John 1:38

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

But Jesus, turning, and looking at them following, saith unto them - What seek ye? And, they, said unto him - Rabbi! which meaneth, when translated, Teacher, Where abidest thou?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus turned and saw the two men following him. He asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" ("Rabbi" means "Teacher.")

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And Iesus turned about and sawe them folowe and sayde vnto them: what seke ye? They sayde vnto him: Rabbi (which is to saye by interpretacion Master) where dwellest thou?

Hebrew Names Version
Yeshua turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), "where are you staying?"

International Standard Version
But when Jesus turned around and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi," (which is translated "Teacher"), "where are you staying?"

New American Standard Bible
And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you seeking?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?"

New Century Version
When Jesus turned and saw them following him, he asked, "What are you looking for?" They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" ("Rabbi" means "Teacher.")

Update Bible Version
And Jesus turned, and looked at them following, and says to them, What do you seek? And they said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where do you abide?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith to them, What seek ye? They said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master) where dwellest thou?

English Standard Version
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

World English Bible
Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), "where are you staying?"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
saith to them, What seek ye? They said to him, Rabbi, (that is, being interpreted, Master) where dwellest thou?

Weymouth's New Testament
Then Jesus turned round, and seeing them following He asked them, "What is your wish?" "Rabbi," they replied--`Rabbi' means `Teacher' --"where are you staying?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and folewiden Jhesu. And Jhesu turnede, and say hem suynge hym, and seith to hem, What seken ye? And thei seiden to hym, Rabi, that is to seie, Maistir, where dwellist thou?

English Revised Version
And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where abidest thou?

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus turned and saw them following. "What do you want?" He asked. They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are You staying?"

Contemporary English Version
When Jesus turned and saw them, he asked, "What do you want?" They answered, "Rabbi, where do you live?" The Hebrew word "Rabbi" means "Teacher."

Amplified Bible
And Jesus turned and saw them following Him, and asked them, "What do you want?" They answered Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?"

American Standard Version
And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where abidest thou?

Bible in Basic English
And Jesus, turning round, saw them coming after him and said to them, What are you looking for? They said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, Master), where are you living?

Complete Jewish Bible
Yeshua turned and saw them following him, and he asked them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi!" (which means "Teacher!") "Where are you staying?"

Darby Translation
But Jesus having turned, and seeing them following, says to them, What seek ye? And *they* said to him, Rabbi (which, being interpreted, signifies Teacher), where abidest thou?

Etheridge Translation
And Jeshu turned (himself), and saw them coming after him, and said to them, Whom seek you ? They say to him, Raban, where dwellest thou ? [fn]

Murdock Translation
And Jesus turned, and saw them coming after him, and he said to them: What seek ye? They said to him: Our Rabbi, where stayest thou?

King James Version (1611)
Then Iesus turned, and saw them following, and saith vnto them, What seeke ye? They said vnto him, Rabbi, (which is to say being interpreted, Master) where dwellest thou?

New Living Translation
Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?"

New Life Bible
Jesus turned around and saw them following. He said to them, "What are you looking for?" They answered, "Teacher, where are you staying?"

New Revised Standard
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Iesus turned about, and saw them followe, and saide vnto them, What seeke ye? And they saide vnto him, Rabbi (which is to say by interpretation, Master) where dwellest thou?

George Lamsa Translation
And Jesus turned around and saw them following him, and he said to them, What do you want? They said to him, Rabbi (Teacher), where do you live?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus turning and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him: Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou?

Revised Standard Version
Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Iesus turned about, and sawe them folowe hym, & sayth vnto them: What seeke ye? They sayde vnto hym: Rabbi (which is to say yf one interprete it, Maister) where dwellest thou?

Good News Translation
Jesus turned, saw them following him, and asked, "What are you looking for?" They answered, "Where do you live, Rabbi?" (This word means "Teacher.")

Christian Standard Bible®
When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?”

King James Version
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

Lexham English Bible
And Jesus, turning around and seeing them following him, said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means when translated "Teacher"), "where are you staying?"

Literal Translation
But having seen them following, Jesus said to them, What do you seek? And they said to Him, Rabbi (which being translated is called Teacher), where do You stay?

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus having turned, and having beheld them following, saith to them, `What seek ye?' and they said to them, `Rabbi, (which is, being interpreted, Teacher,) where remainest thou?'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Iesus turned him aboute, and sawe them folowinge, and sayde vnto the: What seke ye? They sayde vnto him: Rabbi, (which is to saye by interpretacion, Master.) Where art thou at lodginge?

Mace New Testament (1729)
then Jesus turned about, and seeing them following, said, what do you seek? they answered him, rabbi, that is to say master, where do you dwell?

New English Translation
Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, "What do you want?" So they said to him, "Rabbi" (which is translated Teacher), "where are you staying?"

New King James Version
Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"

Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus knew he was being tailed so he asked, "What can I do for y'all, cowboys?"They replied, "Hey Boss, where are you stayin'?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?"

Legacy Standard Bible
And when Jesus turned and noticed them following, He *said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?"

