Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
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.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
John
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
See Overview
Commentaries
18
Albert Barnes
On John 1:31
18th Century
Theologian
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…
AT Robertson
On John 1:31
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…
Charles Ellicott
On John 1:31
19th Century
Bishop
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…
Go Ad-Free
Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library
Charles Spurgeon
On John 1:23–37
19th Century
Preacher
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.…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On John 1:31
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 …
John Calvin
On John 1:31
16th Century
Theologian
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…
John Gill
On John 1:31
17th Century
Pastor
And I knew him not
(Ommasin) , "by sight", as Nonnus paraphrases it; personally he had ne…
Matthew Henry
On John 1:29–36
17th Century
Minister
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…