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I didn`t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel."
Verse Takeaways
1
A Divine, Not Personal, Witness
Commentators highlight that when John says "I knew him not," he likely means he didn't officially recognize Jesus as the Messiah, even if they were relatives. His testimony wasn't based on family connection or personal judgment, but on a specific, divine sign from God. This ensures his witness was impartial and divinely authenticated, not a pre-arranged plan.
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Book Overview
John
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19
18th Century
Presbyterian
I knew him not - John was not personally acquainted with Jesus. Though they were remotely related to each other, it seems that they had pr…
And I knew him not (καγω ουκ ηιδειν αυτον). Repeated in verse 33. Second past perfect of οιδα as imperfect. He had predicted the M…
19th Century
Anglican
And I knew Him not.—Better, and I also knew Him not; so again in John 1:33. The reference is to whom ye know not…
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Baptist
Of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.…
The identity of the Messiah was unknown to John the Baptist. This does not mean that John did not know Jesus personally, for, after all, they were …
16th Century
Protestant
And I knew him not. So that his testimony might not be suspected of having been given either from friendship or favor, he anticipates such…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And I knew him not (Ommasin) , "by sight", as Nonnus paraphrases it; personally he had ne…
John saw Jesus coming to him and pointed him out as the Lamb of God. The paschal lamb, in the shedding and sprinkling of its blood, the roasting an…
13th Century
Catholic
Previously, John had testified about Christ when he was questioned. Here, he gives a voluntary testimony.
This section is divided …
