Matthew 3 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Preaching of John the Baptist

3 Now (A)in those days (B)John the Baptist *[a]came, [b]preaching in the (C)wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 (D)Repent, for (E)the kingdom of heaven [c]is at hand.” 3 For this is the (F)one referred to [d]by Isaiah the prophet when he said,

(G)The voice of one [e]calling [f]out in the wilderness,
(H)Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

4 Now John himself had [g](I)a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was (J)locusts and wild honey. 5 At that time Jerusalem (K)was going out to him, and all Judea and all (L)the region around the Jordan; 6 and they were being (M)baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the (N)Pharisees and (O)Sadducees coming for [h]baptism, he said to them, “You [i](P)offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from (Q)the wrath to come? 8 (R)Therefore produce fruit (S)consistent with repentance; 9 and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘(T)We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. 10 And the (U)axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, (V)every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “As for me, (W)I baptize you [j]with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; (X)He will baptize you [k]with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His (Y)winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will (Z)gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the (AA)chaff with (AB)unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 (AC)Then Jesus *arrived (AD)from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us (AE)to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *allowed Him. 16 After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and [l](AF)he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and [m]settling on Him, 17 and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “(AG)This is [n]My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 3:1 Or arrived; or appeared
  2. Matthew 3:1 Or proclaiming as a herald
  3. Matthew 3:2 Lit has come near
  4. Matthew 3:3 Or through
  5. Matthew 3:3 Or shouting
  6. Matthew 3:3 Or out, Prepare in the wilderness the way
  7. Matthew 3:4 Lit his garment
  8. Matthew 3:7 Later mss his baptism
  9. Matthew 3:7 Or brood
  10. Matthew 3:11 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  11. Matthew 3:11 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  12. Matthew 3:16 Or He
  13. Matthew 3:16 Lit coming upon Him
  14. Matthew 3:17 Or My Son, the Beloved

Cross references

  1. Matthew 3:1 : Matt 3:1-12: Mark 1:3-8; Luke 3:2-17; John 1:6-8, 19-28
  2. Matthew 3:1 : Matt 11:11-14; 16:14
  3. Matthew 3:1 : Josh 15:61; Judg 1:16
  4. Matthew 3:2 : Matt 4:17
  5. Matthew 3:2 : Dan 2:44; Matt 4:17, 23; 6:10; 10:7; Mark 1:15; Luke 10:9f; 11:20; 21:31
  6. Matthew 3:3 : Luke 1:17, 76
  7. Matthew 3:3 : Is 40:3
  8. Matthew 3:3 : John 1:23
  9. Matthew 3:4 : 2 Kin 1:8; Zech 13:4; Matt 11:8; Mark 1:6
  10. Matthew 3:4 : Lev 11:22
  11. Matthew 3:5 : Mark 1:5
  12. Matthew 3:5 : Luke 3:3
  13. Matthew 3:6 : Matt 3:11, 13-16; Mark 1:5; John 1:25, 26; 3:23; Acts 1:5; 2:38-41; 10:37
  14. Matthew 3:7 : Matt 16:1ff; 23:13, 15
  15. Matthew 3:7 : Matt 22:23; Acts 4:1; 5:17; 23:6ff
  16. Matthew 3:7 : Matt 12:34; 23:33
  17. Matthew 3:7 : 1 Thess 1:10
  18. Matthew 3:8 : Luke 3:8; Eph 5:8, 9
  19. Matthew 3:8 : Acts 26:20
  20. Matthew 3:9 : Luke 3:8; 16:24; John 8:33, 39, 53; Acts 13:26; Rom 4:1; 9:7, 8; Gal 3:29
  21. Matthew 3:10 : Luke 3:9
  22. Matthew 3:10 : Ps 92:12-14; Matt 7:19; John 15:2
  23. Matthew 3:11 : Mark 1:4, 8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26f; Acts 1:5; 8:36, 38; 11:16
  24. Matthew 3:11 : John 1:33; Acts 2:3, 4; Titus 3:5
  25. Matthew 3:12 : Is 30:24; 41:16; Jer 15:7; 51:2; Luke 3:17
  26. Matthew 3:12 : Matt 13:30
  27. Matthew 3:12 : Ps 1:4
  28. Matthew 3:12 : Is 66:24; Jer 7:20; Matt 13:41, 42; Mark 9:43, 48
  29. Matthew 3:13 : Matt 3:13-17: Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:31-34
  30. Matthew 3:13 : Matt 2:22
  31. Matthew 3:15 : Ps 40:7, 8; John 4:34; 8:29
  32. Matthew 3:16 : Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32; Acts 7:56
  33. Matthew 3:17 : Ps 2:7; Is 42:1; Matt 12:18; 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; John 12:28

You Might Also Like:

Matthew 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, `Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,' 3 for this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, `A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straig...
Read More

Matthew 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 In those days John Baptist came, and preached in the desert of Judaea, [In those days came John Baptist, preaching in the desert of Judaea,] 2 and said, Do ye penance, for the kingdom of heavens shall approach.[a] 3 For this is he, of whom it is said by Esaias, the prophet, saying, A voice of a ...
Read More

Matthew 3 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

3 After some years had passed, John the Baptizer came and told God's word in the desert of Judea. 2 He said, `Stop doing wrong things and turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven is almost here.' 3 This is the man that Isaiah the prophet of God spoke about long ago. He said, `A man is calling in the ...
Read More

Matthew 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths strai...
Read More

Matthew 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

Nazarene means, “tender, green, or living branch.” Jesus is the living Branch, the branch of David that extends the reach of the tree of Israel eventually to foreigners and outsiders.3 Around the same time, a man called John[a] began to travel, preach, and ritually wash people through baptism in the...
Read More

Matthew 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

John’s Witness to Israel’s Leaders3 In those days, John the Immerser came proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” [a] 3 For he is the one Isaiah the prophet spoke about, saying,“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,‘Prepare the w...
Read More

Matthew 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent,[a] for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 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 ...
Read More

Matthew 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 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...
Read More

Matthew 3 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

3 And in those days, John the Baptist came and preached in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and said, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Isaiah, saying, “The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His p...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Preaching of John the Baptist3 In those days John the Baptist appeared. He was preaching in the Judaean wilderness. 2 ‘Repent!’ he was saying. ‘The kingdom of heaven is coming!’ 3 John, you see, is the person spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, when he said,The voice of someone shouting in the dese...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a] 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’[a] 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:“Prepare the...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a](A)3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

The baptism, preaching, and office of John the Baptist, and how Christ was baptized by him in the Jordan. 3 In those days John the Baptist came and preached in the wilderness of Judea, 2 saying, Repent: the kingdom of heaven is at hand! 3 This is he of whom it is spoken by the prophet Isaiah, who ...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way3 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[a]” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,“He is a voice shouting in th...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

John the Baptist Makes the Way Ready for Jesus (A)3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert in the country of Judea. 2 He said, “Be sorry for your sins and turn from them! The holy nation of heaven is near.” 3 The early preacher Isaiah spoke of this man. He said, “Listen! His v...
Read More

Matthew 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)3 In those days (B)John the Baptist came preaching (C)in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for (D)the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:(E)“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:(F)‘...
Read More