What Does John 1:21 Mean in the King James?
And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek word for “prophet” centers on speaking, and John’s repeated “I am not” clears away the offered titles before he names the voice he carries.
THE MEANING
The labels people offer you do not become your nature just because they are familiar. A truthful refusal can clear an imposed identity so the work and voice that are actually yours can be seen. Identity is uncovered, not manufactured.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You must accept the role others assign you before your life can carry meaning.
THE ROOT
προφήτης
prophētēs
GROWS FROM
φη-
φη- (phē-) is the speaking stem: “say” or “speak.”
προφήτης (prophētēs, “prophet”) is built around the speaking stem φη- (phē-, “say” or “speak”), with προ- (pro-, “before” or “on behalf of”). Its center is a speaking role, beyond prediction alone; John refuses the specific title being offered.
ALSO GROWS
phēmi: To say, speak, or declare.
φημί
This verb supplies the speech-bearing core of προφήτης, showing that the title centers on a voice.
phēmē: A saying, report, or rumor.
φήμη
A report is speech carried outward, preserving the same spoken root in another form.
ephē: He or she said.
ἔφη
This form makes the root audible as the act of speaking.
ἠρώτησαν
ērōtēsan
GROWS FROM
ἐρωτ-
The ἐρωτ- stem (erōt-) means “ask” or “inquire.”
“asked” in this verse is ērōtēsan. The verse presses through repeated inquiry: “What then?” and “Art thou…?” The English keeps the questions but hides the shared word family behind asking.
ALSO GROWS
erōtaō: To ask or inquire.
ἐρωτάω
This is the verb underlying “they asked,” naming the act that begins the exchange.
erōtēma: A question or inquiry.
ἐρώτημα
It names the question as an object of inquiry, extending the same root into the thing being asked.
THE PATTERN
A witness becomes clearer when an imposed identity is refused and the work it obscures is named.
Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.THE THREAD
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;Luke uses the same Greek noun, προφήτης (prophētēs, “prophet”), for John. The connection distinguishes refusing the particular identity named in this question from denying the speaking nature that can still belong to him.
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