and spoke the benediction. The Baptist represents himself as standing in the same relation to Jesus.
Rejoiceth greatly (yapa yaiper). Lit., rejoiceth with joy. A Hebrew idiom. See on Luke xxii. 15, and compare Acts xxii. 14; Jas. v.17. Only here in John’s writings.
This my joy (airy 7 yapa 4 éuy). A very emphatic ex- pression : this, the joy which is mine. The change of style in the following verses seems to indicate that the words of the Baptist break off at this point, and are taken up and com- mented upon by the Evangelist.
31. He that cometh (6 épyduevos). The present participle. The coming regarded as still in process of manifestation. Com- pare vi. 33.
From above (dvwJev). See on iii. 2. Above (éravw). Supreme.
Of the earth (é« ris yijs). Lit., out of the earth; of earthly origin.
Is earthly. The same phrase, owt of the earth, is repeated, signifying of earthly nature. On the characteristic phrase eivat éx, to be of, see on i. 46.
Speaketh of the earth. Out of the earth. His words have an earthly source. On dare?, speaketh, see on Matt. xxviii. 18.
32. Receiveth (AauwBdver). Once only John uses déyouas for receive, of the Galilwans receiving Christ (iv. 45). The distinction between the two is not sharply maintained, but déyouar commonly adds to the idea of taking, that of weleom- ing. Thus Demosthenes says that the Theban elders did not receive (édé€avro) i.e., with a welcome pleasure, the money which was offered them, nor did they take it (¢\aBov). Aau- Save also includes the retaining of what is taken. Hence of