John 3:31

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of John 3:31

29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 30He must become more important while I become less important.” The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. 32He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful.

John 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 the one who descended from heaven – the Son of Man.
• John 6:33For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
• John 8:23Jesus replied, “You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world.
• Ephesians 1:20This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms
• Ephesians 4:8Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”
• John 1:15John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’”
• John 5:21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.
• Matthew 28:18Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
• Acts 10:36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all) –
• Romans 9:5To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.
• Ephesians 1:21far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
• Philippians 2:9As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
• 1 Peter 3:22who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.
• Revelation 19:16He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
• John 3:12If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
• 1 Corinthians 15:47The first man is from the earth, made 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

• Blindness
• Jesus, the Christ
• John

In the dictionaries

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

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