John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.
Parallel translations
- WEB He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
- KJV He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
- NKJV He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
- NASB He was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
- NLT John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John was a burning and shining lamp, and they enjoyed his light for a time. Their interest in John was real but short-lived.
Overview
Jesus honors John as a bright lamp who illumined the way to the Messiah. Yet the people's enthusiasm was temporary and superficial, failing to lead them to Christ. The image of a lamp reminds us that John pointed to the greater Light, Jesus himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Pet 1:19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- John 1:7–8He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
- Matt 11:11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- Matt 3:5–7People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
- Luke 1:76–77And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
- Mark 6:20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
- John 6:66From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
- Luke 1:15–17for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- Matt 11:7–9As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
- Matt 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
- Matt 13:20–21The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
- Luke 7:28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
- Ezek 33:31So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
- Gal 4:15–16What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 5:35 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.