John the Baptist

American  

noun

1. (in the Bible) the forerunner and baptizer of Jesus.

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John the Baptist British  

noun

1. New Testament the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth and the cousin and forerunner of Jesus, whom he baptized. He was beheaded by Herod (Matthew 14:1–2). Feast day: June 24

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John the Baptist Cultural  

1. A hermit and preacher among the Jews (see also Jews) of the time of Jesus and a relative of Jesus. According to the Gospels, John declared, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” Christians (see also Christian) interpret this to mean that John was sent to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. John was known as “the Baptist” because he called on his followers to go through a ceremony of baptism to demonstrate their repentance for their sins; Jesus began his public life by submitting himself to John's baptism. John was eventually imprisoned by Herod Antipas, the ruler of the province of Galilee, for objecting to Herod's illicit marriage. At a banquet, Herod rashly promised his stepdaughter, Salome, anything she asked; she asked for the head of John on a platter. Herod, not wanting to go back on his promise, had John beheaded.

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Example Sentences

He painted The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, which still hangs in St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, and is the only painting Caravaggio ever signed.

From Slate • Jun. 6, 2026

On the four pendentives supporting the dome, the artist has depicted four patron saints of Parma: John the Baptist, Hilary, Bernard of the Uberti, and probably Thomas the Apostle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

A new episode debuts weekly with the first four providing critical looks at Joan of Arc, John the Baptist, Sebastian and Maximilian Kolbe.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2024

"I'm a great believer in the powers of conversion, but I think even this one would have strained the generosity of spirit of John the Baptist, quite honestly," he told LBC.

From BBC • May 8, 2024

There’s a sculpture by Auguste Rodin—the head of John the Baptist on a platter—that Theo thinks looks just like Vincent, even though Rodin has never met him.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman