Matthew 21:25

Geneva Bible (1560)

The baptisme of Iohn, whence was it? From heauen, or of men? Then they reasoned among themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say vnto vs, Why did ye not then beleeue him?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τὸ βάπτισμα Ἰωάννου, πόθεν ἦν; ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; Οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο παρʼ ἑαυτοῖς, λέγοντες, Ἐὰν Εἴπωμεν, ἐξ οὐρανοῦ· ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν, Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;

Transliteration

The baptisma of Iōannou, from where was it? from ouranou, or from anthrōpōn? They de dielogizonto among themselves, legontes, If we eipōmen, from ouranou; he will erei to us, Dia why then not you episteusate him?

Grammar Details

• *baptisma*: nominative neuter singular - baptism
• *Iōannou*: genitive masculine singular - of John
• *ouranou*: genitive masculine singular - heaven
• *anthrōpōn*: genitive masculine plural - men/people
• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and
• *dielogizonto*: imperfect middle indicative, 3rd person plural - they reasoned/discussed
• *legontes*: present active participle, nominative masculine plural - saying
• *eipōmen*: aorist active subjunctive, 1st person plural - we may say
• *erei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - he will say
• *Dia*: preposition with accusative - because of/for
• *episteusate*: aorist active indicative, 2nd person plural - you believed

Word Meanings

• *baptisma*: baptism/immersion/washing
• *ouranou*: heaven/sky
• *anthrōpōn*: men/people/mankind
• *dielogizonto*: reasoned/discussed/deliberated
• *eipōmen*: say/tell/speak
• *erei*: will say/tell/speak
• *episteusate*: believed/trusted/had faith in

