John 1:32
New International Version
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

New Living Translation
Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.

English Standard Version
And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

Berean Standard Bible
Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And John bore witness saying, "I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon Him.

King James Bible
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

New King James Version
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.

New American Standard Bible
And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

NASB 1995
John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

NASB 1977
And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He abided on Him.

Amplified Bible
John gave [further] evidence [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

Christian Standard Bible
And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him.

American Standard Version
And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him.

Contemporary English Version
I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him.

English Revised Version
And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
John said, "I saw the Spirit come down as a dove from heaven and stay on him.

Good News Translation
And John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on him.

International Standard Version
John also testified, "I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

Majority Standard Bible
Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.

NET Bible
Then John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.

New Heart English Bible
And John testified, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And John bore testimony, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Weymouth New Testament
John also gave testimony by stating: "I have seen the Spirit coming down like a dove out of Heaven; and it remained upon Him.

World English Bible
John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit coming down out of Heaven as a dove, and [that] One remained on Him;

Berean Literal Bible
And John bore witness saying, "I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon Him.

Young's Literal Translation
And John testified, saying -- 'I have seen the Spirit coming down, as a dove, out of heaven, and it remained on him;

Smith's Literal Translation
And John testified, saying, That I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it remained up on him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven, and he remained upon him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And John offered testimony, saying: “For I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove; and he remained upon him.

New American Bible
John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.

New Revised Standard Version
And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And John testified and said, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it rested upon him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yohannan testified and said: “I saw The Spirit who was descending from Heaven like a dove and remaining upon him.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And John testified, saying: I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

Godbey New Testament
And John testified saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and remained on Him.

Haweis New Testament
And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it rested upon him.

Mace New Testament
and John testified, saying, I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Weymouth New Testament
John also gave testimony by stating: "I have seen the Spirit coming down like a dove out of Heaven; and it remained upon Him.

Worrell New Testament
And John testified, saying, "I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of Heaven, and He abode upon Him.

Worsley New Testament
And John testified saying, I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it abode upon Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus the Lamb of God
31I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.” 32Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. 33I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’…

Cross References
Matthew 3:16
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.

Mark 1:10
As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.

Luke 3:22
and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

John 1:33
I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

John 3:34
For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

1 John 5:6
This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 42:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.


Treasury of Scripture

And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed on him.

I saw.

John 5:32
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

Matthew 3:16
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mark 1:10
And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

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John 1
1. The divinity, humanity, office, and incarnation of Jesus Christ.
15. The testimony of John.
39. The calling of Simon and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael














Then John testified
The phrase begins with "Then," indicating a sequence of events, following John's previous declarations about Jesus. The Greek word for "testified" is "ἐμαρτύρησεν" (emarturēsen), which is derived from "martureō," meaning to bear witness or give evidence. This term is significant in the Gospel of John, emphasizing the importance of testimony in establishing truth. John's role as a witness is crucial, as he provides firsthand evidence of Jesus' divine nature and mission. Historically, the role of a witness was vital in Jewish legal proceedings, underscoring the reliability and importance of John's testimony.

I saw the Spirit
The personal pronoun "I" emphasizes John's direct experience and personal witness. The Greek word for "saw" is "εἶδον" (eidon), which implies not just a physical seeing but a deeper understanding or perception. "The Spirit" refers to the Holy Spirit, a central figure in Christian theology, representing God's presence and power. The Spirit's appearance in this context signifies divine approval and anointing of Jesus for His ministry. Theologically, this moment marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

descending from heaven
The imagery of "descending" suggests a divine initiative, as the Spirit comes from "heaven," the realm of God. The Greek word "καταβαῖνον" (katabainon) conveys a movement from a higher place to a lower one, symbolizing the Spirit's approach to humanity. This descent signifies God's active involvement in the world and His endorsement of Jesus as the Messiah. The concept of heaven as God's dwelling place is consistent throughout Scripture, reinforcing the divine origin of the Spirit.

