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Selected Verse: John 1:28 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Joh 1:28	King James	These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Bethabara--Rather, "Bethany" (according to nearly all the best and most ancient manuscripts); not the Bethany of Lazarus, but another of the same name, and distinguished from it as lying "beyond Jordan," on the east.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Bethabara--Rather, "Bethany" (according to nearly all the best and most ancient manuscripts); not the Bethany of Lazarus, but another of the same name, and distinguished from it as lying "beyond Jordan," on the east.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
In Bethabara - Almost all the ancient manuscripts and versions, instead of "Bethabara" here, have "Bethany," and this is doubtless the true reading. There was a Bethany about 2 miles east of Jerusalem, but there is said also to have been another in the tribe of Reuben, on the east side of the river Jordan, and in this place, probably, John was baptizing. It is about 12 miles above Jericho. The word "Bethabara" means "house or place of a ford." The reading "Bethabara," instead of "Bethany," seems to have arisen from the conjecture of Origen, who found in his day no such place as "Bethany," but saw a town called "Bethabara," where John was said to have baptized, and therefore took the liberty of changing the former reading - Robinson, Lexicon. Beyond Jordan - On the east side of the Jordan River.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

In Bethabara - Almost all the ancient manuscripts and versions, instead of "Bethabara" here, have "Bethany," and this is doubtless the true reading. There was a Bethany about 2 miles east of Jerusalem, but there is said also to have been another in the tribe of Reuben, on the east side of the river Jordan, and in this place, probably, John was baptizing. It is about 12 miles above Jericho. The word "Bethabara" means "house or place of a ford." The reading "Bethabara," instead of "Bethany," seems to have arisen from the conjecture of Origen, who found in his day no such place as "Bethany," but saw a town called "Bethabara," where John was said to have baptized, and therefore took the liberty of changing the former reading - Robinson, Lexicon.

Beyond Jordan - On the east side of the Jordan River.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Bethabara (βηθαναρᾷ) The correct reading is βηθανία, Bethany. Not the Bethany of Joh 11:18, but an unknown village. It was not uncommon for two places to have the same name, as the two Bethsaidas, the one on the eastern shore of the Lake of Gennesaret (Mar 6:32, Mar 6:45), and the other on the western shore (Joh 1:44); the two Caesareas, on the Mediterranean (Act 8:40), and in Gaulonitis, at the foot of Lebanon, Caesarea Philippi (Mat 16:13). Was baptizing (ἦν βαπτίζων) The participle with the substantive verb indicating continued action; was engaged in baptizing.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Bethabara (βηθαναρᾷ)

The correct reading is βηθανία, Bethany. Not the Bethany of Joh 11:18, but an unknown village. It was not uncommon for two places to have the same name, as the two Bethsaidas, the one on the eastern shore of the Lake of Gennesaret (Mar 6:32, Mar 6:45), and the other on the western shore (Joh 1:44); the two Caesareas, on the Mediterranean (Act 8:40), and in Gaulonitis, at the foot of Lebanon, Caesarea Philippi (Mat 16:13).

Was baptizing (ἦν βαπτίζων)

The participle with the substantive verb indicating continued action; was engaged in baptizing.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Where John was baptizing - That is, used to baptize.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

Where John was baptizing - That is, used to baptize.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
These things were done in Bethabara - It is very probable that the word Bethany should be inserted here, instead of Bethabara. This reading, in the judgment of the best critics, is the genuine one. The following are the authorities by which it is supported: ABCEGHLMSX, BV, of Matthai, upwards of a hundred others, Syriac, Armenian, Persic, Coptic, Slavonic, Vulgate, Saxon, and all the Itala, with some of the most eminent of the primitive fathers, before the time of Origen, who is supposed to have first changed the reading. Bethabara signifies literally the house of passage, and is thought to be the place where the Israelites passed the river Jordan under Joshua. There was a place called Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem, at the foot of the mount of Olives. But there was another of the same name, beyond Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben. It was probably of this that the evangelist speaks; and Origen, not knowing of this second Bethany, altered the reading to Bethabara. See Rosenmuller.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

These things were done in Bethabara - It is very probable that the word Bethany should be inserted here, instead of Bethabara. This reading, in the judgment of the best critics, is the genuine one. The following are the authorities by which it is supported: ABCEGHLMSX, BV, of Matthai, upwards of a hundred others, Syriac, Armenian, Persic, Coptic, Slavonic, Vulgate, Saxon, and all the Itala, with some of the most eminent of the primitive fathers, before the time of Origen, who is supposed to have first changed the reading. Bethabara signifies literally the house of passage, and is thought to be the place where the Israelites passed the river Jordan under Joshua. There was a place called Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem, at the foot of the mount of Olives. But there was another of the same name, beyond Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben. It was probably of this that the evangelist speaks; and Origen, not knowing of this second Bethany, altered the reading to Bethabara. See Rosenmuller.

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