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.
• 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

25Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.

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

• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• repliedἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• repliedλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• A personἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• notοὐδέoude · norG3761
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• unlessἐάνean · ifG1437
• unlessμήmē · notG3361
• has beenεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• to him from heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for John 3:27

• Numbers 16:9Is it too small an honor for you that the God of Israel has singled you out from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;
• Numbers 17:5And it will come about that the staff of the man whom I choose will sprout. So I will relieve Myself of the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you.”
• 1 Chronicles 28:4Yet, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all the household of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father 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 have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
• Jeremiah 17:16But as for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd following after You, Nor have I longed for the disastrous day; You Yourself know that the utterance of my lips Was in Your presence.
• 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, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
• Romans 1:5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles in behalf of His name,
• Romans 12:6However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith;
• 1 Corinthians 1:1Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
• 1 Corinthians 2:12Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.
• 1 Corinthians 3:5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
• 1 Corinthians 4:7For who considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
• 1 Corinthians 12:11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
• 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God 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