Focused Passage

John 3:22-36

New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World

Jesus moves Nicodemus from religious recognition to the necessity of new birth, reveals the lifted-up Son as God's saving gift to the world, exposes the divide between light and darkness, and receives John the Baptist's joyful witness that the Son from above must increase.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.

23 Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.

24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)

25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.

26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

27 John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’

29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

30 He must increase; I must decrease.

31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.

32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.

33 Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.

34 For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Original words

After Μετὰ G3326 Preposition this ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural went ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular Judean Ἰουδαίαν G2453 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular countryside γῆν G1093 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction [where] ἐκεῖ G1563 Adverb He spent some time διέτριβεν G1304 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular with μετ’ G3326 Preposition them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction baptized ἐβάπτιζεν G907 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 23

Original words

Now δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular John Ἰωάννης G2491 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was Ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction baptizing βαπτίζων G907 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular at ἐν G1722 Preposition Aenon Αἰνὼν G137 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular near ἐγγὺς G1451 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Salim Σαλείμ G4530 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction [the] water ὕδατα G5204 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular plentiful πολλὰ G4183 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural there ἐκεῖ G1563 Adverb and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [people] kept coming παρεγίνοντο G3854 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction to be baptized ἐβαπτίζοντο G907 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 24

Original words

(For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular John Ἰωάννης G2491 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular {had} not yet οὔπω G3768 Adverb been ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular thrown βεβλημένος G906 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular prison φυλακὴν G5438 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

Then οὖν G3767 Conjunction a dispute ζήτησις G2214 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular arose Ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular between ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural John’s Ἰωάννου G2491 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular disciples μαθητῶν G3101 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural [and] μετὰ G3326 Preposition [a certain] Jew Ἰουδαίου G2453 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular over [the issue of] περὶ G4012 Preposition ceremonial washing καθαρισμοῦ G2512 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • TR and the Jews
Verse 26

Original words

So καὶ G2532 Conjunction [John’s disciples] came ἦλθον G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular [him] Ἰωάννην G2491 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction said εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Look ἴδε G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Rabbi Ῥαββί G4461 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular the [One who] ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition you σοῦ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular beyond πέραν G4008 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Jordan Ἰορδάνου G2446 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular the One G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular you σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular testified about μεμαρτύρηκας G3140 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular He οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is baptizing βαπτίζει G907 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction everyone πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural is going ἔρχονται G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 27

Original words

John Ἰωάννης G2491 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular A man ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv Οὐ G3756 Adverb can δύναται G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular receive λαμβάνειν G2983 Verb - Present Infinitive Active only what οὐδὲ G3761 Adverb . . . ἓν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb is G1510 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular given δεδομένον G1325 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular heaven οὐρανοῦ G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

You ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural yourselves αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural can testify μαρτυρεῖτε G3140 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural - μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I said εἶπον G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am εἰμὶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular not Οὐκ G3756 Adverb the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστός G5547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction am εἰμὶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular sent Ἀπεσταλμένος G649 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular ahead of ἔμπροσθεν G1715 Preposition Him ἐκείνου G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 29

Original words

The τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular bride νύμφην G3565 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular belongs to G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἔχων G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [the] bridegroom νυμφίος G3566 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular friend φίλος G5384 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular bridegroom νυμφίου G3566 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular stands ἑστηκὼς G2476 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction listens for ἀκούων G191 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular [and] is overjoyed χαίρει G5463 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . χαρᾷ G5479 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular [to hear] διὰ G1223 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular bridegroom’s νυμφίου G3566 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular voice φωνὴν G5456 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular That οὖν G3767 Conjunction . . . αὕτη G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular joy χαρὰ G5479 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular [is] mine ἐμὴ G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Feminine 1st Person Singular [and] it is now complete πεπλήρωται G4137 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 30

Original words

He ἐκεῖνον G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular increase αὐξάνειν G837 Verb - Present Infinitive Active - δὲ G1161 Conjunction I ἐμὲ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular [must] decrease ἐλαττοῦσθαι G1642 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Verse 31

Original words

The [One who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular comes ἐρχόμενος G2064 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular from above ἄνωθεν G509 Adverb is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular above ἐπάνω G1883 Preposition all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural The [one who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular is ὢν G1510 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular belongs ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction speaks [as one] λαλεῖ G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular The [One who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular comes ἐρχόμενος G2064 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular heaven οὐρανοῦ G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular above ἐπάνω G1883 Preposition all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Tischendorf The One comes from heaven.
Verse 32

Original words

He testifies μαρτυρεῖ G3140 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He has seen ἑώρακεν G3708 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction heard ἤκουσεν G191 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular yet καὶ G2532 Conjunction no one οὐδεὶς G3762 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular accepts λαμβάνει G2983 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular testimony μαρτυρίαν G3141 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 33

Original words

Whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular accepts λαβὼν G2983 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular testimony μαρτυρίαν G3141 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular has certified ἐσφράγισεν G4972 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular truthful ἀληθής G227 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 34

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the [One] ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular whom G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular has sent ἀπέστειλεν G649 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular speaks λαλεῖ G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural words ῥήματα G4487 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction [God] gives δίδωσιν G1325 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular without οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . ἐκ G1537 Preposition limit μέτρου G3358 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 35

Original words

The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Father Πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular loves ἀγαπᾷ G25 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Son Υἱόν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction has placed δέδωκεν G1325 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular hands χειρὶ G5495 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 36

Original words

Whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular believes πιστεύων G4100 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular in εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular has ἔχει G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular eternal αἰώνιον G166 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction Whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular rejects ἀπειθῶν G544 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Son Υἱῷ G5207 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb will not see ὄψεται G3708 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular life ζωήν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Instead ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular wrath ὀργὴ G3709 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular remains μένει G3306 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular on ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Some translators close this quotation after verse 30.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.