Referenced Verses

• 1 John 3:20 : 20 For if our heart condemne vs, God is greater then our heart, and knoweth all things.
• Matt 3:1-9 : 1 And in those dayes, Iohn the Baptist came and preached in the wildernes of Iudea, 2 And said, Repent: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand. 3 For this is he of whome it is spoken by the Prophet Esaias, saying, The voyce of him that crieth in the wildernes, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his pathes straight. 4 And this Iohn had his garment of camels heare, and a girdle of a skinne about his loynes: his meate was also locusts and wilde hony. 5 Then went out to him Ierusalem and all Iudea, and all the region rounde about Iordan. 6 And they were baptized of him in Iordan, confessing their sinnes. 7 Now when he sawe many of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces come to his baptisme, he said vnto them, O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the anger to come? 8 Bring foorth therefore fruite worthy amendement of life. 9 And thinke not to say with your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: for I say vnto you, that God is able euen of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham. 10 And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees: therfore euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe, & cast into ye fire. 11 In deede I baptize you with water to amendement of life, but he that commeth after me, is mightier then I, whose shoes I am not worthie to beare: hee will baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire. 12 Which hath his fanne in his hand, and wil make cleane his floore, and gather his wheate into his garner, but will burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire.
• Matt 11:7-9 : 7 And as they departed, Iesus beganne to speake vnto the multitude, of Iohn, What went ye out into the wildernes to see? A reede shaken with the winde? 8 But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that weare soft clothing, are in Kings houses. 9 But what went ye out to see? A Prophet? Yea, I say vnto you, and more then a Prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written, Beholde, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verely I say vnto you, among them which are begotten of women, arose there not a greater then Iohn Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is the least in the kingdome of heauen, is greater then he. 12 And from the time of Iohn Baptist hitherto, the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophetes and the Lawe prophecied vnto Iohn. 14 And if ye will receiue it, this is that Elias, which was to come. 15 He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.
• Matt 17:12-13 : 12 But I say vnto you that Elias is come alreadie, and they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they would: likewise shal also the Sonne of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples perceiued that he spake vnto them of Iohn Baptist.
• Mark 1:1-9 : 1 The beginning of the Gospel of Iesus Christ, the Sonne of God: 2 As it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse is, Prepare the way of the Lord: make his paths straight. 4 Iohn did baptize in the wildernesse, and preach the baptisme of amendement of life, for remission of sinnes. 5 And al ye countrey of Iudea, & they of Hierusalem went out vnto him, and were all baptized of him in the riuer Iordan, confessing their sinnes. 6 Nowe Iohn was clothed with camels heare, and with a girdle of a skinne about his loynes: and he did eate Locusts and wilde hony, 7 And preached, saying, A stronger then I commeth after me, whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to stoupe downe, and vnloose. 8 Trueth it is, I haue baptized you with water: but he will baptize you with the holy Ghost. 9 And it came to passe in those dayes, that Iesus came from Nazareth, a citie of Galile, and was baptized of Iohn in Iordan. 10 And assoone as he was come out of the water, Iohn saw the heauens clouen in twaine, and the holy Ghost descending vpo him like a doue. 11 Then there was a voyce from heauen, saying, Thou art my beloued Sonne, in whome I am well pleased.
• Mark 11:27-33 : 27 Then they came againe to Hierusalem: and as he walked in the Temple, there came to him ye hie Priestes, & the Scribes, & the Elders, 28 And said vnto him, By what authoritie doest thou these things? and who gaue thee this authoritie, that thou shouldest doe these things? 29 Then Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, I will also aske of you a certaine thing, & answere ye me, and I will tell you by what authoritie I do these things. 30 The baptisme of Iohn, was it from heauen, or of men? answere me. 31 And they thought with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him? 32 But if we say, Of men, we feare the people: for all men counted Iohn, that he was a Prophet in deede. 33 Then they answered, and saide vnto Iesus, We cannot tell; Iesus answered, and said vnto them, Neither will I tell you by what authoritie I doe these things.
• Luke 1:11-17 : 11 Then appeared vnto him an Angel of the Lorde standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias sawe him, he was troubled, and feare fell vpon him. 13 But the Angel saide vnto him, Feare not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wise Elisabet shall beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt call his name Iohn. 14 And thou shalt haue ioy and gladnes, and many shall reioyce at his birth. 15 For he shalbe great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drinke wine, nor strong drinke: and he shalbe filled with the holy Ghost, euen from his mothers wombe. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turne to their Lord God. 17 For he shall goe before him in the spirite and power of Elias, to turne the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
• Luke 1:67-80 : 67 Then his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised vp the horne of saluation vnto vs, in the house of his seruant Dauid, 70 As he spake by ye mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying, 71 That he would sende vs deliuerance fro our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate vs, 72 That he might shewe mercie towards our fathers, and remember his holy couenant, 73 And the othe which he sware to our father Abraham. 74 Which was, that he would graunt vnto vs, that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, should serue him without feare, 75 All the daies of our life, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him. 76 And thou, babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord, to prepare his waies, 77 And to giue knowledge of saluation vnto his people, by the remission of their sinnes, 78 Through ye tender mercy of our God, wherby the day spring from an hie hath visited vs, 79 To giue light to them that sit in darknes, and in the shadow of death, & to guide our feete into the way of peace. 80 And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the wildernesse, til the day came that he should shewe him selfe vnto Israel.
