Bible Strands
John 1:32
Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — John the Baptist speaks to his followers and the surrounding crowd immediately following Jesus’ baptism, identifying the Messiah through a visible divine sign.
The words — ἐμαρτύρησεν (emarturēsen) means “he bore witness,” and τεθεάμαι (tetheamai) translates literally to “I have beheld” or “I have seen.”
The thread — The vision of the Spirit descending like a dove appears in Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, and Luke 3:22 at Jesus’ baptism.
Why it lands — The text records John’s direct observation of the Spirit’s descent and rest, requiring the reader to accept this visible event as the confirmed identification of the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
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 John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Cross-references
- Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
- Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
- John 1:7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
- John 5:32 There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid.