Bible Strands
John 1:30
This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — John the Baptist addresses his listeners at the Jordan, immediately after identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God and before clarifying his own baptismal mission.
The words — ὑπὲρ (huper) = concerning and ὀπίσω (opisō) = after structure the comparison, while ἐγὼ (egō) = I myself marks the speaker’s direct testimony.
The thread — This statement repeats John’s earlier proclamation in John 1:15 and parallels his warnings in John 1:27 and Luke 3:16 regarding a figure who outranks him.
Why it lands — The text declares Jesus’ temporal priority and superiority, demanding that readers recognize John’s role strictly as a witness to a pre-existent figure.
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
King James Version
This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Cross-references
- John 1:15 John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
- John 1:27 He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
- Luke 3:16 John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.