He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice 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.
- BSB John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask 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 have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
- John 1:7–8The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
- Matt 11:11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- Matt 3:5–7Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
- Luke 1:76–77And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
- Mark 6:20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
- John 6:66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- Luke 1:15–17For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
- Matt 11:7–9And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
- Matt 21:26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
- Matt 13:20–21But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
- Luke 7:28For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
- Ezek 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
- Gal 4:15–16Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have 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
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