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Selected Verse: John 1:38 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 1:38 |
Strong Concordance |
Then [1161] Jesus [2424] turned [4762], and [2532] saw [2300] them [846] following [190], and saith [3004] unto them [846], What [5101] seek ye [2212]? [1161] They said [2036] unto him [846], Rabbi [4461], (which [3739] is to say [3004], being interpreted [2059], Master [1320],) where [4226] dwellest thou [3306]? |
| |
King James |
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
FIRST GATHERING OF DISCIPLES--JOHN ANDREW, SIMON, PHILIP, NATHANAEL. (Joh 1:37-51)
What seek ye--gentle, winning question, remarkable as the Redeemer's first public utterance. (See on Mat 12:18-20.)
where dwellest thou--that is, "That is a question we cannot answer in a moment; but had we Thy company for a calm hour in private, gladly should we open our burden." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
What seek ye? - This was not asked to obtain "information." Compare Joh 1:48. It was not a harsh reproof, forbidding them to follow him. Compare Mat 11:28-30. It was a kind inquiry respecting their desires; an invitation to lay open their minds, to state their wishes, and to express all their feelings respecting the Messiah and their own salvation. We may learn:
1. That Jesus regards the first inclinations of the soul to follow him. He "turned" toward these disciples, and he will incline his ear to all who begin to approach him for salvation.
2. Jesus is ready to hear their requests and to answer them.
3. Ministers of the gospel, and all other Christians, should be accessible, kind, and tender toward all who are inquiring the way to life. In conformity with their Master, they should be willing to aid all those who look to them for guidance and help in the great work of their salvation.
Rabbi - This was a Jewish title conferred somewhat as literary degrees now are, and meaning literally "a great one," and was applied to a teacher or master in the Jewish schools. It corresponded with the title "Doctor." Our Saviour solemnly forbade his disciples to wear that title. See the notes at Mat 23:8. The fact that John "interpreted" this word shows that he wrote his gospel not for the Jews only, but for those who did not understand the Hebrew language. It is supposed to have been written at Ephesus.
Where dwellest thou? - This question they probably asked him in order to signify their wish to be with him and to be instructed by him. They desired more fully to listen to him than they could now by the wayside. They were unwilling to interrupt him in his traveling. Religion teaches people true politeness, or a disposition to consult the convenience of others, and not improperly to molest them, or to break in upon them when engaged. It also teaches us to "desire to be with Christ;" to seek every opportunity of communion with him, and chiefly to desire "to be with him where he is" when we leave this world. Compare Phi 1:23. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Saw (θεασάμενος)
Better, as Rev., beheld: looked steadfastly upon them as if studying them.
What seek ye?
The first words of Christ as recorded by John. Compare Mat 3:15; Mar 1:15; Luk 2:49.
Rabbi
My great one; my honorable sir. Explained by Jesus himself as διδάσκαλος, teacher (Mat 23:8, where the proper reading is διδάσκαλος, instead of καθηγητὴς, guide, master, found in Mat 23:10). Used by the Jews in addressing their teachers, and formed from a Hebrew root meaning great. It occurs commonly in John, and is found in Matthew and Mark, but not in Luke, who uses ἐπιστατής. See on Luk 5:5.
Being interpreted
John frequently adds explanatory remarks. See Joh 1:42, Joh 1:43; Joh 9:7.
Dwellest thou (μένεις)
Rev., abidest. Jesus had asked "What seek ye?" not whom. They reply, "Where dost thou abide?" |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
What seek ye? - These disciples might have felt some embarrassment in addressing our blessed Lord, after hearing the character which the Baptist gave of him; to remove or prevent this, he graciously accosts them, and gives them an opportunity of explaining themselves to him. Such questions, we may conceive, the blessed Jesus still puts to those who in simplicity of heart desire an acquaintance with him. A question of this nature we may profitably ask ourselves: What seek ye? In this place! In the company you frequent? In the conversation you engage in? In the affairs with which you are occupied? In the works which you perform? Do you seek the humiliation, illumination, justification, edification, or sanctification of your soul? The edification of your neighbor? The good of the Church of Christ? Or, The glory of God? Questions of this nature often put to our hearts, in the fear of God, would induce us to do many things which we now leave undone, and to leave undone many things which we now perform.
