John 1:23

1:23 John ¹  said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight ²  the way for the Lord,’ ³  as Isaiah the prophet said.”

John 12:38

12:38 so that the word ⁴  of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled. He said, ⁵  “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord ⁶  been revealed?” ⁷ 

¹ tn Grk “He”; the referent (John the Baptist) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² sn This call to “make straight” is probably an allusion to preparation through repentance.

³ sn A quotation from Isa 40:3.

⁴ tn Or “message.”

⁵ tn Grk “who said.”

⁶ tn “The arm of the Lord” is an idiom for “God’s great power” (as exemplified through Jesus’ miraculous signs). This response of unbelief is interpreted by the author as a fulfillment of the prophetic words of Isaiah (Isa 53:1). The phrase ὁ βραχίων κυρίου (Jo braciwn kuriou) is a figurative reference to God’s activity and power which has been revealed in the sign-miracles which Jesus has performed (compare the previous verse).

⁷ sn A quotation from Isa 53:1.