John 3:25

King James Version

Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Some of John's followers had an argument with another Jew about religious washing.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And ther arose a questio bitwene Iohns disciples and the Iewes about purifiynge.

Hebrew Names Version
There arose therefore a questioning on the part of Yochanan's talmidim with some Yehudim about purification.

International Standard Version
Then a controversy about ritual purification sprang up between John's disciples and a certain Jew.the Jews">[fn]

New American Standard Bible
Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification.

New Century Version
Some of John's followers had an argument with a Jew about religious washing.

Update Bible Version
There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then there arose a question between [some] of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying.

English Standard Version
Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.

World English Bible
There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with some Jews about purification.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying.

Weymouth's New Testament
As the result, a discussion having arisen on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor a questioun was maad of Jonys disciplis with the Jewis, of the purificacioun.

English Revised Version
There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying.

Berean Standard Bible
A dispute arose between John's disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.

Contemporary English Version
John's followers got into an argument with a Jewish man about a ceremony of washing.

Amplified Bible
Therefore there arose a controversy between John's disciples and a Jew in regard to purification (ceremonial washing).

American Standard Version
There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying.

Bible in Basic English
Then a question came up between John's disciples and a Jew about washing.

Complete Jewish Bible
A discussion arose between some of Yochanan's talmidim and a Judean about ceremonial washing;

Darby Translation
There was therefore a reasoning of the disciples of John with a Jew about purification.

Etheridge Translation
But there was a question with some of the disciples of Juchanon (and) a certain Jihudoya, upon purification.

Murdock Translation
And one of John's disciples and a certain Jew had disputed respecting purification.

King James Version (1611)
Then there arose a question between some of Iohns disciples and the Iewes, about purifying.

New Living Translation
A debate broke out between John's disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.

New Life Bible
Then some of the followers of John and a Jew started to argue about the religious washing of the Jewish worship.

New Revised Standard
Now a discussion about purification arose between John's disciples and a Jew.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then there arose a question betweene Iohns disciples and the Iewes, about purifying.

George Lamsa Translation
Now it happened that a dispute arose between one of John''s disciples and a Jew about the ceremony of purifying.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
There arose, therefore, a questioning, from among the disciples of John, with a Jew, - concerning purification.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews, concerning purification.

Revised Standard Version
Now a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And there arose a question betwene Iohns disciples and the Iewes, about purifiyng.

Good News Translation
Some of John's disciples began arguing with a Jew about the matter of ritual washing.

Christian Standard Bible®
Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification.

Lexham English Bible
So a dispute occurred on the part of John's disciples with a Jew concerning purification.

Literal Translation
Then a question from John's disciples arose with the Jews about purification.

Young's Literal Translation
there arose then a question from the disciples of John with [some] Jews about purifying,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then arose there a question amonge the disciples of Ihon with the Iewes aboute the purifienge,

Mace New Testament (1729)
Now there happen'd to be a dispute about baptism between a Jews, and some of John's disciples:

New English Translation
Now a dispute came about between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew concerning ceremonial washing.

New King James Version
Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Some of John's crew and some Jews got to squabblin' over being religiously clean.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore there arose a debate between John's disciples and a Jew about purification.

Contextual Overview

²² After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. ²³ And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. ²⁴ For John was not yet cast into prison. ²⁵ Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. ²⁶ And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. ²⁷ John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. ²⁸ Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. ²⁹ He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease. ³¹ He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

about: John 2:6, Matthew 3:11, Mark 7:2-5, Mark 7:8, Hebrews 6:2, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 9:13, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 9:23, 1 Peter 3:21

Reciprocal: Matthew 9:14 - the disciples Matthew 11:2 - he Mark 7:4 - except Mark 11:30 - General Luke 11:38 - he marvelled John 1:35 - and two John 10:17 - General Acts 13:24 - General Acts 21:24 - and purify Hebrews 1:2 - appointed

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then there arose a question,.... A dispute, or controversy, occasioned by the baptism, of John and Christ:

between [some] of John's disciples, and the Jews. The Syriac and Persic versions read, "between one of John's disciples, and a certain Jew"; and Nonnus renders it, "with an Hebrew man"; and so the Alexandrian manuscript; many others read, "with a Jew": the contention between them was

about purifying; either about the ceremonial purifications, and ablutions commanded in the law of Moses; or concerning the various washings of persons, and vessels, according to the traditions of the elders, which the Jews in common were very tenacious of; and which they thought were brought into neglect, and contempt, by the baptism of John: and this seems to have been occasioned by the baptism of Christ; which the Jew might improve against the disciple of John, and urge, that since another, besides his master, had set up baptizing, who could tell which was most right and safest to follow? and therefore it would have been much better, if no such rite at all had been used by any, but that the purifications required by the law of Moses, and by their elders, had been strictly and solely attended to.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A question - Rather a controversy a dispute.

John’s disciples - Those who had been baptized by him, and who attached great efficacy and importance to the teaching of their master. Compare the notes at Acts 19:1-5.

And the Jews - Many manuscripts, some of the fathers, and the ancient Syriac version read this in the singular number “with A Jew,” one who, it is commonly supposed, had been baptized by the disciples of Jesus.

About purifying - What the precise subject of this dispute was we do not know. From what follows, it would seem probable that it was about the comparative value and efficacy of the baptism performed by John and by the disciples of Jesus. The word “purifying” may be applied to baptism, as it was an emblem of repentance and purity, and was thus used by the Jews, by John, and by Jesus. About this subject it seems that a dispute arose, and was carried to such a length that complaint was made to John. From this we may learn:

1. That even in the time of Jesus, when the gospel began to be preached, there was witnessed what has been ever since - unhappy disputings on the subject of religion. Even young converts may, By overheated zeal and ignorance, fall into angry discussion.

2. That such discussions are commonly about some unimportant matter of religion - something which they may not yet be qualified to understand, and which does not materially affect them if they could.

3. That such disputes are often connected with a spirit of proselytism - with boasting of the superior excellence of the sect with which “we” are connected, or in connection with whom we have been converted, and often with a desire to persuade others to join with us.

4. That such a spirit is eminently improper on such occasions. Love should characterize the feelings of young converts; a disposition to inquire and not to dispute; a willingness that all should follow the dictates of their own consciences, and not a desire to proselyte them to our way of thinking or to our church. It may be added that there is scarcely anything which so certainly and effectually arrests a revival of religion as such a disposition to dispute, and to make proselytes to particular modes of faith, and of administering the ordinances of the gospel.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. John's disciples and the Jews — Instead of Ιουδαιων, Jews, ABELS. M. BV, nearly 100 others, some versions and fathers, read Ιουδαιου, a Jew, which Griesbach has admitted into the text. The person here spoken of was probably one who had been baptized by the disciples of our Lord; and the subject of debate seems to have been, whether the baptism of John, or that of Christ, was the most efficacious towards purifying.