Rabbi - Teacher. Behold the modesty of these disciples - we wish to be scholars, we are ignorant - we desire to be taught; we believe thou art a teacher come from God.
Where dwellest thou? - That we may come and receive thy instructions. |
18 Behold [2400] my [3450] servant [3816], whom [3739] I have chosen [140]; my [3450] beloved [27], in [1519] whom [3739] my [3450] soul [5590] is well pleased [2106]: I will put [5087] my [3450] spirit [4151] upon [1909] him [846], and [2532] he shall shew [518] judgment [2920] to the Gentiles [1484].
19 He shall [2051] not [3756] strive [2051], nor [3761] cry [2905]; neither [3761] shall any man [5100] hear [191] his [846] voice [5456] in [1722] the streets [4113].
20 A bruised [4937] reed [2563] shall he [2608] not [3756] break [2608], and [2532] smoking [5188] flax [3043] shall he [4570] not [3756] quench [4570], till [2193] [302] he send forth [1544] judgment [2920] unto [1519] victory [3534].
37 And [2532] the two [1417] disciples [3101] heard [191] him [846] speak [2980], and [2532] they followed [190] Jesus [2424].
38 Then [1161] Jesus [2424] turned [4762], and [2532] saw [2300] them [846] following [190], and saith [3004] unto them [846], What [5101] seek ye [2212]? [1161] They said [2036] unto him [846], Rabbi [4461], (which [3739] is to say [3004], being interpreted [2059], Master [1320],) where [4226] dwellest thou [3306]?
39 He saith [3004] unto them [846], Come [2064] and [2532] see [1492]. They came [2064] and [2532] saw [1492] where [4226] he dwelt [3306], and [2532] abode [3306] with [3844] him [846] that [1565] day [2250]: for [1161] it was [2258] about [5613] the tenth [1182] hour [5610].
40 One [1520] of [1537] the two [1417] which [3588] heard [191] [3844] John [2491] speak, and [2532] followed [190] him [846], was [2258] Andrew [406], Simon [4613] Peter's [4074] brother [80].
41 He [3778] first [4413] findeth [2147] his own [2398] brother [80] Simon [4613], and [2532] saith [3004] unto him [846], We have found [2147] the Messias [3323], which [3739] is [2076], being interpreted [3177], the Christ [5547].
42 And [2532] he brought [71] him [846] to [4314] Jesus [2424]. And [1161] when Jesus [2424] beheld [1689] him [846], he said [2036], Thou [4771] art [1488] Simon [4613] the son [5207] of Jona [2495]: thou [4771] shalt be called [2564] Cephas [2786], which [3739] is by interpretation [2059], A stone [4074].
43 The day following [1887] Jesus [2424] would [2309] go forth [1831] into [1519] Galilee [1056], and [2532] findeth [2147] Philip [5376], and [2532] saith [3004] unto him [846], Follow [190] me [3427].
44 Now [1161] Philip [5376] was [2258] of [575] Bethsaida [966], the city [4172] of [1537] Andrew [406] and [2532] Peter [4074].
45 Philip [5376] findeth [2147] Nathanael [3482], and [2532] saith [3004] unto him [846], We have found [2147] him, of whom [3739] Moses [3475] in [1722] the law [3551], and [2532] the prophets [4396], did write [1125], Jesus [2424] of [575] Nazareth [3478], the son [5207] of Joseph [2501].
46 And [2532] Nathanael [3482] said [2036] unto him [846], Can [1410] there any [5100] good thing [18] come [1511] out of [1537] Nazareth [3478]? Philip [5376] saith [3004] unto him [846], Come [2064] and [2532] see [1492].
47 Jesus [2424] saw [1492] Nathanael [3482] coming [2064] to [4314] him [846], and [2532] saith [3004] of [4012] him [846], Behold [2396] an Israelite [2475] indeed [230], in [1722] whom [3739] is [2076] no [3756] guile [1388]!
48 Nathanael [3482] saith [3004] unto him [846], Whence [4159] knowest thou [1097] me [3165]? Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Before [4253] that Philip [5376] called [5455] thee [4571], when thou wast [5607] under [5259] the fig tree [4808], I saw [1492] thee [4571].
