John 1 · Verse 37

John 1:37

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
John 1:37, King James Version

John 1:37 in other translations

BSBAnd when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
WEBThe two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
ASVAnd the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
YLTand the two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus.
DARBYAnd the two disciples heard him speaking, and followed Jesus.
BBEHearing what he said, the two disciples went after Jesus.
WebsterAnd the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

What does John 1:37 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 37. They followed Jesus. They had been the disciples of John. His office was to point out the Messiah. When that was done, they left at once their master and teacher, John, and followed the long-expected Messiah. This shows that John was sincere; that he was not desirous of forming a party or of building up a sect; that he was willing that all those whom he had attracted to himself by his ministry should become followers of Christ. The object of ministers should not be to build up their own interests or to extend their own fame. It is to point men to the Saviour. Ministers, however popular or successful, should be willing that their disciples should look to Christ rather than to them; nay, should forget them and look away from them, to tread in the footsteps of the Son of God; and the conduct of these disciples shows us that we should forsake all and follow Jesus when he is pointed out to us as the Messiah. We should not delay nor debate the matter, but leave at once all our old teachers, guides and companions, and follow the Lamb of God. And we should do that, too, though to the world the Lord Jesus may appear, as he did to the multitude of the Jews, as poor, unknown, and despised. Reader, have you left all and followed him? Have you forsaken the guides of false philosophy and deceit, of sin and infidelity, and committed yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 And the two disciples heard him - And they perfectly understood their master's meaning; in consequence of which, they followed Jesus. Happy they who, on hearing of the salvation of Christ, immediately attach themselves to its author! Delays are always dangerous; and, in this case, often fatal. Reader! hast thou ever had Christ as a sacrifice for thy sin pointed out unto thee? If so, hast thou followed him? If not, thou art not in the way to the kingdom of God. Lose not another moment! Eternity is at hand! and thou art not prepared to meet thy God. Pray that he may alarm thy conscience, and stir up thy soul to seek till thou have found.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 1:37-42
The strongest and most prevailing argument with an awakened soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes away sin. Whatever communion there is between our souls and Christ, it is he who begins the discourse. He asked, What seek ye? The question Jesus put to them, we should all put to ourselves when we begin to follow Him, What do we design and desire? In following Christ, do we seek the favour of God and eternal life? He invites them to come without delay. Now is the accepted time, 2Co 6:2. It is good for us to be where Christ is, wherever it be. We ought to labour for the spiritual welfare of those related to us, and seek to bring them to Him. Those who come to Christ, must come with a fixed resolution to be firm and constant to him, like a stone, solid and stedfast; and it is by his grace that they are so.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 1:37 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἤκουσανēkousanheardG191
οἱhoitheG3588
δύοduotwoG1417
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
λαλοῦντοςlalountos[Him] speakingG2980
καὶkaiandG2532
ἠκολούθησανēkolouthēsanthey followedG190
τῷtō<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦ.¶IēsouJesus.G2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 1:37

  • Romans 10:17

    So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  • John 1:43

    The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

  • Revelation 22:17

    And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

  • Zechariah 8:21

    And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.

  • John 4:39-42

    And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

  • Ephesians 4:29

    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

  • Proverbs 15:23

    A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and they.
43; 4:39-42; Pr 15:23; Zec 8:21; Ro 10:17; Eph 4:29; Re 22:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 1:36

    And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

  • John 1:37

    And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

  • John 1:38

    Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

Read all of John 1

John 1:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y oyéronle los dos discípulos hablar, y siguieron á Jesús.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les deux disciples l’entendirent parler, et ils suivirent Jésus.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es hörten ihn die zwei Jünger reden und folgten Jesu nach.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et audierunt eum duo discipuli loquentem, et secuti sunt Jesum.