New International Version
John 3:31
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 3:31 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.
Context of John 3:31
29The 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.” 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. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
Read all of John 3John 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 ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
- John 6:33For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
- John 8:23But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
- Ephesians 1:20he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
- Ephesians 4:8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
- John 1:15(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”)
- John 5:21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
- Matthew 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
- Acts 10:36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
- Romans 9:5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
- Ephesians 1:21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
- Philippians 2:9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
- 1 Peter 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
- Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
- John 3:12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
- 1 Corinthians 15:47The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of 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
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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