Matthew 3:3 - Forerunner Commentary

Matthew 3:3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days ^aJohn the Baptist came preaching ^bin the wilderness of Judea,

2 and saying, “Repent, for ^athe kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
^a“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
^b‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”

4 Now ^aJohn himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was ^blocusts and ^cwild honey.

5 ^aThen Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him

6 ^aand were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ^a“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from ^bthe wrath to come?

8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ^a‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. ^aTherefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 ^aI indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. ^bHe will baptize you with the Holy Spirit¹ and fire.

12 ^aHis winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will ^bburn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John Baptizes Jesus

13 ^aThen Jesus came ^bfrom Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

Verse Comparison: Matthew 3:3

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American Standard Version
For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

Amplified® Bible
This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness (shouting in the desert), Prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct).

Contemporary English Version
John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, 'Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.' "

Darby English Version
For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.

Good News Bible
John was the man the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said, "Someone is shouting in the desert, 'Prepare a road for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!' "

International Standard Version
He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, `MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

New International Version
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "

New King James Version
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

Revised Standard Version
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."

Young's Literal Translation
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, straight make ye His paths.'

New English Translation
For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken:¹ “The voice² of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make³ his paths straight.’”⁴

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