John 1:20

20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

John 1:20 in Other Translations

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

20 He didn't evade the question. He told the plain truth: "I am not the Messiah."

20 And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ.

20 John didn't refuse to answer. He told them clearly, "I'm not the Messiah."

20 He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: "I am not the Messiah."

20 He did not try to hide the truth. He spoke to them openly. He said, "I am not the Christ."

John 1:20 Meaning and Commentary

John 1:20

And he confessed, and denied not
He freely, and without any reserve, declared, and in the plainest and strongest terms professed to the messengers before all the people, that he was not the Messiah; nor did he retract his confession, or draw in his words again, or drop any thing that looked doubtful or suspicious; but confessed, I am not the Christ:
he stood to it, and insisted on it, that he was not that illustrious person; nor had they any reason to entertain such an opinion of him; nor would he have them do so; they might assure themselves he was not Christ.

John 1:20 In-Context

18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.

20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

Cross References

• 1. John 3:28; Luke 3:15,16