John 3 · Verse 34

John 3:34

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
John 3:34, King James Version

John 3:34 in other translations

BSBFor the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
WEBFor he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
ASVFor he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
YLTfor he whom God sent, the sayings of God he speaketh; for not by measure doth God give the Spirit;
DARBYfor he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives not the Spirit by measure.
BBEFor he whom God has sent says God's words; and God does not give him the Spirit by measure.
WebsterFor he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for to him God giveth not the Spirit by measure.

What does John 3:34 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…

Read the full comment on John 3:31-34 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 34. Whom God hath sent. The Messiah.

Speaketh the words of God. The truth, or commands of God.

For God giveth not the Spirit. The Spirit of God. Though Jesus was God as well as man, yet, as Mediator, God anointed him, or endowed him with the influences of his Spirit, so as to be completely qualified for his great work.

By measure. Not in a small degree, but fully, completely. The prophets were inspired on particular occasions to deliver special messages. The Messiah was continually filled with the Spirit of God. "The Spirit dwelt in him, not as a vessel, but as in a fountain, as in a bottomless ocean" (Henry),

(k) "For he whom God" Jn 7:16 (l) "Fro God giveth" Ps 45:7, Isa 11:2, 59:21, 1:16, Col 1:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 For God giveth not the Spirit by measure - He is the most perfect of all teachers, as having received the Holy Spirit as none before him ever did. Without measure - not for a particular time, people, purpose, etc., but for the whole compass of time, and in reference to all eternity. Former dispensations of the Holy Spirit made partial discoveries of infinite justice and mercy; but now the sum of justice, in requiring such a sacrifice, and the plenitude of mercy, in providing it, shall, by that Spirit with which he baptizes, be made manifest to all the children of men. It is worthy of remark that this was fully done after the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of pentecost, Act 2:1, etc., as may be clearly seen in all the apostolic epistles. The Jews observe, that the Holy Spirit was given only in certain measures to the prophets; some writing only one book, others two. So Rab. Acba.

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 3:34 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.

ὃνhonHe whomG3739
γὰρgarforG1063
ἀπέστειλενapesteilensentG649
ὁho<the>G3588
θεός,theosGod,G2316
τὰtatheG3588
ῥήματαrhēmatadeclarationsG4487
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
λαλεῖ·laleispeaks;G2980
οὐounotG3756
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐκekbyG1537
μέτρουmetroumeasureG3358
δίδωσινdidōsinHe givesG1325
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
τὸtotheG3588
πνεῦμα.pneumaSpirit.G4151

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

Cross references for John 3:34

  • Acts 10:38

    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  • Matthew 12:18

    Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

  • John 5:26

    For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

  • Isaiah 11:2-5

    And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

  • Colossians 2:9

    For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

  • Luke 4:18

    The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

  • John 7:37-39

    In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

  • Romans 8:2

    For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

  • Colossians 1:19

    For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

  • John 7:16

    Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

  • John 1:16

    And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he.
7:16; 8:26-28,40,47
for God.
17; 1:16; 5:26; 7:37-39; 15:26; 16:7; Nu 11:25; 2Ki 2:9; Ps 45:7
Isa 11:2-5; 59:21; 62:1-3; Ro 8:2; Eph 3:8; 4:7-13; Col 1:19; 2:9
Re 21:6; 22:1,16,17

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

Context

  • John 3:33

    He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

  • John 3:34

    For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

  • John 3:35

    The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Read all of John 3

John 3:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque el que Dios envió, las palabras de Dios habla: porque no da Dios el Espíritu por medida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car celui que Dieu a envoyé parle les paroles de Dieu, car Dieu ne donne pas l’Esprit par mesure.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn der, welchen Gott gesandt hat, redet die Worte Gottes; denn Gott gibt den Geist nicht nach Maß.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quem enim misit Deus, verba Dei loquitur: non enim ad mensuram dat Deus spiritum.