Contextual Overview

³⁷ and the two disciples hearkened unto him speaking, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ But Jesus, turning, and looking at them following, saith unto them - What seek ye? And, they, said unto him - Rabbi! which meaneth, when translated, Teacher, Where abidest thou? ³⁹ He saith unto them - Be coming, and ye shall see. They came, therefore, and saw where he abode, and, with him, they abode that day. It was about the tenth, hour. ⁴⁰ One of the two that heard from John and followed him, was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. ⁴¹ The same findeth, first, his own brother Simon, and saith unto him - We have found the Messiah! which is, when translated, Anointed. ⁴² He led him unto Jesus. Jesus, looking at him, said - Thou, art Simon, the son of John, - thou, shalt be called, Cephas; which is to be translated, Peter.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

turned: Luke 14:25, Luke 15:20, Luke 19:5, Luke 22:61

What: John 18:4, John 18:7, John 20:15, John 20:16, Luke 7:24-27, Luke 18:40, Luke 18:41, Acts 10:21, Acts 10:29

where: John 12:21, Ruth 1:16, 1 Kings 10:8, Psalms 27:4, Proverbs 3:18, Proverbs 8:34, Rabbi: John 1:49, John 3:2, John 3:26, John 6:25, Matthew 23:7, Matthew 23:8 Matthew 13:20, Song of Solomon 1:7, Song of Solomon 1:8, Luke 8:38, Luke 10:39

dwellest: or, abidest

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:15 - What Matthew 11:7 - What John 9:36 - Who

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following,.... That is, "him", as the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions add: he saw by their walk, and by their countenances, that they were following him; and which he knew before he turned himself: he knew what John had said, and what an effect it had upon these disciples, and what was working in their hearts, and how desirous they were of coming up to him, and conversing with him; and therefore he turned himself, that they might have an opportunity of speaking to him; or rather, in order to speak to them first, as he did:

and saith unto them, what seek ye? This he said, not as ignorant of whom, and what they were seeking, and desirous; but to encourage them to speak to him, which, through fear and bashfulness, they might be backward to do; and therefore, he who will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, but cherishes and encourages the first motions of grace, begins first with them, and treats them in a free and familiar manner; thereby to animate and engage them to use freedom with him, and which end was answered:

they said unto him, Rabbi; a title which now began to be in much use with the Jews, and which they gave to their celebrated doctors; and these disciples of John, observing how magnificently their master spoke of Jesus, in great reverence to him, addressed him under this character; :-;

which is to say, being interpreted, master. These are the words of the evangelist, interpreting the word "Rabbi", and not of the disciples, and are left out in the Syriac and Persic versions, who, for "Rabbi", read "our master", or our "Rabbi"; being said by both the disciples, or by one in the name of both, putting the following question:

where dwellest thou? signifying, that that was not a proper place, in the public way, to enter into a conversation with him, and acquaint him with what they were desirous of; but should be glad to know where he lodged, that they might wait upon him there, either then, or on the morrow, or at any convenient time.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What seek ye? - This was not asked to obtain “information.” Compare John 1:48. It was not a harsh reproof, forbidding them to follow him. Compare Matthew 11:28-30. It was a kind inquiry respecting their desires; an invitation to lay open their minds, to state their wishes, and to express all their feelings respecting the Messiah and their own salvation. We may learn:

1. That Jesus regards the first inclinations of the soul to follow him. He “turned” toward these disciples, and he will incline his ear to all who begin to approach him for salvation.
2. Jesus is ready to hear their requests and to answer them.
3. Ministers of the gospel, and all other Christians, should be accessible, kind, and tender toward all who are inquiring the way to life. In conformity with their Master, they should be willing to aid all those who look to them for guidance and help in the great work of their salvation.

Rabbi - This was a Jewish title conferred somewhat as literary degrees now are, and meaning literally “a great one,” and was applied to a teacher or master in the Jewish schools. It corresponded with the title “Doctor.” Our Saviour solemnly forbade his disciples to wear that title. See the notes at Matthew 23:8. The fact that John “interpreted” this word shows that he wrote his gospel not for the Jews only, but for those who did not understand the Hebrew language. It is supposed to have been written at Ephesus.

Where dwellest thou? - This question they probably asked him in order to signify their wish to be with him and to be instructed by him. They desired more fully to listen to him than they could now by the wayside. They were unwilling to interrupt him in his traveling. Religion teaches people true politeness, or a disposition to consult the convenience of others, and not improperly to molest them, or to break in upon them when engaged. It also teaches us to “desire to be with Christ;” to seek every opportunity of communion with him, and chiefly to desire “to be with him where he is” when we leave this world. Compare Philippians 1:23.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 38. What seek ye? — These disciples might have felt some embarrassment in addressing our blessed Lord, after hearing the character which the Baptist gave of him; to remove or prevent this, he graciously accosts them, and gives them an opportunity of explaining themselves to him. Such questions, we may conceive, the blessed Jesus still puts to those who in simplicity of heart desire an acquaintance with him. A question of this nature we may profitably ask ourselves: What seek ye? In this place! In the company you frequent? In the conversation you engage in? In the affairs with which you are occupied? In the works which you perform? Do you seek the humiliation, illumination, justification, edification, or sanctification of your soul? The edification of your neighbour? The good of the Church of Christ? Or, The glory of God? Questions of this nature often put to our hearts, in the fear of God, would induce us to do many things which we now leave undone, and to leave undone many things which we now perform.

Rabbi — Teacher. Behold the modesty of these disciples-we wish to be scholars, we are ignorant-we desire to be taught; we believe thou art a teacher come from God.

Where dwellest thou? — That we may come and receive thy instructions.