John 1:33 (GNV)

Passage

And I knewe him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he saide vnto me, Vpon whom thou shalt see that Spirit come downe, and tary still on him, that is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.

Nearby Context

John 1:31 And I knewe him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water.

John 1:32 So Iohn bare recorde, saying, I behelde that Spirit come downe from heauen, like a doue, and it abode vpon him,

John 1:33 And I knewe him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he saide vnto me, Vpon whom thou shalt see that Spirit come downe, and tary still on him, that is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.

John 1:34 And I sawe, and bare record that this is that Sonne of God.

John 1:35 The next day, Iohn stoode againe, and two of his disciples.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "knewe", "sent", "baptize", "water", "saide", "vnto", and "vpon". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "knewe", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 32's "So Iohn bare recorde saying I behelde..." into verse 34's "And I sawe and bare record that...", so "Spirit" and "knewe" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "knewe" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.