John 1:30

30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’

Images for John 1:30

John 1:30 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'
New Living Translation (NLT)
30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’
The Message Bible (MSG)
30 "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I've been talking about, 'the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.'
American Standard Version (ASV)
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
30 He is the one I spoke about when I said, 'A man who comes after me was before me because he existed before I did.'
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
30 This is the One I told you about: 'After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.'
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
30 This is the One I was talking about. I said, 'A man who comes after me is more important than I am. That's because he existed before I was born.'

John 1:30 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:30

This is he, of whom it is said
Either the day before, as in ( John 1:27 ) , or some time before that, ( John 1:15 ) , when he first began to baptize, even before Christ came to be baptized by him, and before he personally knew him; see ( Matthew 3:11 Matthew 3:13 ) .

After me cometh a man;
not a mere man, but the man God's fellow: and this is said, not because he was now a grown man, or to show the truth of his human nature; but seems to be a common Hebraism, and is all one as if it had been said, "after me cometh one", or a certain person: for the sense of this phrase, and what follows, (See Gill on John 1:15).

John 1:30 In-Context

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’
31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

Cross References 1

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.