New English Translation
John 1:32
32Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.
John 1:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
- New International Version (NIV)Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
Context of John 1:32
30This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ 31I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining – this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”
Read all of John 1John 1:32 word by word
καὶ ἐμαρτύρησεν Ἰωάννης λέγων ὅτι τεθέαμαι τὸ πνεῦμα καταβαῖνον ὡς περιστερὰν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- bare recordμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- I sawθεάομαιtheaomai · to look atG2300
- the Spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- descendingκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- likeὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
- a doveπεριστεράperistera · doveG4058
- it abodeμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
Cross-references for John 1:32
- John 5:32There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true.
- Matthew 3:16After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him.
- Mark 1:10And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
- Luke 3:22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.”
Commentaries on John 1:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32I saw the Spirit descending, etc. - See the notes on Matthew 3:16, Matthew 3:17.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32Bare record - Gave testimony. I saw the Spirit - See the notes at Matthew 3:16-17.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 29-36Verses 29-36 John saw Jesus coming to him, and pointed him out as the Lamb of God. The paschal lamb, in the shedding and sprinkling of its blood, the roasting and eating of its flesh, and all the other circumstances of the ordinance, represented the salvation of sinners by faith in Christ. And the lambs sacrificed every morning and evening, can only refer to Christ slain as a sacrifice to redeem us to God by his blood. John came as a preacher of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32John the Baptist's second testimony (see 1:19–23) describes what happened when he baptized Jesus . In the Old Testament, kings and prophets were anointed with the Holy Spirit. These anointings were temporary. They were given for a specific task or time. By contrast, the Spirit remained on Jesus. His anointing was not temporary. It was permanent (see 3:34).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-3431-34. knew him not--Living mostly apart, the one at Nazareth, the other in the Judean desert--to prevent all appearance of collusion, John only knew that at a definite time after his own call, his Master would show Himself. As He drew near for baptism one day, the last of all the crowd, the spirit of the Baptist heaving under a divine presentiment that the moment had at length arrived, and an air of unwonted serenity and dignity, not without traits…Read the comment
Topics related to John 1:32
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 1
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries