John 3:31

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

He that, from above, doth come, over all, is: he that is of the earth, of the earth, is, and, of the earth, doth speak: he that, out of heaven, doth come, over all, is,

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
"The one who comes from above is greater than all others. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth. He talks about things that are on the earth. But the one who comes from heaven is greater than all others.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He that commeth from an hye is above all: He that is of ye erth is of the erth and speaketh of the erth. He that cometh from heaven is above all

Hebrew Names Version
He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Eretz belongs to the Eretz, and speaks of the Eretz. He who comes from heaven is above all.

International Standard Version
The one who comes from above is over everything. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.of the earth">[fn] The one who comes from heaven is over everything.Matthew 28:18; John 1:15,27; 3:13; 6:33; 8:23; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:47; Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
"He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

New Century Version
"The One who comes from above is greater than all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and talks about things on the earth. But the One who comes from heaven is greater than all.

Update Bible Version
He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaks: he that comes from heaven is above all.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

English Standard Version
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

World English Bible
He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Weymouth's New Testament
He who comes from above is above all. He whose origin is from the earth is not only himself from the earth, his teaching also is from the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that cam from aboue, is aboue alle; he that is of the erthe, spekith of the erthe; he that cometh from heuene, is aboue alle.

English Revised Version
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Contemporary English Version
God's Son comes from heaven and is above all others. Everyone who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all others.

Amplified Bible
"He who comes from [heaven] above is above all others; he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks [about things] of the earth [his viewpoint and experience are earthly]. He who comes from heaven is above all.

American Standard Version
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Bible in Basic English
He who comes from heaven is greater than all others: he who comes from earth is of the earth, and of the earth are his words: he who comes from heaven is over all.

Complete Jewish Bible
"He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth is from the earth and talks from an earthly point of view; he who comes from heaven is above all.

Darby Translation
He who comes from above is above all. He who has his origin in the earth is of the earth, and speaks [as] of the earth. He who comes out of heaven is above all,

Etheridge Translation
For he who from above hath come, is above all; and he who is from the earth, is of the earth, and of the earth speaketh: he who from heaven hath come, is above all.

Murdock Translation
For he that cometh from above, is above all; and he that is from the earth, is of the earth, and talketh of the earth. He that cometh from heaven, is above all;

King James Version (1611)
Hee that commeth from aboue, is aboue all: hee that is of the earth, is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: hee that cometh from heauen is aboue all:

New Living Translation
"He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.

New Life Bible
"He Who comes from above is above all. He who comes from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He Who comes from heaven is above all.

New Revised Standard
The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Hee that is come from an hie, is aboue all: he that is of the earth, is of the earth, and speaketh of the earth: hee that is come from heauen, is aboue all.

George Lamsa Translation
For he who has come from above is above all; and he who is of the earth is of the earth, and he speaks of earthly things; but he who has come from heaven is above all.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from heaven is above all.

Revised Standard Version
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that commeth from an hye, is aboue all: He that is of the earth, is earthlye, and speaketh of the earth. He that commeth from heauen, is aboue all:

Good News Translation
He who comes from above is greater than all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly matters, but he who comes from heaven is above all.

Christian Standard Bible®
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
The one who comes from above is over all. The one who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks from the earth; the one who comes from heaven is over all.

Literal Translation
The One having come from above is above all. The one being of the earth is earthy, and speaks of the earth. The One coming out of Heaven is above all.

Young's Literal Translation
he who from above is coming is above all; he who is from the earth, from the earth he is, and from the earth he speaketh; he who from the heaven is coming is above all.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that commeth from an hye, is aboue all. He that is of the earth, is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. He that commeth fro heauen, is aboue all,

Mace New Testament (1729)
but I must decline. he that cometh from above, is above all: he that is from the earth, is earthly, and his language is likewise earthly: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

THE MESSAGE
"The One who comes from above is head and shoulders over other messengers from God. The earthborn is earthbound and speaks earth language; the heavenborn is in a league of his own. He sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven. No one wants to deal with these facts. But anyone who examines this evidence will come to stake his life on this: that God himself is the truth.

New English Translation
The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all.

