30
Heἐκεῖνονmustδεῖincrease,αὐξάνεινbutδὲIἐμὲmust decrease.”ἐλαττοῦσθαι
John 3:30
Study it in the app“He must increase, but I must decrease.””
With the Greek beneath
John 3:30, word by word
- mustδεῖdei
must
Something that has to be done.
Where else “dei” appears- increaseαὐξάνεινauxanein
grow
To become larger or stronger over time, like a plant or a child.
Where else “auxanein” appears- must decreaseἐλαττοῦσθαιelattousthai
decrease
To become less and less.
Where else “elattousthai” appears
The context
29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.
30 · This verse (above)
31The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
To study John 3 in a group
1. What it says
What does Jesus answer Nicodemus when he visits at night and says God is with him? (vv. 1-8)
2. What it means
Verse 16 says God loved the world and gave his Son. What does the text say God wants for the world? (vv. 16-17)
3. How I live it
Jesus speaks of those who come to the light and those who prefer darkness (vv. 19-21). What helps you live with more clarity and truth?