John 1:26

Contemporary English Version

John told them, "I use water to baptize people. But here with you is someone you don't know.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“I baptize with water,” John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know him.

King James Version (1611)
Iohn answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not,

King James Version
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

English Standard Version
John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,

New American Standard Bible
John answered them, saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

New Century Version
John answered, "I baptize with water, but there is one here with you that you don't know about.

Amplified Bible
John answered them, "I baptize [only] in water, but among you there stands One whom you do not recognize and of whom you know nothing.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
John answered them saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

Legacy Standard Bible
John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

Berean Standard Bible
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands One you do not know.

Complete Jewish Bible
To them Yochanan replied, "I am immersing people in water, but among you is standing someone whom you don't know.

Darby Translation
John answered them saying, I baptise with water. In the midst of you stands, whom ye do not know,

Easy-to-Read Version
John answered, "I baptize people with water. But there is someone here with you that you don't know.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Iohn answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye knowe not.

George Lamsa Translation
John answered and said to them, I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know;

Good News Translation
John answered, "I baptize with water, but among you stands the one you do not know.

Lexham English Bible
John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water. In your midst stands one whom you do not know—

Literal Translation
John answered them, saying, I baptize in water, but One stands in your midst whom you do not know;

American Standard Version
John answered them, saying, I baptize in water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not,

Bible in Basic English
John's answer was: I give baptism with water; but there is one among you of whom you have no knowledge;

Hebrew Names Version
Yochanan answered them, "I immerse in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know.

International Standard Version
John answered them, "I am baptizing within">[fn] water, but among you stands a man whom you do not know,Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:11;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Juchanon answered and said to them, I baptize you with waters; but he standeth among you whom you know not:

Murdock Translation
John answered, and said to them; I baptize with water; but among you standeth one, whom ye do not know.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Iohn aunswered them, saying: I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye knowe not,

English Revised Version
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not,

World English Bible
John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you whom ye know not.

Weymouth's New Testament
"I baptize in water only," John answered, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not know--

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Joon answeride to hem, and seide, Y baptise in watir, but in the myddil of you hath stonde oon, that ye knowen not;

Update Bible Version
John answered them, saying, I baptize in water: in the midst of you stands one whom you don't know,

Webster's Bible Translation
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

New English Translation
John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize,

New King James Version
John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.

New Living Translation
John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.

New Life Bible
John answered, "I baptize with water. But there is One standing among you Whom you do not know.

New Revised Standard
John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
John answered them, saying - I, immerse, in water. In the midst of you, standeth one, whom, ye, know not; -

Douay-Rheims Bible
John answered them, saying: I baptize with water: but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not.

Revised Standard Version
John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Iohn answered them sayinge: I baptise with water: but one is come amonge you whom ye knowe not

Young's Literal Translation
John answered them, saying, `I baptize with water, but in midst of you he hath stood whom ye have not known, this one it is who is coming after me, who hath been before me,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ihon answered them, and sayde: I baptyse with water, but there is one come in amonge you, whom ye knowe not.

Mace New Testament (1729)
John answered them, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye know not; he it is who coming after me,

THE MESSAGE
John answered, "I only baptize using water. A person you don't recognize has taken his stand in your midst. He comes after me, but he is not in second place to me. I'm not even worthy to hold his coat for him."

Simplified Cowboy Version
John said, "I just baptize with water. But look around, someone is standing right here that you do not recognize.

Contextual Overview

¹⁹The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and temple helpers to ask John who he was. He told them plainly, "I am not the Messiah." ²¹ Then when they asked him if he were Elijah, he said, "No, I am not!" And when they asked if he were the Prophet, he also said "No!" ²² Finally, they said, "Who are you then? We have to give an answer to the ones who sent us. Tell us who you are!" ²³ John answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah, "I am only someone shouting in the desert, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord!'" ²⁴ Some Pharisees had also been sent to John. ²⁵ They asked him, "Why are you baptizing people, if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?" ²⁶ John told them, "I use water to baptize people. But here with you is someone you don't know. ²⁷ Even though I came first, I am not good enough to untie his sandals." ²⁸ John said this as he was baptizing east of the Jordan River in Bethany.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I: Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, Acts 1:5, Acts 11:16

whom: John 1:10, John 1:11, John 8:19, John 16:3, John 17:3, John 17:25, Malachi 3:1, Malachi 3:2, 1 John 3:1

Reciprocal: Luke 3:4 - Prepare Luke 17:21 - within you John 1:7 - a witness John 3:26 - to whom Acts 13:25 - whom

Cross-References

Genesis 1:2
The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.

