John 3:27

John 3:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
• English Standard Version (ESV)John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

Context of John 3:27

25Now an argument came up between John’s disciples and a Judean concerning purification. 26They came to John and said, “Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—look, He is immersing, and all are coming to Him!” John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,’ but rather, ‘I am sent before Him.’ 29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the best man rejoices when he stands and hears the bridegroom’s voice. So now my joy is complete!

John 3:27 word by word

ἀπεκρίθη Ἰωάννης καὶ εἶπεν· οὐ δύναται ἄνθρωπος λαμβάνειν οὐδὲ ἓν ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ δεδομένον αὐτῷ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• A manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• ·οὐou · noG3756
• canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• ·ἐάνean · ifG1437
• exceptμήmē · notG3361
• it beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• heavenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for John 3:27

• Numbers 16:9Isn’t it enough that the God of Israel has set you apart from the community of Israel to bring you near to Him to do the work of the Tabernacle of Adonai and to stand before the community to minister to them?
• Numbers 17:5It will come about that the staff of the man I choose will sprout. I will then rid Myself of the grumblings of Bnei-Yisrael, who are grumbling against you.”
• 1 Chronicles 28:4Yet Adonai, the God of Israel, has chosen me out of all my ancestral house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as ruler, and of the house of Judah, my father’s house, and of my father’s sons, He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
• Jeremiah 1:5“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I set you apart— I appointed you prophet to the nations.”
• Jeremiah 17:16As for me, I have not run away from being a shepherd after You, nor have I desired the woeful day. What came out of my lips You know—it was before You.
• Amos 7:15But Adonai took me from following the flock and Adonai said to me: ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’
• Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man away on a journey. After leaving his house and putting his servants in charge and giving each his task, he also commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
• Romans 1:5Through Him we have received grace and the office of emissary, to bring about obedience of faith among all the nations on behalf of His name.
• Romans 12:6We have gifts that differ according to the grace that was given to us—if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
• 1 Corinthians 1:1Paul, called as an emissary of Messiah Yeshua by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
• 1 Corinthians 2:12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God—so we might come to know the things freely given to us by God.
• 1 Corinthians 3:5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to trust—and to each as the Lord gave.
• 1 Corinthians 4:7For who makes you different? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
• 1 Corinthians 12:11But one and the same Ruach activates all these things, distributing to each person individually as He wills.
• 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace toward me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than them all—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Commentaries on John 3:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27A man can receive nothing, etc. - Or, A man can receive nothing from heaven, unless it be given him. I have received, not only my commission, but the power also by which I have executed it, from above. As I took it up at God's command, so I am ready to lay it down when he pleases. I have told you from the beginning that I was only the forerunner of the Messiah, and was sent, not to form a separate party, but to point out to men that Lamb of God which…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27John answered … - John did not enter into their feelings or sympathize with their love of party. He came to honor Jesus, not to build up a sect, He rejoiced at the success of the Messiah, and began to teach them to rejoice in it also. A man can receive nothing … - All success is from heaven. All my success was from God. All the success of Jesus is from God. As success comes from the same source, we ought not to be envious. It is designed to answer the…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. 27-35John the Baptist spoke because of two concerns: Some people questioned whether his baptism was from God (see 1:26), and his disciples were worried because many people were beginning to follow Jesus instead of John (3:26).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 3:27

• John
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Born
• Condemn
• Condemnation
• Darkness
• Decrease
• Faith
• Increase
• Love
• Testify
• Truth

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