King James Bible
"Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?"
The Jewish delegation presses John the Baptist for a direct declaration of his identity after he has denied being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. Their question reveals growing frustration and the urgent need for clarity about this prominent religious figure drawing crowds in the wilderness. The questioners acknowledge their accountability to the religious authorities in Jerusalem who commissioned this investigation. This phrase highlights the official nature of their inquiry and the hierarchical religious structure demanding a formal report about John's ministry. Having exhausted their prepared categories, they now invite John to define himself in his own terms. This open-ended question sets the stage for John's self-identification as the voice crying in the wilderness, allowing him to explain his role on his own theological grounds.