Genesis 1:4
God looked at the light and saw that it was good. He separated light from darkness

Genesis 1:6

The Second Day

God said, "I command a dome to separate the water above it from the water below it."

Genesis 1:8
and named it "Sky." Evening came and then morning—that was the second day.

Genesis 1:9

The Third Day

God said, "I command the water under the sky to come together in one place, so there will be dry ground." And that's what happened.

Genesis 1:20

The Fifth Day

God said, "I command the ocean to be full of living creatures, and I command birds to fly above the earth."

Genesis 1:24

The Sixth Day

God said, "I command the earth to give life to all kinds of tame animals, wild animals, and reptiles." And that's what happened.

Genesis 1:28
God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.

Genesis 1:29
I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat.

Genesis 3:22
The Lord said, "These people now know the difference between right and wrong, just as we do. But they must not be allowed to eat fruit from the tree that lets them live forever."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water,.... Or in water, so the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions render it. The sense of the answer is, that he indeed baptized persons in water, which was all that he could do, or pretended to do; and he owned, that this was a new rite, and that he was the administrator of a new ordinance; but he suggests, as may be supplied from Matthew 3:11 that there was one at hand, and even now among them, that should baptize, and so it is read in one of Stephens's copies here, in the Holy Ghost, and in fire; and it was by his authority, by a commission he had received from him, that he baptized in water; and that his speedy manifestation and appearance as the Messiah, which would be confirmed by his power of baptizing in the Holy Ghost, and by his ministry and miracles, would be a sufficient vindication of his conduct, and support him in his administration of water baptism:

but there standeth one among you; or "hath stood", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; referring, not to his being among them at twelve years of age, but a few days ago when he came to John to be baptized, and was baptized by him; for from John 1:29 it is plain he was not now, or "today", as Nounus expresses it, standing in the midst of them. The Ethiopic version renders it, there is one about to stand among you, as he did the next day: though the meaning of the phrase may only be, that he was then in being, and dwelt somewhere among them, and not that he was personally present at that time:

whom ye know not; neither from whence he is, nor who he is, or what is his work and office; neither the dignity of his person, nor the end of his coming into the world, nor the nature of his business in it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I baptize - He did not deny it; nor did he condescend to state his authority. That he had given. He “admitted” that he had introduced an important “change” in the rites of religion, and he goes on to tell them that this was not all. Greater and more important changes would soon take place without their authority. The Messiah was about to come, and the “power” was about to depart from “their” hands.

There standeth one - There is one.

Among you - In the midst of you. He is undistinguished among the multitude. The Messiah had already come, and was about to be manifested to the people. It was not until the next day John 1:29 that Jesus was manifested or proclaimed as the Messiah; but it is not improbable that he was then among the people that were assembled near the Jordan, and mingled with them, though he was undistinguished. He had gone there, probably, with the multitudes that had been drawn thither by the fame of John, and had gone without attracting attention, though his real object was go receive baptism in this public manner, and to be exhibited and proclaimed as the Messiah.

Whom ye know not - Jesus was not yet declared publicly to be the Christ. Though it is probable that he was then among the multitude, yet he was not known as the Messiah. We may hence learn:

1. That there is often great excellency in the world that is obscure, undistinguished, and unknown. Jesus was near to all that people, but they were not conscious of his presence, for he was retired and obscure. Though the greatest personage ever in the world, yet he was not externally distinguished from others.
2. Jesus may be near to men of the world, and yet they know him not. He is everywhere by his Spirit, yet few know it, and few are desirous of knowing it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. I baptize with water — Mark 1:8; Mark 1:8. I use the common form, though I direct the baptized to a different end, viz. that they shall repent of their sins, and believe in the Messiah.

There standeth one among you — That is, the person whose forerunner I am is now dwelling in the land of Judea, and will shortly make his appearance among you. Christ was not present when John spoke thus, as may be seen from John 1:29.