49 Nathanael [3482] answered [611] and [2532] saith [3004] unto him [846], Rabbi [4461], thou [4771] art [1488] the Son [5207] of God [2316]; thou [4771] art [1488] the King [935] of Israel [2474].
50 Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Because [3754] I said [2036] unto thee [4671], I saw [1492] thee [4571] under [5270] the fig tree [4808], believest thou [4100]? thou shalt see [3700] greater things [3187] than these [5130].
51 And [2532] he saith [3004] unto him [846], Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto you [5213], Hereafter [737] [575] ye shall see [3700] heaven [3772] open [455], and [2532] the angels [32] of God [2316] ascending [305] and [2532] descending [2597] upon [1909] the Son [5207] of man [444].
23 For [1063] I am in a strait [4912] betwixt [1537] two [1417], having [2192] a desire [1939] to [1519] depart [360], and [2532] to be [1511] with [4862] Christ [5547]; which is far [4183] [3123] better [2908]:
8 But [1161] be [2564] not [3361] ye [5210] called [2564] Rabbi [4461]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Master [2519], even Christ [5547]; and [1161] all [3956] ye [5210] are [2075] brethren [80].
28 Come [1205] unto [4314] me [3165], all [3956] ye that labour [2872] and [2532] are heavy laden [5412], and I [2504] will give [373] you [5209] rest [373].
29 Take [142] my [3450] yoke [2218] upon [1909] you [5209], and [2532] learn [3129] of [575] me [1700]; for [3754] I am [1510] meek [4235] and [2532] lowly [5011] in heart [2588]: and [2532] ye shall find [2147] rest [372] unto your [5216] souls [5590].
30 For [1063] my [3450] yoke [2218] is easy [5543], and [2532] my [3450] burden [5413] is [2076] light [1645].
48 Nathanael [3482] saith [3004] unto him [846], Whence [4159] knowest thou [1097] me [3165]? Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Before [4253] that Philip [5376] called [5455] thee [4571], when thou wast [5607] under [5259] the fig tree [4808], I saw [1492] thee [4571].
7 And [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Go [5217], wash [3538] in [1519] the pool [2861] of Siloam [4611], (which [3739] is by interpretation [2059], Sent [649] He went his way [565] therefore [3767], and [2532] washed [3538], and [2532] came [2064] seeing [991].
43 The day following [1887] Jesus [2424] would [2309] go forth [1831] into [1519] Galilee [1056], and [2532] findeth [2147] Philip [5376], and [2532] saith [3004] unto him [846], Follow [190] me [3427].
42 And [2532] he brought [71] him [846] to [4314] Jesus [2424]. And [1161] when Jesus [2424] beheld [1689] him [846], he said [2036], Thou [4771] art [1488] Simon [4613] the son [5207] of Jona [2495]: thou [4771] shalt be called [2564] Cephas [2786], which [3739] is by interpretation [2059], A stone [4074].
5 And [2532] Simon [4613] answering [611] said [2036] unto him [846], Master [1988], we have toiled [2872] all [3650] [1223] the night [3571], and have taken [2983] nothing [3762]: nevertheless [1161] at [1909] thy [4675] word [4487] I will let down [5465] the net [1350].
10 Neither [3366] be ye called [2564] masters [2519]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Master [2519], even Christ [5547].
8 But [1161] be [2564] not [3361] ye [5210] called [2564] Rabbi [4461]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Master [2519], even Christ [5547]; and [1161] all [3956] ye [5210] are [2075] brethren [80].
49 And [2532] he said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], How [5101] is it that [3754] ye sought [2212] me [3165]? wist ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] I [3165] must [1163] be [1511] about [1722] my [3450] Father's business [3962]?
15 And [2532] saying [3004], [3754] The time [2540] is fulfilled [4137], and [2532] the kingdom [932] of God [2316] is at hand [1448]: repent ye [3340], and [2532] believe [4100] [1722] the gospel [2098].
15 And [1161] Jesus [2424] answering [611] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Suffer [863] it to be so now [737]: for [1063] thus [3779] it becometh [4241] [2076] us [2254] to fulfil [4137] all [3956] righteousness [1343]. Then [5119] he suffered [863] him [846].