King James Bible
"And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water."
John the Baptist acknowledges he did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah through natural means, despite being Jesus' relative. This emphasizes that John's testimony comes from divine revelation rather than human knowledge, lending greater authority to his witness. John reveals the divine purpose behind his ministry: to prepare the way for the Messiah's public revelation to God's people. The word 'manifest' suggests making visible what was previously hidden, pointing to Jesus' transition from obscurity to public ministry. Water baptism served as the God-ordained means through which the Messiah would be identified and presented to Israel. John's baptismal ministry was not merely about repentance but functioned as the stage upon which Jesus would be divinely authenticated through the Spirit's descent.