ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 1.29-31

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"27. even he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. 28. These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing."

"29. On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! 30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me. 31. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water."

"32. And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit." (John 1:27-33, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"27. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28. These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing."

"29. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30. This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31. I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”"

"32. John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’" (John 1:27-33, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"27. He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing."

"29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. taketh away: or, beareth 30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water."

"32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." (John 1:27-33, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"27. of whom I am not worthy that I may loose the cord of his sandal.' 28. These things came to pass in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing,"

"29. on the morrow John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, 'Lo, the Lamb of God, who is taking away the sin of the world; 30. this is he concerning whom I said, After me doth come a man, who hath come before me, because he was before me: 31. and I knew him not, but, that he might be manifested to Israel, because of this I came with the water baptizing."

"32. And John testified, saying, 'I have seen the Spirit coming down, as a dove, out of heaven, and it remained on him; 33. and I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, On whomsoever thou mayest see the Spirit coming down, and remaining on him, this is he who is baptizing with the Holy Spirit;" (John 1:27-33, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.