John 1:23

John 1:23

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

a. NLT: John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’”

b. NIV: John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”

c. YLT: He said, 'I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.'

d. Amplified Bible Classic: He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness [the voice of one shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord [level, straighten out, the path of the Lord], as the prophet Isaiah said.

e. Worrell Translation: He said, “Iam a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,” as said Isaiah the prophet.

f. Wuest Translation: As for myself, I am a voice of One crying out in the uninhabited region, Make straight the Lord’s road, even as Isaiah the prophet said.

1. “He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord…”

a. He said [Strong: 5346 phemi fay-mee' properly, the same as the base of 5457 and 5316; to show or make known one's thoughts, i.e. speak or say:--affirm, say.]

b. I [am] [Strong: 1473 ego eg-o' a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me.]

c. the voice [Strong: 5456 phone fo-nay' probably akin to 5316 through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language:--noise, sound, voice.]

d. [of one] crying [Strong: 994 boao bo-ah'-o apparently a prolonged form of a primary verb; to halloo, i.e. shout (for help or in a tumultuous way):--cry.]

e. in [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

f. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

g. wilderness [Strong: 2048 eremos er'-ay-mos of uncertain affinity; lonesome, i.e. (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, 5561 being implied):--desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness.]

1). The prophet Malachi foretold that the forerunner of the Messiah would prepare the way of the Messiah.

a). Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

2). It is clear here that John knew that he himself was the forerunner to the Messiah.  

a). Isaiah 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

3). It is not known at what age John received the revelation that he was the forerunner to the Messiah, but as this Scripture reveals, he did know. I am persuaded that at his first realization of self awareness there was an inkling of a divine plan for his life. I am reminded of the circumstances concerning Mary’s visit to Elisabeth immediately after the angel Gabriel informed Mary she would be the mother of the Messiah. The baby John leaped for joy in Elisabeth’s womb at hearing the voice of Mary.

 a). Luke 1:39-45 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

1:40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

4). John’s ministry was filled with words from Isaiah.

a). Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

b). Isaiah 59:5 They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

c). Matthew 3:10   And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

d). Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

e). Matthew 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

f). Isaiah 21:10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

2. “…Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”

a. Make straight [Strong: 2116 euthuno yoo-thoo'-no from 2117; to straighten (level); technically, to steer:--governor, make straight.]

b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. way [Strong: 3598 hodos hod-os' apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means:--journey, (high-)way.]

d. [of the] Lord [Strong: 2962 kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

e. as [Strong: 2531 kathos kath-oce' from 2596 and 5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.]

f. said [Strong: 2036  epo ep'-o a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from 2046, 4483, and 5346); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell.]

g. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

h. prophet [Strong: 4396 prophetes prof-ay'-tace from a compound of 4253 and 5346; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:--prophet.]

i. Esaias [Strong: 2268 Hesaias hay-sah-ee'-as of Hebrew origin (3470); Hesaias (i.e. Jeshajah), an Israelite:--Esaias.]