Bible Strands
John 1:31
I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — John the Baptist addresses observers of his water baptism while standing at the threshold of Jesus’ public ministry. He clarifies that his own lack of prior recognition does not undermine his role, but rather establishes the purpose of his baptizing activity.
The words — The phrase κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν (kagō ouk ēdein auton) literally renders “and I myself did not know Him,” stressing personal ignorance. The purpose clause ἵνα φανερωθῇ (hina phanerōthē) translates “that He may be revealed,” defining the intended outcome of the water rite.
The thread — The preparatory witness motif appears in Malachi 3:1, where a messenger clears the way, and Luke 1:17, which links the forerunner to Elijah’s turning ministry. John 1:7 explicitly frames this as a witness mandate to the Light, while John 1:30 immediately precedes this declaration with the claim of Jesus’ preeminence.
Why it lands — The text states that John’s baptism exists to expose Jesus to Israel, not to validate John’s own spiritual status. It requires readers to evaluate whether their religious actions function to point outward toward the revealed figure or to secure personal recognition.
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
And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Cross-references
- Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
- John 1:7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
- John 1:33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
- Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
- Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
- Matthew 3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
- Mark 1:3 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
- Luke 3:3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
- Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,