Parallel Verses

An Understandable Version

He [i.e., Jesus] must increase [in importance and influence], while I must decrease."

New American Standard Bible

He must increase, but I must decrease.

King James Version

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Holman Bible

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

International Standard Version

He must become more important, but I must become less important."

A Conservative Version

It is necessary for that man to increase, but me to decrease.

American Standard Version

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Amplified

He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.

Anderson New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Bible in Basic English

He has to become greater while I become less.

Common New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Daniel Mace New Testament

he must advance,

Darby Translation

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Godbey New Testament

It behooveth Him to increase, and me to decrease.

Goodspeed New Testament

He must grow greater and greater, but I less and less."

John Wesley New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all:

Julia Smith Translation

He must increase, and I must be diminished.

King James 2000

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Lexham Expanded Bible

It is necessary for that one to increase, but [for] me to decrease."

Modern King James verseion

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

He must increase: and I must decrease.

Moffatt New Testament

He must wax, I must wane."

Montgomery New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease.

NET Bible

He must become more important while I become less important."

New Heart English Bible

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Noyes New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Sawyer New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease.

The Emphasized Bible

That One, it behoveth to increase, - but, me, to decrease.

Thomas Haweis New Testament

He must grow great, but I diminutive.

Twentieth Century New Testament

He must become greater, and I less."

Webster

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Weymouth New Testament

He must grow greater, but I must grow less.

Williams New Testament

He must grow greater and greater, but I less and less."

World English Bible

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Worrell New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Worsley New Testament

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Youngs Literal Translation

'Him it behoveth to increase, and me to become less;

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
He
ἐκεῖνος 
Ekeinos 
that, those, he, the same, they,
Usage: 148

δεῖ 
Dei 
Usage: 72

αὐξάνω 
Auxano 
Usage: 17

but
δέ 
De 
but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr
Usage: 2184

I
ἐμέ 
Eme 
me, I, my, myself
Usage: 26

References

Easton

Images John 3:30

Prayers for John 3:30

Context Readings

Additional Testimony By John The Baptist About Jesus

29 The one who has the bride is the groom; but the best man, who stands up with him and listens to him [take his vows], is very happy when he hears him speak. So, [now] my joy is complete [i.e. over hearing about Jesus' ministry]. 30 He [i.e., Jesus] must increase [in importance and influence], while I must decrease." 31 The One who comes from above [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]; but the one who is out of the earth [i.e., of human origin] is [merely] an earthly [being] and he speaks in earthly [ways]. [But] the One who comes from heaven [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others].


Cross References

Matthew 13:31-33

Jesus told them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is similar to a seed from the mustard tree which a man took and planted in his field.

Acts 13:36-37

For David died and was buried with his forefathers and [his body] decayed after he had served his generation according to the purpose of God.

1 Corinthians 3:5

After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? They are [only] servants through whom you believed [in Christ], with each one doing what the Lord gave him to do.

2 Corinthians 3:7-11

But if the ministry [of the law] that brings [spiritual] death, being carved in letters on stones, came with [such] splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its radiance [See Ex. 34:29-35], (even though such radiance [eventually] faded away),

Colossians 1:18

And He is the head of the [spiritual] body, the church. He is [its] source, the firstborn One from the dead [i.e., the first one to return to life, never to die again], so that He could rank first [in importance] over all things.

Hebrews 3:2-6

He was faithful to God who appointed Him, just as Moses was [also] faithful in [serving] God's household [i.e., the Israelites].

Revelation 11:15

Then the seventh angel sounded its trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord [i.e., God] and of His Christ, and He will rule forever and ever."

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain