John 1:27 Meaning and Explanation
“He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →John declares himself unworthy even to loosen the sandal strap of the one coming after him.
What Does John 1:27 Mean?
John repeats his herald's refrain, coming after me, preferred before me, and then stoops lower still. Untying the master's sandal strap was the duty of the lowliest servant of a household, a task so menial that a disciple was not expected to perform it for his teacher. John claims to be unworthy even of that.
This from the man Jesus would call the greatest born of women. The closer John stood to Christ, the lower his estimate of himself sank, and the gladder he became. True reverence has exactly this shape: not self-loathing but self-forgetting, bowed before a worth so great that the humblest service becomes an honor.
John 1:27 in the Original Language
himas (ἱμάς), 'latchet' -- the leather strap that bound a sandal to the foot.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 1:27
What does John 1:27 mean?
John declares himself unworthy even to loosen the sandal strap of the one coming after him.