like a dove
The simile "like a dove" is rich in symbolism. In the Greek, "ὡσεὶ περιστεράν" (hōsei peristeran) suggests a gentle and peaceful descent. The dove is often associated with peace, purity, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the dove appears in the account of Noah as a symbol of hope and new beginnings (Genesis 8:11). Here, it signifies the inauguration of Jesus' ministry and the new covenant between God and humanity.

and resting on Him
The phrase "resting on Him" indicates a permanent and abiding presence. The Greek word "ἔμεινεν" (emeinen) means to remain or abide, suggesting that the Spirit did not merely touch Jesus but stayed with Him. This continuous presence underscores Jesus' unique relationship with the Holy Spirit, empowering Him for His mission. In the broader biblical context, the Spirit's resting on Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 11:2, which speaks of the Spirit of the Lord resting upon the Messiah. This moment marks Jesus as the anointed one, fully equipped to fulfill His redemptive work.

(32, 33) In these verses the Evangelist again makes prominent the solemn witness of John, giving the process by which conviction had come to his own mind.

(32) I saw.--Better, I have seen, or beheld. The vision is in its result ever present, and is all-conclusive evidence. (Comp. the words in their historic setting, Matthew 3:16, Note.)

Verses 32, 33. - And John bore testimony, saying, I have seen (perfect) the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it (he) abode upon him. And I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize with (in) water, he said to me, Upon whomsoever thou mayest see the Holy Spirit descending, and abiding on him, this (one) is he that baptizeth with (in) the Holy Spirit. The preparation by special teaching for a mysterious vision is the key to the vision itself, which John is here said to have described. There can be no reasonable doubt that the evangelist makes reference to the synoptic tradition of the baptism of Jesus by John, although it may suit some uncompromising opponents of the Fourth Gospel to say that the baptism is here omitted. The act of the rite is not totidem verbis described; but the chief accompaniment and real meaning of the baptism is specially portrayed. All the well known cycles of criticism make their special assault on the narratives at this point. Rationalism finds in a thunderstorm and the casual flight of a pigeon what John magnified into a supernatural portent; Straussianism sees the growth of a legend from prepared sources of Hebrew tradition, and endeavours to aggravate into irreconcilable discrepancy the various accounts; Baur and Hilgenfeld accentuate the objectively supernatural portent, so as the more easily to put it into the region of ignorant superstition; others find the hint or sign of Gnostic handling; and Keim suggests that it is the poetic colouring which a later age unconsciously attributed to the Baptist and the Christ. Let it be noticed:

(1) That the present Gospel does not augment, but diminishes, the miraculous element as compared with the synoptic narrative. The 'Gospel of the Hebrews ' added further embellishments still. Our Gospel compels us to believe that the mind of the Baptist was the chief region of the miracle.

(2) The author of this Gospel might, if he had chosen, have selected his own experience on the Mount of Transfiguration in vindication of a Divine attestation of the Sonship; but he preferred to fall back upon the testimony of his revered master. Peter, James, and John were unprepared for what they saw and heard on that occasion; and Peter knew not what he said, so great was the awful wonder that fell upon him then. Here, however, is recorded a vision for which the mind of the great forerunner was prepared. He expected to see the Spirit of God in some manner blend his energy with that of the individual who would prove to be the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost.

(3) John does not discriminate the methods of the two communications, and from this narrative all that could be inferred positively is that the mind of John, by objective or subjective process, of which we know nothing, received the communication and the sacred impression. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

John
Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

testified,
ἐμαρτύρησεν (emartyrēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3140: To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.

“I saw
Τεθέαμαι (Tetheamai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2300: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to look closely at, i.e. perceive; by extension to visit.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Spirit
Πνεῦμα (Pneuma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

descending
καταβαῖνον (katabainon)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2597: To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend.

from
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

heaven
οὐρανοῦ (ouranou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

like
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

a dove
περιστερὰν (peristeran)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4058: A dove, pigeon. Of uncertain derivation; a pigeon.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

resting
ἔμεινεν (emeinen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3306: To remain, abide, stay, wait; with acc: I wait for, await. A primary verb; to stay.

on
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

Him.
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: John 1:32 John testified saying I have seen (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 1:31
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