John 3:29

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.

Context of John 3:29

27To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 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. 30He must become greater; I must become less.” 31The 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.

John 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 45:9Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
• Isaiah 54:5For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
• Isaiah 62:4No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.
• Jeremiah 2:2“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: “ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
• Ezekiel 16:8“ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.
• Hosea 2:19I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.
• Matthew 22:2“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
• 2 Corinthians 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
• Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
• Revelation 19:7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
• Revelation 21:9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
• Judges 14:10Now his father went down to see the woman. And there Samson held a feast, as was customary for young men.
• Psalms 45:14In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her— those brought to be with her.
• Matthew 9:15Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
• Isaiah 66:11For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.”
• Luke 2:10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

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

• Humility
• John

In the dictionaries

• Born
• Bride
• Condemn
• Condemnation
• Darkness
• Decrease
• Faith
• Increase
• Love
• Solomon, Song of

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