Lord.
- Hosea 2:19“Israel, I will make you my wife forever. I will be honest and faithful to you. I will show you my love and compassion.
- Matthew 22:2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who planned a wedding for his son.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2I’m as protective of you as God is. After all, you’re a virgin whom I promised in marriage to one man—Christ.
- Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.
- Revelation 19:7Let us rejoice, be happy, and give him glory because it’s time for the marriage of the lamb. His bride has made herself ready.
- Revelation 21:9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.”
- Judges 14:10After his father went to see the woman, Samson threw a party. (This is what young men used to do.)
- Psalms 45:14Wearing a colorful gown, she is brought to the king. Her bridesmaids follow her. They will be brought to you.
- Matthew 9:15Jesus replied, “Can wedding guests be sad while the groom is still with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.
- Isaiah 66:11You will nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breasts. You will nurse to your heart’s delight at her full breasts.
- Luke 2:10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.
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
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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