John 3 · Verse 31

John 3:31

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

John 3:31, King James Version

John 3:31 in other translations

BSB	The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
WEB	“He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
ASV	He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
YLT	he who from above is coming is above all; he who is from the earth, from the earth he is, and from the earth he speaketh; he who from the heaven is coming is above all.
DARBY	He who comes from above is above all. He who has his origin in the earth is of the earth, and speaks as of the earth. He who comes out of heaven is above all,
BBE	He who comes from heaven is greater than all others: he who comes from earth is of the earth, and of the earth are his words: he who comes from heaven is over all.
Webster	He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

What does John 3:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 3:31-34

31-34. He that, &c.--Here is the reason why He must increase while all human teachers must decrease. The Master "cometh from above"--descending from His proper element, the region of those "heavenly things" which He came to reveal, and so, although mingling with men and things on the earth, is not "of the earth," either in Person or Word. The servants, on the contrary, springing of earth, are of the earth, and their testimony, even though divine in authority, partakes necessarily of their own earthiness. (So strongly did the Baptist feel this contrast that the last clause just repeats the first). It is impossible for a sharper line of distinction to be drawn between Christ and all human teachers, even when divinely commissioned and speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost. And who does not perceive it? The words of prophets and apostles are undeniable and most precious truth; but in the words of Christ we hear a voice as from the excellent Glory, the Eternal Word making Himself heard in our own flesh.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 31. He that cometh from above. The Messiah, represented as coming down from heaven. See Jn 3:13, 6:33, 8:23. It has been doubted whether the remainder of this chapter contains the words of John the Baptist or of the evangelist. The former is the more probable opinion, but it is difficult to decide it, and it is of very little consequence.

Is above all. In nature, rank, and authority. Is superior to all prophets (Heb 1:1,2); to all angels (Heb 1:4-14), and is over all the universe as its sovereign Lord, Rev 9:5; Eph 1:21, 22, Col 1:15-19, 1Cor 15:25.

He that is of the earth. He who has no higher nature than the human nature. The prophets, apostles, and John were men like others, born in the same way, and sinking, like others, to the dust. See Acts 14:15. Jesus had a nature superior to man, and ought, therefore, to be exalted above all.

Is earthly. Is human. Is inferior to him who comes from heaven. Partakes of his origin, which is inferior and corrupt.

Speaketh of the earth. His teaching is inferior to that of him who comes from heaven. It is comparatively obscure and imperfect, not full and clear, like the teaching of him who is from above. This was the case with all the prophets, and even with John the Baptist, as compared with the teaching of Christ.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 31 Is above all - This blessed bridegroom, who has descended from heaven, Joh 3:13, is above all, superior to Moses, the prophets, and me. He that is of the earth - John himself, who was born in the common way of man. Speaketh of the earth - Cannot speak of heavenly things as Christ can do; and only represents Divine matters by these earthly ordinances; for the spirit and meaning of which, you must all go to the Messiah himself.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 3:22-36

John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace there would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. John knew that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion…

Read the full comment on John 3:22-36 →

John 3:31 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.

ὁhoThe [One]G3588

ἄνωθενanōthenfrom aboveG509

ἐρχόμενοςerchomenoscomingG2064

ἐπάνωepanōaboveG1883

πάντωνpantōnallG3956

ἐστίν.estinis.G1510

ὁhoThe [one]G3588

ὢνōnbeingG1510

ἐκekfromG1537

τῆςtēstheG3588

γῆςgēsearthG1093

ἐκekfromG1537

τῆςtēstheG3588

γῆςgēsearthG1093

ἐστινestinisG1510

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐκekfromG1537

τῆςtēstheG3588

γῆςgēsearthG1093

λαλεῖ.laleispeaks.G2980

ὁhoThe [One]G3588

ἐκekfromG1537

τοῦtou<the>G3588

οὐρανοῦouranouheavenG3772

ἐρχόμενοςerchomenoscomingG2064

ἐπάνωepanōaboveG1883

πάντωνpantōnallG3956

ἐστίν·estinis;G1510

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

Cross references for John 3:31

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
John 8:23
And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Romans 9:5
Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
John 6:33
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
1 John 4:5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
John 3:12-13
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Revelation 19:16
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
John 16:27-28
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 5:21-25
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. …
Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

that cometh.
13; 6:33; 8:23; Eph 1:20,21; 4:8-10
is above.
1:15,27,30; 5:21-25; Mt 28:18; Ac 10:36; Ro 9:5; Eph 1:21
Php 2:9-11; 1Pe 3:22; Re 19:16
he that is.
12; 1Co 15:47,48; Heb 9:1,9,10
he that cometh.
6:33,51; 16:27,28

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

Context

John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:31
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
John 3:32
And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

Read all of John 3

John 3:31 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El que de arriba viene, sobre todos es: el que es de la tierra, terreno es, y cosas terrenas habla: el que viene del cielo, sobre todos es.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Celui qui vient d’en haut est au-dessus de tous. Celui qui est de la terre est de la terre, et parle comme étant de la terre. Celui qui vient du ciel est au-dessus de tous;
German Elberfelder 1871	Der von ober kommt, ist über allen; der von der Erde ist, ist von der Erde und redet von der Erde. Der vom Himmel kommt, ist über allen,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Qui desursum venit, super omnes est. Qui est de terra, de terra est, et de terra loquitur. Qui de cælo venit, super omnes est.