910. baptistés
Lexical Summary
baptistés: Baptist

Original Word: βαπτιστής
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: baptistés
Pronunciation: bap-tis-TACE
Phonetic Spelling: (bap-tis-tace')
KJV: Baptist
NASB: Baptist
Word Origin: [from G907 (βαπτίζω - baptized)]

1. a "baptizer" (immerser), as an epithet of Christ's forerunner, John

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Baptist.

From baptizo; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner -- Baptist.

see GREEK baptizo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from baptizó
Definition
a baptizer
NASB Translation
Baptist (12).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 910: βαπτιστής

βαπτιστής, βαπτιστοῦ, (βαπτίζω), a baptizer; one who administers the rite of baptism; the surname of John, the forerunner of Christ: Matthew 3:1; Matthew 11:11f; (Matthew 14:2, 8; Matthew 16:14; Matthew 17:13); Mark 6:24 (T Tr WH τοῦ βαπτίζοντος), Mark 6:25; Mark 8:28; Luke 7:20, 28 (T Tr WH omit), Luke 7:38; Luke 9:19; also given him by Josephus, Antiquities 18, 5, 2, and found in no other secular writings (Joh. d. Täufer by Breest (1881), Köhler (1884).)

Topical Lexicon
Designation and Meaning

βαπτιστής is the descriptive title “the Baptizer,” applied exclusively to John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The word underscores the public hallmark of his ministry—immersing repentant Israelites in the Jordan River—and distinguishes him from every other prophetic figure.

Occurrences in the New Testament

The title appears twelve times, always with reference to John: Matthew 3:1; 11:11-12; 14:2, 8; 16:14; 17:13; Mark 6:25; 8:28; Luke 7:20, 33; 9:19. These passages span the Synoptic Gospels, revealing the breadth of his influence—from Herod’s court to common villages—long after his martyrdom.

Historical Setting

John’s appearance erupted “in the wilderness of Judea” (Matthew 3:1) during the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1-2), when Israel languished under Roman occupation and spiritual barrenness. Prophetic activity had been silent for four centuries. Into this vacuum stepped a Nazirite-like figure wearing camel hair and eating locusts and wild honey, recalling Elijah (2 Kings 1:8; cf. Matthew 3:4).

Call and Ministry

Luke records that “the word of God came to John” (Luke 3:2); his commission was divine, not self-appointed. He called Israel to repentance in view of imminent messianic visitation: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). Crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers alike confessed sins and were baptized (Luke 3:10-14), confessing that descent from Abraham was no shield from wrath (Matthew 3:9).

Relationship to Jesus Christ

John is both kinsman and forerunner. He identifies himself as “the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’ ” (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3). At Jesus’ baptism John bears witness to the Spirit descending and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Jesus in turn affirms him: “Among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

Testimony of Jesus concerning John

Jesus interprets John’s role as the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1 and 4:5. After the Transfiguration the disciples realize, “Elijah has already come,” and “the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist” (Matthew 17:12-13). Thus Scripture is shown internally coherent—prophecy joined to fulfillment in history.

The Baptism of Repentance

John’s rite symbolized moral cleansing and public turning to God. Unlike later Christian baptism, it did not yet signify union with the crucified and risen Christ (Romans 6:3-4) but prepared hearts for Him. Acts 19:3 distinguishes “John’s baptism” from Christian baptism, yet both are linked by the necessity of repentance.

Foreshadowing Christian Baptism

By calling all Israel—including religious elite—to the Jordan, John prefigured the universal offer of the Gospel. His insistence on personal faith and ethical fruit anticipates apostolic preaching: “Produce fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8). The early church adopted immersion language and water symbolism already familiar because of John.

John in the Public Mind

Long after his death, popular speculation mistook Jesus for “John the Baptist risen from the dead” (Matthew 14:2; Mark 8:28; Luke 9:19). Such confusion shows John’s stature: a fearless prophet whose resurrection seemed more plausible to the populace than the appearance of a greater One.

