John 1:31

I did not recognize ¹  him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” ² 

I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

"I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water."

I didn’t know he was the one, but I have been baptizing with water in order to point him out to Israel."

I knew nothing about who he was--only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God."

I myself had no knowledge of him, but I came giving baptism with water so that he might be seen openly by Israel.

I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel."

"I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."

I did not recognize ¹  him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” ² 

¹ tn Or “know.”

² sn John the Baptist, who has been so reluctant to elaborate his own role, now more than willingly gives his testimony about Jesus. For the author, the emphasis is totally on John the Baptist as a witness to Jesus. No attention is given to the Baptist’s call to national repentance and very little to his baptizing. Everything is focused on what he has to say about Jesus: so that he could be revealed to Israel.