• Luke 3:2-9 : 2 ( When Annas and Caiaphas were the hie Priestes) the worde of God came vnto Iohn, the sonne of Zacharias in the wildernes. 3 And hee came into all the coastes about Iordan, preaching the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sinnes, 4 As it is written in the booke of the sayings of Esaias the Prophet, which saith, The voyce of him that crieth in the wildernes is, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his paths straight. 5 Euery valley shalbe filled, and euery mountaine and hill shall be brought lowe, and crooked things shalbe made straight, and the rough wayes shalbe made smoothe. 6 And all flesh shall see the saluation of God. 7 Then said he to the people that were come out to be baptized of him, O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring foorth therefore fruites worthy amendement of life, and beginne not to say with your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: for I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham. 9 Nowe also is the axe layed vnto the roote of the trees: therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite, shalbe hewen downe, and cast into the fire. 10 Then the people asked him, saying, What shall we doe then? 11 And he answered, and said vnto them, He that hath two coates, let him part with him that hath none: and hee that hath meate, let him doe likewise. 12 Then came there Publicanes also to bee baptized, and saide vnto him, Master, what shall we doe? 13 And hee saide vnto them, Require no more then that which is appointed vnto you. 14 The souldiers likewise demaunded of him, saying, And what shall we doe? And he saide vnto them, Doe violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages. 15 As the people waited, and all men mused in their heartes of Iohn, if he were not that Christ, 16 Iohn answered, and saide to them all, In deede I baptize you with water, but one stronger then I, commeth, whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to vnloose: hee will baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire. 17 Whose fanne is in his hande, and hee will make cleane his floore, and will gather the wheate into his garner, but the chaffe will hee burne vp with fire that neuer shalbe quenched. 18 Thus then exhorting with many other things, he preached vnto the people. 19 But when Herod the Tetrarch was rebuked of him, for Herodias his brother Philips wife, and for all the euils which Herod had done, 20 He added yet this aboue all, that he shut vp Iohn in prison.
• Luke 7:28-35 : 28 For I say vnto you, there is no greater Prophet then Iohn, among them that are begotten of women: neuerthelesse, hee that is the least in the kingdome of God, is greater then he. 29 Then all the people that heard, and the Publicanes iustified God, being baptized with the baptisme of Iohn. 30 But the Pharises and the expounders of the Law despised the counsell of God against themselues, and were not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord saide, Whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation? And what thing are they like vnto? 32 They are like vnto litle children sitting in the market place, and crying one to another, and saying, We haue piped vnto you, and ye haue not daunced: we haue mourned to you, and ye haue not wept. 33 For Iohn Baptist came, neither eating bread, nor drinking wine: and ye say, He hath the deuil. 34 The Sonne of man is come, and eateth and drinketh: and ye say, Beholde, a man which is a glutton, and a drinker of wine, a friend of Publicanes and sinners: 35 But wisdome is iustified of all her children.
• Luke 20:5 : 5 And they reasoned within themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then beleeued ye him not?
• John 1:6 : 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was Iohn.
• John 1:15 : 15 Iohn bare witnesse of him, and cryed, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that commeth after me, was before me: for he was better then I.
• John 1:25-34 : 25 And they asked him, and saide vnto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, neither Elias, nor that Prophet? 26 Iohn answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye knowe not. 27 He it is that commeth after me, which was before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthie to vnloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Iordan, where Iohn did baptize. 29 The next day Iohn, seeth Iesus coming vnto him, and saith, Beholde that Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinne of the world. 30 This is he of whom I saide, After me commeth a man, which was before me: for he was better then I. 31 And I knewe him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water. 32 So Iohn bare recorde, saying, I behelde that Spirit come downe from heauen, like a doue, and it abode vpon him, 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. 34 And I sawe, and bare record that this is that Sonne of God.
• John 3:18 : 18 Hee that beleeueth in him, is not condemned: but hee that beleeueth not, is condemned already, because he hath not beleeued in the Name of that onely begotten Sonne of God.
• John 3:26-36 : 26 And they came vnto Iohn, and saide vnto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Iorden, to whom thou barest witnesse, behold, he baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 Iohn answered, and saide, A man can receiue nothing, except it be giuen him fro heauen. 28 Yee your selues are my witnesses, that I sayde, I am not that Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride, is the bridegrome: but the friend of the bridegrome which standeth and heareth him, reioyceth greatly, because of the bridegromes voyce. This my ioy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 Hee that is come from an hie, is aboue all: he that is of the earth, is of the earth, and speaketh of the earth: hee that is come from heauen, is aboue all. 32 And what hee hath seene and heard, that he testifieth: but no ma receiueth his testimonie. 33 He that hath receiued his testimonie, hath sealed that God is true. 34 For hee whome God hath sent, speaketh the woordes of God: for God giueth him not the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loueth the Sonne, and hath giuen all things into his hande. 36 Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne, hath euerlasting life, and hee that obeyeth not the Sonne, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
• John 5:33-36 : 33 Ye sent vnto Iohn, and he bare witnesse vnto the trueth. 34 But I receiue not the record of man: neuerthelesse these things I say, that ye might be saued. 35 He was a burning, & a shining candle: and ye would for a season haue reioyced in his light. 36 But I haue greater witnesse then the witnesse of Iohn: for the workes which the Father hath giuen me to finish, the same workes that I doe, beare witnesse of me, that the Father sent me.
• John 5:44-47 : 44 How can ye beleeue, which receiue honour one of another, and seeke not the honour that commeth of God alone? 45 Doe not thinke that I will accuse you to my Father: there is one that accuseth you, euen Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye beleeued Moses, ye would haue beleeued me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye beleeue not his writings, how shal ye beleeue my wordes?
• John 10:25-26 : 25 Iesus answered them, I tolde you, and ye beleeue not: the workes that I doe in my Fathers Name, they beare witnes of me. 26 But ye beleeue not: for ye are not of my sheepe, as I sayd vnto you.
• John 12:37-43 : 37 And though he had done so many miracles before them, yet beleeued they not on him, 38 That the saying of Esaias the Prophete might be fulfilled, that he sayd, Lord, who beleeued our report? and to whome is the arme of the Lord reueiled? 39 Therefore could they not beleeue, because that Esaias saith againe, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardned their heart, that they shoulde not see with their eyes, nor vnderstand with their heart, and should be conuerted, and I should heale them. 41 These things sayd Esaias when he sawe his glory, and spake of him. 42 Neuertheles, euen among the chiefe rulers, many beleeued in him: but because of the Pharises they did not confesse him, least they should be cast out of the Synagogue. 43 For they loued the prayse of men, more then the prayse of God.