• John 3:29
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 29 ὁ The (one) ἔχων having τὴν the νύμφην bride νυμφίος bridegroom ἐστίν· is; ὁ the δὲ but φίλος friend τοῦ of the νυμφίου, bridegroom, ὁ the (one) ἑστηκὼς having stood καὶ and ἀκούων hearing αὐτοῦ, of him, χαρᾷ to joy χαίρει he is rejoicing διὰ through τὴν the φωνὴν voice τοῦ of the νυμφίου. bridegroom. αὕτη This οὖν therefore ἡ the χαρὰ joy ἡ the ἐμὴ mine πεπλήρωται. has been fulfilled.

  • John 3:29
    The Bible in Living English

    • 29 The one who has the bride is bridegroom; but the bridegroom’s friend who stands and hears him is right joyous over the bridegroom’s voice; so this joy is mine in full measure.

  • John 3:29
    American Standard Version

    • 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.

  • John 3:29
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 29 He that hath the bride is bridegroom; But the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth by and hearkeneth unto him greatly rejoiceth by reason of the voice of the bridegroom. This my joy therefore is fulfilled.

  • John 3:29
    King James Version

    • 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

  • John Study Notes—Chapter 3
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 3:29

      the friend of the bridegroom: In Bible times, a close acquaintance of the bridegroom acted as his legal representative and played a key role in making arrangements for the marriage. He was viewed as the one who brought the bride and bridegroom together. On the wedding day, the bridal procession would arrive at either the house of the bridegroom or that of his father, where the marriage feast would be held. During this feast, the friend of the bridegroom would be happy when he heard the voice of the bridegroom as he talked with his bride, since the friend would feel that he had successfully done his duty. John the Baptist likened himself to “the friend of the bridegroom.” In this case, Jesus was the bridegroom and the disciples as a class made up his symbolic bride. Preparing the way for the Messiah, John the Baptist introduced the first members of “the bride” to Jesus Christ. (Joh 1:29, 35; 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:22-27; Re 21:2, 9) “The friend of the bridegroom” accomplished his objective by making successful introductions; he was then no longer a principal figure. Likewise, John said of himself in relation to Jesus: “That one must keep on increasing, but I must keep on decreasing.”​—Joh 3:30.