John 1:21

Verse

“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.

And they said to him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And his answer was, I am not.

Free Bible Version

“So then, who are you?” they asked. “Elijah?” “No, I'm not,” he answered. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied.

Geneva Bible 1599

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No.

King James (Authorized) Version

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

One Unity Resource Bible

They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah [My God Yah]?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Plain English Version

Those men from Jerusalem asked him again, “Who are you then? Are you Elijah, the man that told God’s message a long time ago?” John said, “No, I am not Elijah.” Again, the men asked, “What about the messenger that God promised, a long time ago. He promised to send a special man, like Moses, to tell his message. Are you that man?” And again, John said, “No, I am not that man.”

Translation for Translators

Then they asked him, “Then what do you say about yourself? Are you the prophet Elijah that was prophesied to return {◄someone/another prophet► prophesied would return} before the Messiah?” He replied, “No, I am not.” Then they asked him, “Are you the prophet like Moses that ◄we are waiting for/God promised to send►?” He replied, “No.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Noah Webster Bible

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? and he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

World English Bible

They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Young's Literal Translation

And they questioned him, 'What then? Elijah art thou?' and he saith, 'I am not.' — 'The prophet art thou?' and he answered, 'No.'

Context

The Mission of John the Baptist

²⁰He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Sermons

The Appearing of Resurrection and the Giving of Power

Newman Sze

820

Jesus' Special Relationship With God the Father John 5:16-47

David Servant

Summary

In this verse, John the Baptist is questioned by the religious leaders who ask if he is the Prophet, Elijah, or the Messiah. John the Baptist denies being any of these figures, humbly pointing to the coming of someone greater than himself. This interaction highlights John's humility and his role as the forerunner preparing the way for Jesus. It also underscores the anticipation and expectation surrounding the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah among the Jewish people.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Art thou Elias? - The scribes themselves had taught that Elijah was to come before the Messiah. See Mat 17:10; and this belief of theirs they supported by a literal construction of Mal 4:5. Art thou that prophet? - the prophet spoken of by Moses, Deu 18:15, Deu 18:18. This text they had also misunderstood: for the prophet or teacher promised by Moses was no other than the Messiah himself. See Act 3:22. But the Jews had a tradition that Jeremiah was to return to life, and restore the pot of manna, the ark of the covenant, etc., which he had hidden that the Babylonians might not get them. Besides this, they had a general expectation that all the prophets should come to life in the days of the Messiah. I am not - I am not the prophet which you expect, nor Elijah: though he was the Elijah that was to come; for in the spirit and power of that eminent prophet he came, proclaiming the necessity of reformation in Israel. See Mat 11:14; Mat 17:10-13.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And they asked him, what then? art thou Elias?.... Elijah, the prophet; the Tishbite, as Nonnus in his paraphrase expresses it; who was translated, soul and body, to heaven: the Jews had a notion that that prophet would come in person a little before the coming of the Messiah; See Gill on Mat 17:10 wherefore these messengers inquire, that since he had so fully satisfied them that he was not the Messiah, that he would as ingenuously answer to this question, if he was Elias, or not: and he saith, I am not; that is, he was not Elijah the prophet that lived in Ahab's time, and was called the Tishbite; for John's answer is to the intention of their question, and their own meaning in it, and is no contradiction to what Christ says of him, Mat 11:14 that he was the Elias that was to come; for he was the person meant by him in Mal 4:5 though not in the sense the Jews understood it; nor is it any contradiction to what the angel said to Zacharias, Luk 1:17 for he does not say that John should come in the body, but in the power and spirit of Elias; See Gill on Mat 11:14. Art thou that prophet? Jeremiah, whom some of the Jews (t) have thought to be the prophet Moses spoke of, in Deu 18:15 and expected that he would appear about the times of the Messiah; see Mat 16:14 or any one of the ancient prophets risen from the dead, which they also had a notion of, Luk 9:8 or, as it may be rendered, "art thou a prophet?" for prophecy had long ceased with them: and he answered, no; he was not Jeremiah, nor any one of the old prophets risen from the dead, nor a prophet in the sense they meant: he was not like one of the prophets of the Old Testament; he was a prophet, and more than a prophet, as Christ says, Mat 11:9 yet not such a prophet as they were; his prophesying lay not so much in predicting future events, as in pointing out Christ, and preaching the doctrine of the remission of sins by him, (t) Baal Hatturim in Deut. xviii. 15. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 127. 4. & 143. 4. Siphre in Jarchi in Jer. i. 5.

John 1:21

The Mission of John the Baptist

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.

Bible in Basic English

And they said to him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And his answer was, I am not.

Free Bible Version

“So then, who are you?” they asked. “Elijah?” “No, I'm not,” he answered. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied.

Geneva Bible 1599

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No.

King James (Authorized) Version

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

One Unity Resource Bible

They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah [My God Yah]?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Noah Webster Bible

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? and he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

World English Bible

They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Young's Literal Translation

And they questioned him, 'What then? Elijah art thou?' and he saith, 'I am not.' — 'The prophet art thou?' and he answered, 'No.'

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

John 1:21

Verse

Context

The Mission of John the Baptist

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

John 1:21

The Mission of John the Baptist

The Appearing of Resurrection and the Giving of Power

Jesus' Special Relationship With God the Father John 5:16-47

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes