Matthew 3:16-17 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (; ; ; ; )

Jos 15:61Jud 1:16Mr 1:2Lu 3:2Joh 1:6

2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (; ; ; ; )

Da 2:44Mt 4:17Mt 6:10Mt 10:7Mr 1:15

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” (; ; ) 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (; ; ; ; )

Le 11:221Sa 14:262Ki 1:8Zec 13:4Heb 11:37

5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. () 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )

Ps 140:3Mt 12:34Mt 22:23Mt 23:13Mt 23:15Mt 23:33Ro 5:9Eph 5:6Col 3:61Th 1:10

8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. () 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (; ) 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (; ; ; ; )

Mt 7:19Lu 13:7Lu 13:9Joh 15:2Joh 15:6

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )

Isa 4:4Mal 3:2Joh 1:15Joh 1:26Joh 1:27Joh 1:33Joh 3:30Ac 1:5Ac 2:3Ac 11:16Ac 13:24Ac 13:25Ac 19:4

12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (; ; ; ; )

Isa 30:24Mal 4:1Mt 13:30Mr 9:43Mr 9:48

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (; ; ; )

Mt 2:22Mr 1:9Lu 3:21Joh 1:32

14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” () 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; (; ; ; ; )

Lu 4:18Lu 4:21Joh 1:32Ac 7:56Ac 10:38

17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )

Ps 2:7Isa 42:1Mt 17:5Joh 12:28Eph 1:6Col 1:132Pe 1:171Jo 5:9

New International Version

John the Baptist prepares the way

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” ’ () 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt round his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The axe has been laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 ‘I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’

The baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ 15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’

King James Version

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

New International Reader’s Version

John the Baptist prepares the way

1 In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the Desert of Judea. 2 He said, ‘Turn away from your sins! The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 3 John is the one Isaiah the prophet had spoken about. He had said, ‘A messenger is calling out in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.” ’ () 4 John’s clothes were made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea. They also came from the whole area around the River Jordan. 6 When they confessed their sins, John baptised them in the Jordan. 7 John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising. He said to them, ‘You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger? 8 Live in a way that shows you have turned away from your sins. 9 Don’t think you can say to yourselves, “Abraham is our father.” I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones. 10 The axe is ready to cut the roots of the trees. All the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire. 11 ‘I baptise you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, someone is coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His pitchfork is in his hand to clear the straw from his threshing-floor. He will gather his wheat into the storeroom. But he will burn the husks with fire that can’t be put out.’

Jesus is baptised

13 Jesus came from Galilee to the River Jordan. He wanted to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to stop him. So he told Jesus, ‘I need to be baptised by you. So why do you come to me?’ 15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this. It carries out God’s holy plan.’ Then John agreed. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. 17 A voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.’