Bible Strands
John 1:34
I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — John the Baptist speaks after the Spirit descends and rests on Jesus, fulfilling the sign given by the One who sent him. This declaration occurs after the Jerusalem delegation inquiry and before his two disciples appear the following day.
The words — μεμαρτύρηκα (memarturēka) = have borne witness; οὗτός (houtos) = this. The text states John personally observed the Spirit’s descent and formally testified to Jesus’ identity.
The thread — The title “Son of God” traces back to the divine decree in Psalm 2:7, resurfaces in Nathanael’s confession in John 1:49, and becomes a focal point of temptation in Matthew 4:3.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to ground belief in direct divine revelation rather than human inquiry, treating witnessed truth as the foundation for faith.
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 saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Cross-references
- Psalms 2:7 I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
- John 1:49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
- Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
- 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
- Psalms 89:26 He will call to Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock of my salvation.’
- John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
- Romans 1:4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Revelation 2:18 To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”