John 1:22

So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The interrogators who questioned John in John 1:21 press him for a definitive statement of identity to report to their senders.

The words — ἀπόκρισιν (apokrisin) means “an answer,” and δῶμεν (dōmen) means “we may give,” highlighting the demand for a formal reply.

The thread — This exchange continues the identity inquiry of John 1:21 and immediately precedes John’s citation of Isaiah 40:3 in John 1:23.

Why it lands — The text records a direct demand for self-identification when religious authority is challenged, requiring a clear answer before any claim is accepted.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

εἶπανeipanThey said οὖνountherefore αὐτῷ·autōto him;τίςtisWho εἶ;eiare you?ἵναinaThat ἀπόκρισινapokrisinan answer δῶμενdōmenwe may give τοῖςtoisto those πέμψασινpempsasinhaving sent ἡμᾶς·hēmasus;τίtiwhat λέγειςlegeissay you περὶperiabout σεαυτοῦ;seautouyourself?

King James Version

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

Cross-references

2 Samuel 24:13 So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure three years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”