John 1:25

John 1:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
• New International Version (NIV)questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
• New Living Translation (NLT)asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

Context of John 1:25

23He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

John 1:25 word by word

καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· τί οὖν βαπτίζεις εἰ σὺ οὐκ εἶ ὁ χριστὸς οὐδὲ Ἠλίας οὐδὲ ὁ προφήτης;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• they askedἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• baptizest thouβαπτίζωbaptizō · to baptizeG907
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• that Christὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• that ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• norοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
• EliasἩλίαςHēlias · ElijahG2243
• that prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396

Cross-references for John 1:25

• Matthew 21:23Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
• Acts 4:5And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,
• Acts 5:28saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
• John 1:20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
• Daniel 9:24“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.

Commentaries on John 1:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Why baptizest thou then? - Baptism was a very common ceremony among the Jews, who never received a proselyte into the full enjoyment of a Jew's privileges, till he was both baptized and circumcised. But such baptisms were never performed except by an ordinance of the Sanhedrin, or in the presence of three magistrates: besides, they never baptized any Jew or Jewess, nor even those who were the children of their proselytes; for, as all these were considered…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25Why baptizest thou then … - Baptism on receiving a proselyte from “paganism” was common before the time of John, but it was not customary to baptize a “Jew.” John had changed the custom. He baptized “all,” and they were desirous of knowing by what authority he made such a change in the religious customs of the nation. They presumed, from the fact that he introduced that change, that he claimed to be a prophet or the Christ. They supposed that no one would…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-28Verses 19-28 John disowns himself to be the Christ, who was now expected and waited for. He came in the spirit and power of Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. John was not that Prophet whom Moses said the Lord would raise up to them of their brethren, like unto him. He was not such a prophet as they expected, who would rescue them from the Romans. He gave such an account of himself, as might excite and awaken them to hearken to him. He baptized…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-26Jewish baptisms were ritual washings for becoming ceremonially pure following contact with impurity (Leviticus 8:6; Numbers 19:7). John announced the Christ's arrival and required participants to confess their sins and be baptized (Matthew 3:6). Baptism later became the symbol of membership in the kingdom of God (Acts 2:38; see also John 4:1–2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. Why baptizest thou, if not, &c.--Thinking he disclaimed any special connection with Messiah's kingdom, they demand his right to gather disciples by baptism.Read the comment

Topics related to John 1:25

• Baptism
• Elijah
• Jesus, the Christ
• John

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Behold
• Believe
• Blood
• Dwell
• Elijah
• Flesh
• Guile
• Light
• Prefer

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