And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrasing of their questions reveals the Jews' misguided expectations; they’re not asking if John is Elijah or a prophet, but if he is the promised Elijah and the Prophet (referring specifically to the Messiah prophesied by Moses), highlighting their focus on literal fulfillments rather than spiritual preparation. John's "No" is direct and humble, clarifying he isn't the Messiah they're looking for, despite embodying the spirit of Elijah as foretold.
And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After John the Baptist emphatically denies being the Messiah, the religious authorities press him, asking if he is Elijah, a figure they expected to return before the Messiah. When he denies this too, they then ask if he is "the Prophet," a person associated with Moses' prophecy, hinting at a misunderstanding of the true identity of this awaited figure. John's subsequent answer, which is not included here, clarifies his role not as these expected figures, but as a herald.
John the Baptist faces a barrage of questions about his identity. Why were they so focused on specific Old Testament figures, and what did John’s denial reveal?
The religious leaders of Jerusalem weren't just curious; they were looking for the Messiah's herald. They had specific expectations based on Scripture:
The Elias Expectation
They asked, 'Are you Elijah?' This stemmed from Malachi 4:5, which foretold Elijah’s return before the 'great and dreadful day of the Lord.' The Jews often understood this literally, imagining Elijah himself would physically reappear. John’s denial ('I am not') addresses this literal interpretation. He wasn't Elijah returned from the past.
The Prophet Expectation
Next, they asked, 'Are you the Prophet?' This referred to Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses promised, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me.' While this prophet was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, many Jews at the time misunderstood it, expecting another great prophet to precede the Messiah, perhaps even Jeremiah. John’s simple 'No' clarified he wasn't that specific, expected prophet either.
John’s denials are precise. He’s not claiming not to fulfill the role of Elijah (as Jesus later clarifies in Matthew 11:14), but he’s denying being the literal Elijah they envisioned. His denials clear the air, distinguishing himself from these powerful figures so people could focus on the One he was preparing the way for.
Ask a follow-up
The questions get shorter, the answers get shorter. What does this shift in communication tell us about the escalating tension and the escalating truth?
There's a subtle but significant shift in the dialogue. The initial question, 'What then?' expresses confusion and a desire for clarity. But as they press on with 'Art thou Elias?' and then 'Art thou the Prophet?', their questions become more direct, almost demanding.
Notice how John’s answers mirror this escalation:
This brevity isn't a sign of disrespect; it’s a sign of increasing urgency and focus. John knows who he is and who he isn't. His role is singular: to point to Jesus. The officials are trying to fit him into boxes they understand, but John’s mission transcends their preconceived notions. His progressively shorter answers signal his determination not to be mistaken for the main event, but to remain the forerunner, clearing the path for the Messiah.
Understand the original words
Ēlias · Greek Proper Noun
The Hebrew prophet who was taken to heaven without dying, promised to return before the day of the Lord to turn the hearts of the people back to God. In the context of the New Testament, he serves as a type of the forerunner to the Messiah.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
A specific figure foretold by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-18 whom God would raise up from among the Israelites, to whom the people must listen. By the first century, this was widely understood in Jewish expectation to refer to the Messiah or a unique eschatological prophet.
The questions posed to John the Baptist—'Are you Elijah?' and 'Are you the Prophet?'—reflect deeply held Jewish expectations tied to specific prophecies about the Messiah's imminent arrival and the identity of his forerunner.
c. 400 BC
Malachi's Prophecy
The last Old Testament prophet, Malachi, foretells the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord, and explicitly states that Elijah will return before the great day of the Lord.
c. 170-100 BC
2 Maccabees written
This text, considered canonical by some, references the belief that the prophet Elijah was taken alive and would return to usher in the Messianic era.
c. 6-4 BC
Birth of Jesus
The birth of Jesus, the Messiah, marks the beginning of the era of fulfillment for Old Testament prophecies, including those concerning a forerunner.
c. AD 27-28
John the Baptist begins ministry
John begins to preach and baptize in the wilderness of Judea, drawing large crowds and sparking questions about his identity.
c. AD 28— this verse
Sanhedrin questions John the Baptist
Jewish religious authorities in Jerusalem send priests and Levites to question John's identity and authority, as his ministry threatens their established order and they are eager to know if the Messiah has arrived.
This passage directly prophesies the coming of Elijah before the 'great and dreadful day of the Lord,' which the Jewish leaders were expecting, making their question to John about being Elijah a natural one.
Deuteronomy 18:15This Old Testament promise of a 'prophet like me' was a key expectation for the Jews, and their questioning of John points to their anticipation of the Messiah and his forerunner.
Matthew 11:14Jesus himself identifies John the Baptist as 'Elijah who is to come,' directly addressing the interpretation of John's role and clarifying how John fulfilled the prophecy, even as he denied being Elijah in the literal sense.
Isaiah 40:3John's own declaration immediately after these denials ('I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness') links him to this prophecy of preparing the way for the Lord, explaining his true mission.
ellicottJohn 1:21: "And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No."
(21) What then? —Not “What art thou then?” but expressing surprise at the answer, and passing on with impatience to the alternative, “Art thou Elias?” (Comp. on this and the following question, Deuteronomy 18:15 ; Deuteronomy 18:18 ; Isaiah 40 ff.; Malachi 4:5 ; 2 Maccabees 2:1-8 ; and Note on Matthew 16:14 ). The angel had announced that “he shall go before Him in the…
vincentJohn 1:21: "And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No."
What then? Art thou Elias?Better, as Rev., Elijah. Some authorities read, What then art thou? Elijah? Elijah, predicted in Malachi 4:5, as the forerunner of the day of the Lord.Art thou that prophet?Rev., "the prophet." According to the Greek order, the prophet art thou. See Deuteronomy 18:15, and compare Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37; John 1:46; John 6:14.NoObserve how the suc…
The phrasing of their questions reveals the Jews' misguided expectations; they’re not asking if John is Elijah or a prophet, but if he is the promised Elijah and the Prophet (referring specifically to the Messiah prophesied by Moses), highlighting their focus on literal fulfillments rather than spiritual preparation. John's "No" is direct and humble, clarifying he isn't the Messiah they're looking for, despite embodying the spirit of Elijah as foretold.
After John the Baptist emphatically denies being the Messiah, the religious authorities press him, asking if he is Elijah, a figure they expected to return before the Messiah. When he denies this too, they then ask if he is "the Prophet," a person associated with Moses' prophecy, hinting at a misunderstanding of the true identity of this awaited figure. John's subsequent answer, which is not included here, clarifies his role not as these expected figures, but as a herald.
After John the Baptist emphatically denies being the Messiah, the religious authorities press him, asking if he is Elijah, a figure they expected to return before the Messiah. When he denies this too, they then ask if he is "the Prophet," a person associated with Moses' prophecy, hinting at a misunderstanding of the true identity of this awaited figure. John's subsequent answer, which is not included here, clarifies his role not as these expected figures, but as a herald.
"And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”" — The phrasing of their questions reveals the Jews' misguided expectations; they’re not asking if John is Elijah or a prophet, but if he is the promised Elijah and the Prophet (referring specif…
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Last reviewed October 2026