John 1:28

John 1:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
• New International Version (NIV)This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
• English Standard Version (ESV)These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Context of John 1:28

26John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing. 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’

John 1:28 word by word

ταῦτα ἐν Βηθανίᾳ ἐγένετο πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου ὅπου ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης βαπτίζων.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• These thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• were doneγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• BethabaraΒηθαβαρά,ΒηθανίαBēthabara · BethanyG962
• beyondπέρανperan · other sideG4008
• Jordanὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JordanἸορδάνηςIordanēs · JordanG2446
• whereὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• baptizingβαπτίζωbaptizō · to baptizeG907

Cross-references for John 1:28

• John 10:40He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile.
• Judges 7:24Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River at Beth-barah.” So all the men of Ephraim did as they were told.
• John 12:5“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
• John 3:23At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.

Commentaries on John 1:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28These things were done in Bethabara - It is very probable that the word Bethany should be inserted here, instead of Bethabara. This reading, in the judgment of the best critics, is the genuine one. The following are the authorities by which it is supported: ABCEGHLMSX, BV, of Matthai, upwards of a hundred others, Syriac, Armenian, Persic, Coptic, Slavonic, Vulgate, Saxon, and all the Itala, with some of the most eminent of the primitive fathers, before…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28In Bethabara - Almost all the ancient manuscripts and versions, instead of “Bethabara” here, have “Bethany,” and this is doubtless the true reading. There was a Bethany about 2 miles east of Jerusalem, but there is said also to have been another in the tribe of Reuben, on the east side of the river Jordan, and in this place, probably, John was baptizing. It is about 12 miles above Jericho. The word “Bethabara” means “house or place of a ford.” The reading…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. 2828. Bethabara--Rather, "Bethany" (according to nearly all the best and most ancient manuscripts); not the Bethany of Lazarus, but another of the same name, and distinguished from it as lying "beyond Jordan," on the east.Read the comment

Topics related to John 1:28

• Baptism
• Bethabara
• Jesus, the Christ
• John

In the dictionaries

• Jordan
• Jordan River, Jordan
• Behold
• Believe
• Bethabara
• Bethany
• Blood
• Dwell
• Flesh
• Guile

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