KJV: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
YLT: He said, 'I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.'
Darby: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the path of the Lord, as said Esaias the prophet.
ASV: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.
| Ἔφη | He was saying |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: φημί Sense: to make known one’s thoughts, to declare. |
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| Ἐγὼ | I [am] |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| φωνὴ | a voice |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: φωνή Sense: a sound, a tone. |
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| βοῶντος | crying |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: βοάω Sense: to raise a cry, of joy pain etc. |
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| ἐρήμῳ | wilderness |
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Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ἔρημος Sense: solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited. |
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| Εὐθύνατε | Make straight |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: εὐθύνω Sense: to make straight, level, plain. |
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| ὁδὸν | way |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὁδός Sense: properly. |
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| Κυρίου | of [the] Lord |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: κύριος Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. |
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| εἶπεν | said |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
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| Ἠσαΐας | Isaiah |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ἠσαί̈ας Sense: a famous Hebrew prophet who prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. |
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| προφήτης | prophet |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: προφήτης Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things. |
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Greek Commentary for John 1:23
Common imperfect active (or second aorist active) of πημι phēmi to say, old defective verb. I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness For his answer John quotes Isaiah 40:3. The Synoptics (Mark 1:3; Matthew 3:3; Luke 3:4) quote this language from Isaiah as descriptive of John, but do not say that he also applied it to himself. There is no reason to think that he did not do so. John also refers to Isaiah as the author of the words and also of the message, [source]
” By this language (ευτυνω euthunō in N.T. only here and James 3:4, first aorist active imperative here) John identifies himself to the committee as the forerunner of the Messiah. The early writers note the differences between the use of Λογος Logos (Word) for the Messiah and πωνη phōnē (Voice) for John. [source]
Or, a voice. There is no article. See on Matthew 3:5. [source]
Some join in the wilderness with make straight, as in the Hebrew. The quotation is from Isaiah 40:3. In the other three Gospels it is applied to the Baptist (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4). Here he uses it of himself. On wilderness, see on Matthew 3:1. [source]
For ὁδὸν , way, all the Synoptists have τρίβους , beaten tracks; and for the verb εὐθύνατε , make straight, the adjective and verb εὐθύνατε ποιεῖτε . On the figure of preparing the roads, see on Luke 3:5. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 1:23
God is coming to his people to deliver them from their captivity in Babylon. So the prophet cries like a voice in the wilderness to make ready for the coming of God. When the committee from the Sanhedrin came to ask John who he was, he used this very language of Isaiah (John 1:23). He was only a voice, but we can still hear the echo of that voice through the corridor of the centuries. [source]
According to the proper reading, ἐγὼ , I, stands first in the Baptist's statement, the ὅτι having the force merely of quotation marks. It is emphatic: “I am not the Christ, though the Christ is here.” Some were questioning whether John was the Christ (Luke 3:15; Acts 13:25). Note the frequent occurrence of the emphatic I: John 1:23, John 1:26, John 1:27, John 1:30, John 1:31, John 1:33, John 1:34. On the Christ, see on Matthew 1:1. [source]
See on Mark 5:5; see on Mark 9:24; see on Luke 18:39. The verb denotes an inarticulate utterance as distinguished from words. When used is connection with articulate speech, it is joined with λέγειν or εἰπεῖν , to say, as Luke 7:28, cried, saying. Compare Luke 7:37; Luke 12:44. The crying corresponds with the Baptist's description of himself as a voice ( φωνή , sound or tone ), Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23. The verb is in the perfect tense, but with the usual classical sense of the present. [source]
As in John 1:20, John 1:23. He had always put Jesus ahead of him as the Messiah (John 1:15). Before him “Before that one” (Jesus) as his forerunner simply. I am sent Periphrastic perfect passive indicative of apostellō f0). [source]
Rev., steersman. Lit., of him who is guiding. Only here and John 1:23. From εὐθύς straight. [source]
Concessive participle of ειμι eimi The quantitative pronoun τηλικουτος tēlikoutos occurs in the N.T. only here, 2 Corinthians 1:10; Hebrews 2:3; Revelation 16:18. If James had only seen the modern mammoth ships. But the ship on which Paul went to Malta carried 276 persons (Acts 27:37).And are driven (και ελαυνομενα kai elaunomena). Present passive participle of ελαυνω elaunō old verb, in this sense (2 Peter 2:17) for rowing (Mark 6:48; John 6:19).Rough Old adjective (from σκελλω skellō to dry up), harsh, stiff, hard (Matthew 25:24).Are yet turned (μεταγεται metagetai). Present passive indicative of the same verb, μεταγω metagō in James 3:3. James is fond of repeating words (James 1:13.; James 2:14, James 2:16; James 2:21, James 2:25).By a very small rudder For the use of υπο hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου Pēdaliou (from πηδον pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς elachus for μικρος mikros).The impulse (η ορμη hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]
Old adjective (from σκελλω skellō to dry up), harsh, stiff, hard (Matthew 25:24).Are yet turned (μεταγεται metagetai). Present passive indicative of the same verb, μεταγω metagō in James 3:3. James is fond of repeating words (James 1:13.; James 2:14, James 2:16; James 2:21, James 2:25).By a very small rudder For the use of υπο hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου Pēdaliou (from πηδον pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς elachus for μικρος mikros).The impulse (η ορμη hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]
Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]
For the use of υπο hupo (under) with things see Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:7. There is possibly personification in the use of υπο hupo for agency in James 1:14; James 2:9; Colossians 2:18. Πηδαλιου Pēdaliou (from πηδον pēdon the blade of an oar) is an old word, in N.T. only here and Acts 27:40. Ελαχιστου Elachistou is the elative superlative as in 1 Corinthians 4:3 (from the Epic ελαχυς elachus for μικρος mikros).The impulse (η ορμη hē hormē). Old word for rapid, violent motion, here of the hand that worked the rudder, in N.T. only here and Acts 14:5 (rush or onset of the people).Of the steersman Present active genitive articular participle of ευτυνω euthunō old verb, to make straight (from ευτυς euthus straight, level, Mark 1:3), in N.T. only here and John 1:23. Used also of the shepherd, the charioteer, and today it would apply to the chauffeur. “The twin figure of the control of horse and of ship are frequently found together in later Greek writers” (Ropes). As in Plutarch and Philo.Willeth (βουλεται bouletai). Present middle indicative of βουλομαι boulomai common verb to will. Here intention of the steersman lies back of the impact of the hand on the rudder. [source]