New Living Translation
John 1:19
19This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?”
John 1:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
- New International Version (NIV)Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
Context of John 1:19
17For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” 21“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.”
Read all of John 1John 1:19 word by word
καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Ἰωάννου ὅτε ἀπέστειλαν πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἐξ Ἱεροσολύμων ἱερεῖς καὶ Λευίτας ἵνα ἐρωτήσωσιν αὐτόν· σὺ τίς εἶ;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the recordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the recordμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
- of JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- sentἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
- priestsἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
- LevitesΛευΐτηςLeuitēs · LeviteG3019
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- JerusalemἹεροσόλυμαHierosoluma · JerusalemG2414
- toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- askἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whoτίςtis · which?G5101
- thouσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for John 1:19
- John 5:33In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true.
- Deuteronomy 17:9and present them to the Levitical priests or the judge on duty at that time. They will hear the case and declare the verdict.
- Deuteronomy 24:8“In all cases involving serious skin diseases, be careful to follow the instructions of the Levitical priests; obey all the commands I have given them.
- Matthew 21:23When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”
- Luke 3:15Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah.
- John 10:24The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
- Acts 13:25As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’
- Acts 19:4Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
Commentaries on John 1:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19And this is the record of John - He persisted in this assertion, testifying to the Jews that this Jesus was The Christ.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19This is the record - The word “record” here means “testimony,” in whatever way given. The word “record” now commonly refers to “written” evidence. This is not its meaning here. John‘s testimony was given without writing. When the Jews sent - John‘s fame was great. See Matthew 3:5. It spread from the region of Galilee to Jerusalem, and the nation seemed to suppose, from the character of his preaching, that he was the Messiah, Luke 3:15. The great council…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. 19-28Jesus reveals himself to the world through his miracles and teachings. People reacted differently: Some wanted to believe in him. Others opposed him. This division becomes more obvious as the book continues. Jesus ended his public ministry with a final call for people to believe in him (12:44–50).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3619. record--testimony. the Jews--that is, the heads of the nation, the members of the Sanhedrim. In this peculiar sense our Evangelist seems always to use the term.Read the comment
Topics related to John 1:19
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
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