1:31a
I myself did not know Him: We can assume that John knew Jesus, because he was a relative (their mothers were related, perhaps cousins, as seen in Luke 1:36). However, previously he did not know that Jesus was the promised Messiah. For example:
I did not know who he was (God’s Word)
-or-
I did not recognize him as the Messiah. (New Living Translation (2004))
1:31b–c
the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the reason here indicate purpose. John’s purpose in baptizing people was to reveal Jesus the Messiah to the people of Israel. At first John himself may not have realized that this was his purpose. God showed it to him when he baptized Jesus. Here are other ways to translate 1:31b–c:
I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel. (NET Bible)
-or-
I came to baptize with water to show him to the people of Israel. (God’s Word)
-or-
I came baptizing with water in order to make him known to the people of Israel. (Good News Translation)
1:31b
but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but introduces something that is not expected. John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah (1:31a). So we do not expect that he will reveal the Messiah to Israel (1:31b). Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural for your language.
I: This pronoun refers to John the Baptist. He baptized with water as a way of preparing people for the coming of the Messiah.
baptizing with water: This phrase means to wash people with a special ritual that uses water. Baptizing people indicated that God had made them morally pure. See the note on 1:26.
1:31c
that He might be revealed to Israel: The pronoun He refers to the man who was greater than John. He was the man who was the Chosen Savior or Messiah. John was to tell the people of Israel that the Messiah had arrived.
The verb phrase He might be revealed is passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
so that he might be manifested to Israel (New American Standard Bible)
• Use an active verb. For example:
so that the people of Israel would know who he is (New Century Version)
Translate this using the verb form that is most natural in your language.
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