John 1:23 Meaning and Explanation
“He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →John answers in the words of Isaiah: he is a voice in the wilderness, calling for the way of the Lord to be made straight.
What Does John 1:23 Mean?
John finally answers, and he answers with Isaiah 40, the prophecy of a herald announcing the coming of the Lord to his people. He claims no office and no name, only a voice. The message, not the messenger, is everything: make straight the way of the Lord, as roads were leveled and straightened before a visiting king.
A voice exists to carry a word and then fade; John found his whole identity in being heard and then forgotten, so that the Lord could be met. And the road he calls straight runs through hearts. Repentance clears the debris, pride, hidden sin, distraction, so that the King may come in. Preparing the way of the Lord is still the soul's daily roadwork.
John 1:23 in the Original Language
phone (φωνή), 'voice' -- a sound or cry; the voice exists to carry the word.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 1:23
What does John 1:23 mean?
John answers in the words of Isaiah: he is a voice in the wilderness, calling for the way of the Lord to be made straight.