New King James Version
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Simplified Cowboy Version
He's rode down from heaven and is greater than anyone else that has ever stepped foot on this earth.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Legacy Standard Bible
"He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Contextual Overview

²² After these things, came Jesus, and his disciples, into the Judaean land; and, there, was he tarrying with them, and immersing. ²³ And John also was immersing in Aenon, near to him, because, many waters, were there; and they were coming, and being immersed; - ²⁴ for, not yet, had John been cast into prison. ²⁵ There arose, therefore, a questioning, from among the disciples of John, with a Jew, - concerning purification. ²⁶ And they came unto John, and said unto him - Rabbi! he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, unto whom, thou, hast borne witness, see! the same, is immersing; and, all, are coming unto him. ²⁷ John answered, and said - A man can receive, nothing, except it have been given him out of heaven. ²⁸ Ye yourselves, unto me, bear witness, that, I, said - I, am not the Christ; but - I am sent before, That One. ²⁹ He that hath the bride, is, bridegroom; but, the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth by and hearkeneth unto him, greatly, rejoiceth, by reason of the voice of the bridegroom. This, my joy, therefore, is fulfilled. ³⁰ That One, it behoveth to increase, - but, me, to decrease. ³¹ He that, from above, doth come, over all, is: he that is of the earth, of the earth, is, and, of the earth, doth speak: he that, out of heaven, doth come, over all, is,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that cometh: John 3:13, John 6:33, John 8:23, Ephesians 1:20, Ephesians 1:21, Ephesians 4:8-10

is above: John 1:15, John 1:27, John 1:30, John 5:21-25, Matthew 28:18, Acts 10:36, Romans 9:5, Ephesians 1:21, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 19:16

he that is: John 3:12, 1 Corinthians 15:47, 1 Corinthians 15:48, Hebrews 9:1, Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 9:10

he that cometh: John 6:33, John 6:51, John 16:27, John 16:28

Reciprocal: Isaiah 52:13 - he shall Matthew 12:41 - behold John 6:38 - I came John 7:16 - My 1 John 4:5 - are

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He that cometh from above,.... Meaning Christ; not that he brought his human nature with him from heaven, or that that is of a celestial nature; but he came from heaven in his divine person, not by change of place, he being God immense and infinite, but by assumption of human nature; which he took upon him, in order to do in it his Father's will, and the work of our salvation.

Is above all; above John, before whom he was preferred, for he was before him; above the prophets of the Old Testament, and even above Moses, the chief of them; yea, above all the angels in heaven, being God over all, blessed for ever: wherefore all glory is to be given him; no honour is to be envied him, or detracted from him.

He that is of the earth; as John was, and all mankind are, being descended from Adam, who was, made of the dust of the earth; and who dwell in houses of clay, and in earthly tabernacles, which are at last resolved into their original dust:

is earthly; of an earthly nature, frame, temper, and disposition; see John 3:6. Men naturally mind earthly things; and it is owing to the Spirit and grace of God, if they mind and savour spiritual things, or have their affections set on things above, or their conversation in heaven; and even such, at times, find that their souls cleave unto the dust, and are hankering after the things of the earth:

and speaketh of the earth; of earthly things, as in John 3:12; and indeed of heavenly things, in an earthly manner, in a low way, and by similes and comparisons taken from the things of the earth; not being able to speak of celestial things, as in their own nature, and in that sublime way the subject requires: but

he that cometh from heaven is above all; men and angels, in the dignity of his person; and all prophets and teachers, in the excellency of his doctrine, and manner of delivering it: and therefore it is not to be wondered at, that he should be followed as he is; but rather it should seem marvellous, that he has no more followers than he has; in the Apocrypha:

"For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his floods: even so they that dwell upon the earth may understand nothing but that which is upon the earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens may only understand the things that are above the height of the heavens.'' (2 Esdras 4:21)

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He that cometh from above - The Messiah, represented as coming down from heaven. See John 3:13; John 6:33; John 8:23. It has been doubted whether the remainder of this chapter contains the words of “John the Baptist” or of “the evangelist.” The former is the more probable opinion, but it is difficult to decide it, and it is of very little consequence.

Is above all - In nature, rank, and authority. “Is superior to all prophets” Hebrews 1:1-2; “to all angels” Hebrews 1:4-14, “and is over all the universe as its sovereign Lord,” Romans 9:5; Ephesians 1:21-22; Colossians 1:15-19; 1 Corinthians 15:25.

He that is of the earth - He who has no higher nature than the human nature. The prophets, apostles, and John were men like others, born in the same way, and sinking, like others, to the dust. See Acts 14:15. Jesus had a nature superior to man, and “ought,” therefore, to be exalted above all.

Is earthly - Is human. Is inferior to him who comes from heaven. Partakes of his origin, which is inferior and corrupt.

Speaketh of the earth - His teaching is inferior to that of him who comes from heaven. It is comparatively obscure and imperfect, not full and clear, like the teaching of him who is from above. This was the case with all the prophets; and even with John the Baptist, as compared with the teaching of Christ.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 31. Is above all — This blessed bridegroom, who has descended from heaven, John 3:13, is above all, superior to Moses, the prophets, and me.

He that is of the earth — John himself, who was born in the common way of man.

Speaketh of the earth — Cannot speak of heavenly things as Christ can do; and only represents Divine matters by these earthly ordinances; for the spirit and meaning of which, you must all go to the Messiah himself.