John 3:25
New International Version
An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.

New Living Translation
A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing.

English Standard Version
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.

Berean Standard Bible
Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.

Berean Literal Bible
Then a debate arose among the disciples of John with a certain Jew about purification.

King James Bible
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

New King James Version
Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.

New American Standard Bible
Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

NASB 1995
Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

NASB 1977
There arose therefore a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore there arose a debate between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification.

Amplified Bible
Therefore there arose a controversy between John’s disciples and a Jew in regard to purification (ceremonial washing).

Christian Standard Bible
Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew about purification.

American Standard Version
There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But there was a dispute between one of Yohannan's disciples and a certain Judeaen about purification.

Contemporary English Version
John's followers got into an argument with a Jewish man about a ceremony of washing.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews concerning purification:

English Revised Version
There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some of John's disciples had an argument with a Jew about purification ceremonies.

Good News Translation
Some of John's disciples began arguing with a Jew about the matter of ritual washing.

International Standard Version
Then a controversy about ritual purification sprang up between a certain Jew and John's disciples,

Literal Standard Version
there arose then a question from the disciples of John with [some] Jews about purifying,

Majority Standard Bible
Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.

New American Bible
Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings.

NET Bible
Now a dispute came about between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew concerning ceremonial washing.

New Revised Standard Version
Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew.

New Heart English Bible
Now a dispute arose between John's disciples with a Jew about purification.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying.

Weymouth New Testament
As the result, a discussion having arisen on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification,

World English Bible
Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.

Young's Literal Translation
there arose then a question from the disciples of John with some Jews about purifying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
John's Testimony about Jesus
24(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.) 25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing. 26So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”…

Cross References
John 2:6
Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.

Hebrews 6:2
instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.


Treasury of Scripture

Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

about.

John 2:6
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mark 7:2-5,8
And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault…

Jump to Previous
Argument Arisen Ceremonial Developed Disciples Discussion Jew Jews John's Matter Part Purification Purifying Question Questioning Reasoning Result
Jump to Next
Argument Arisen Ceremonial Developed Disciples Discussion Jew Jews John's Matter Part Purification Purifying Question Questioning Reasoning Result
John 3
1. Jesus teaches Nicodemus the necessity of being born again,
14. of faith in his death,
16. the great love of God toward the world,
18. and the condemnation for unbelief.
22. Jesus baptizes in Judea.
23. The baptism, witness, and doctrine of John concerning Jesus.














(25) Then there arose a question.--For "the Jews," the reading of the better MSS. is, a Jew. The question arose on the side of John's disciples. What the exact nature of it was we do not know, and have no means of judging. It was one of the questions which in every age has arisen about external rites, and has too often been accompanied by a neglect of inner principles. This arose in some way from the fact of the disciples of Jesus baptising near to the place where John was baptising, and doubtless was closely connected with these baptisms. The fact is only preserved as an incidental introduction to the remarkable testimony of the Baptist which follows.

Verse 25. - There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying. Such proximity of two such leaders, teaching and proclaiming the kingdom of heaven, and baptizing into a glorious hope, a Divine future, and a spiritual change, was certain to excite controversy. The word (ζήτησις) "questioning" is used in Acts 15:2 for the dispute at Antioch, and Paul uses the same phrase for dangerous, useless, and angry debate (1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9). It was, perhaps, not the first, and certainly it was not the last, of the controversies which raged over the symbolic purification of the Church. John's disciples appear to have taken up arms against some particular Jew, who was prepared either to question the right of Jesus to baptize, or the essential value of this ordinance. This "Jew" was apparently maintaining a greater potency for the baptism of Jesus than John could claim for his, and was basing his view upon the testimony which John had already borne to Jesus. Purifying was the great theme of Essenic and Pharisaic profession. It was without doubt one of the great symbolic purposes of the Levitical legislation. The purification of the flesh was, however, in Christ's teaching, a very small part of the claim for purity. Nothing less than a spiritual and radical moral change availed, and our Lord insisted on this to the disparagement of the mere ceremonial. This was the first recorded discussion on the nature and value of baptismal purifying. Would that it had been the last! The question arose among those who had been baptized by John, whether another had any right to administer such an ordinance? Could another receive the confession of sins? Was the baptism of John to terminate now that he had come of whom John himself had said, "This is he that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit"

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
A dispute
ζήτησις (zētēsis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2214: A question, debate, controversy; a seeking, search. From zeteo; a searching, i.e. A dispute or its theme.

arose
Ἐγένετο (Egeneto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

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

John’s
Ἰωάννου (Iōannou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

disciples
μαθητῶν (mathētōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

[and]
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

[a certain] Jew
Ἰουδαίου (Ioudaiou)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

over [the issue of]
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

ceremonial washing.
καθαρισμοῦ (katharismou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2512: From katharizo; a washing off, i.e. ablution, expiation.


Links
John 3:25 NIV
John 3:25 NLT
John 3:25 ESV
John 3:25 NASB
John 3:25 KJV

John 3:25 BibleApps.com
John 3:25 Biblia Paralela
John 3:25 Chinese Bible
John 3:25 French Bible
John 3:25 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: John 3:25 There arose therefore a questioning (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 3:24
Top of Page
Top of Page