Opposition and Martyrdom

John’s rebuke of Herod Antipas for taking Herodias, his brother’s wife, led to imprisonment in Machaerus and eventual beheading (Matthew 14:3-11; Mark 6:17-29). His martyrdom foreshadows the cost of prophetic witness and prefigures the rejection Jesus Himself would endure.

Legacy in the Early Church

John’s disciples persisted for decades (Acts 19:1-7), yet the apostolic message consistently pointed them beyond the Baptizer to the Messiah. The Fourth Gospel opens with a clarifying note: “He was not the Light, but came to bear witness to the Light” (John 1:8). Thus the church revered John without confusing his preparatory role with Christ’s saving work.

Doctrinal and Practical Lessons

1. Scripture’s unity: Prophecy (Isaiah, Malachi) harmonizes with Gospel narrative.
2. Necessity of repentance: Entry into God’s kingdom always entails moral transformation.
3. Humble witness: John’s motto, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), remains the model for ministry.
4. Cost of truth: Faithfulness may demand life itself, yet “blessed is the one who keeps from stumbling on account of Me” (Matthew 11:6).

Summary

βαπτιστής highlights John as the divinely appointed Baptizer whose preaching of repentance and baptism prepared Israel for Jesus Christ. His life, message, and martyrdom collectively announce the dawning kingdom, validate Scripture’s prophetic promises, and continue to instruct the church in boldness, humility, and uncompromising devotion to the coming King.

Forms and Transliterations
βαπτιστην βαπτιστήν βαπτιστης βαπτιστής βαπτιστὴς βαπτιστου βαπτιστού βαπτιστοῦ baptisten baptistēn baptistḗn baptistes baptistēs baptistḗs baptistḕs baptistou baptistoû
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 3:1 N-NMS
GRK: Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς κηρύσσων ἐν
NAS: days John the Baptist came, preaching
KJV: came John the Baptist, preaching in
INT: John the Baptist proclaiming in

Matthew 11:11 N-GMS
GRK: Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ ὁ δὲ
NAS: than John the Baptist! Yet
KJV: John the Baptist: notwithstanding
INT: than John the Baptist and

Matthew 11:12 N-GMS
GRK: Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ ἕως ἄρτι
NAS: of John the Baptist until
KJV: the days of John the Baptist until now
INT: of John the Baptist until now

Matthew 14:2 N-NMS
GRK: Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστής αὐτὸς ἠγέρθη
NAS: is John the Baptist; he has risen
KJV: is John the Baptist; he is risen
INT: John the Baptist he is risen

Matthew 14:8 N-GMS
GRK: Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ
NAS: the head of John the Baptist.
KJV: here John Baptist's head in
INT: of John the Baptist

Matthew 16:14 N-AMS
GRK: Ἰωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν ἄλλοι δὲ
NAS: [say] John the Baptist; and others,
KJV: John the Baptist:
INT: John the Baptist others moreover

Matthew 17:13 N-GMS
GRK: Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς
NAS: to them about John the Baptist.
KJV: of John the Baptist.
INT: John the Baptist he spoke to them

Mark 6:25 N-GMS
GRK: Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ
NAS: of John the Baptist on a platter.
KJV: the head of John the Baptist.
INT: of John the Baptist

Mark 8:28 N-AMS
GRK: Ἰωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν καὶ ἄλλοι
NAS: John the Baptist; and others
KJV: John the Baptist: but
INT: John the Baptist and others

Luke 7:20 N-NMS
GRK: Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς ἀπέστειλεν ἡμᾶς
NAS: John the Baptist has sent
KJV: they said, John Baptist hath sent us
INT: John the Baptist has sent us

Luke 7:33 N-NMS
GRK: Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς μὴ ἐσθίων
NAS: For John the Baptist has come eating
KJV: For John the Baptist came neither
INT: John the Baptist neither eating

Luke 9:19 N-AMS
GRK: Ἰωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν ἄλλοι δὲ
NAS: John the Baptist, and others
KJV: said, John the Baptist; but some
INT: John the Baptist others however

Strong's Greek 910
12 Occurrences


βαπτιστήν — 3 Occ.
βαπτιστὴς — 4 Occ.
βαπτιστοῦ — 5 Occ.

909
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