John · Chapter 3

John 3:30 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.

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Read in chapter context · John 3

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

KJV · King James Version

"He1565 must1163 increase837, but1161 I1691 must decrease1642."

In context

John 3:30 in John 3

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is John 3:30 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of John 3. Read the full chapter →

v.28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’
v.29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.
v.30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
v.31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
v.32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.

Book background

About the Book of John

Testament: New Testament
Genre: Gospel
Author: John the apostle, son of Zebedee
Date written: c. 85–95 AD
Audience: A mixed audience facing both Jewish and proto-gnostic challenges
Chapters: 21

John's Gospel is structured around seven "signs" (miracles) and seven "I am" statements, framing Jesus as God incarnate — "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (1:14). It contains the most famous verse in the Bible (3:16), the High Priestly Prayer (17), and the most explicit declarations of Jesus' deity.

Setting: The latest Gospel; written so that readers "may believe" (20:31).

Key themes: life · light · belief · love · glory

Read John from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise John 3:30

John 3:30 contains 7 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

He must increase

HMI
2

but I must decrease.

BIMD

Frequently asked

FAQ about John 3:30

What does John 3:30 say?

John 3:30 reads: "He must increase, but I must decrease." — from the New Testament, John (Gospel). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is John 3:30 in?

John 3:30 is in the book of John, traditionally attributed to John the apostle, son of Zebedee and written around c. 85–95 AD. John is gospel in the New Testament, originally addressed to A mixed audience facing both Jewish and proto-gnostic challenges. Best known for John 3:16 and the "I am" statements.

What is the difference between John 3:30 in WEB and KJV?

John 3:30 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "He must increase, but I must decrease.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "He1565 must1163 increase837, but1161 I1691 must decrease1642.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is John 3:30?

John 3:30 is 7 words in the WEB translation (38 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 3 seconds.

How can I memorise John 3:30?

To memorise John 3:30, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does John 3:30 matter in John?

How can I apply John 3:30 today?

Many readers use John 3:30 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download John 3:30 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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