Matthew 3:1

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Matthew 3:1 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

King James Version KJV

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

American Standard Version ASV

And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,

Bible in Basic English BBE

And in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the waste land of Judaea,

Free Bible Version FBV

Some time later John the Baptist appeared on the scene, proclaiming in the Judean desert,

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

And in those dayes, Iohn the Baptist came and preached in the wildernes of Iudea,

Young's Literal Translation YLT

And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,

World English Bible WEB

In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

Noah Webster Bible WBS

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea.

Translation for Translators T4T

While Jesus was still in Nazareth town, John, whom the people called the Baptizer, went to a desolate place in Judea district.

Plain English Version PEV

Many years later, while Jesus was still in Nazareth, John the Baptiser started his work. He went to the bush in Judea country, and he started to tell everybody his message.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Matthew 3:1

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Matthew 3:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

GRK εν δε ταις ημεραις εκειναις παραγινεται ιωαννης ο βαπτιστης κηρυσσων εν τη ερημω της ιουδαιας

εν en G1722 in/on/among Prep

δε de G1161 then Conj

ταις ho G3588 the/this/who Art-DPF

ημεραις hēmera G2250 day Noun-DPF

εκειναις ekeinos G1565 that Dem-DPF

παραγινεται paraginomai G3854 to come Verb-PNI-3S

ιωαννης Iōannēs G2491 John Noun-NSM

ο ho G3588 the/this/who Art-NSM

βαπτιστης Baptistēs G910 one who baptizes Noun-NSM

κηρυσσων kērussō G2784 to preach Verb-PAP-NSM

εν en G1722 in/on/among Prep

τη ho G3588 the/this/who Art-DSF

ερημω erēmos G2048 deserted Adj-DSF

της ho G3588 the/this/who Art-GSF

ιουδαιας Ioudaia G2449 Judea Noun-GSF

Greek Word Study

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Greek Word Reference — Matthew 3:1

εν en G1722 "in/on/among" Prep

This word is a preposition that means in, on, or among something. It's used in many places, like Matthew 7:3 and Luke 7:37, to describe a location or relationship. It can also mean by, with, or during.

Definition: ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). __I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; after verbs of motion, instead of εἰς (constructio praegnans, a usage extended in late Gk. beyond the limits observed in cl.; cf. Bl., §41, 1; M, Th., 12), ἀποστέλλω . . . ἐν, Mat.10:16. δέδωκεν ἐν τ. χειρί (cf. τιθέναι ἐν χερσί, Hom., Il., i, 441, al.), Jhn.3:35; id. after verbs of coming and going (not in cl.), εἰσῆλθε, Luk.9:46; ἐξῆλθεν, Luk.7:17. __II. Of state, condition, form, occupation, etc.: ἐν ζωῇ, Rom.5:10; ἐν τ. θανάτῳ, 1Jn.3:14; ἐν πειρασμοῖς, 1Pe.1:6; ἐν εἰρήνῃ, Mrk.5:25; ἐν δόξῃ, Php.4:19; ἐν πραΰτητι, Jas.3:13; ἐν μυστηρίῳ, 1Co.2:7; ἐν τ. διδαχῇ, Mrk.4:2; of a part as contained in a whole, ἐν τ. ἀμπέλῳ, Jhn.15:4; ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι, Rom.12:4; of accompanying objects or persons (simple dative in cl.), with, ἐν αἵματι, Heb.9:25; ἐν δέκα χιλιάσιν, Luk.14:31 (cf. Ju 14, Act.7:14); similarly (cl.), of clothing, armour, arms, ἐν στολαῖς, Mrk.12:38; ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ, Jas.2:2; ἐν μαξαίρῃ, Luk.22:49; ἐν ῥάβδῳ, 1Co.4:21 (cf. ἐν τόξοις, Xen., Mem., 3, 9, 2); of manner (cl.), ἐν τάχει (= ταχέως), Luk.18:8 (cf. Bl., §41, 1); of spiritual influence, ἐν πνεύματι, Rom.8:9; ἐν π. ἀκαθάρτῳ, Mrk.1:23; of the mystical relation of the Christian life and the believer himself, to God and Christ (cf. ICC, Ro., 160f.; Mayor on Ju 1; M, Pr., 103): ἐν Χριστῷ, Rom.3:24, 6:11, 1Co.3:1, 4:10, 2Co.12:2, Gal.2:17, Eph.6:21, Col.4:7, 1Th.4:16, al. __III. Of the agent, instrument or means (an extension of cl. ἐν of instr.—see LS, see word Ill—corresponding to similar use of Heb. בְּ), by, with: ἐν ὑμῖν κρίνεται ὁ κόσμος (= cl. παρά, C. dative), 1Co.6:2; ἐν τ. ἄρχοντι τ. δαιμονίων, Mat.9:34; ἐν αἵματι, Heb.9:22; ἐν ὕδατι, Mat.3:11, al.; ἐν μαχαίρᾳ ἀποκτενεῖ (cf. the absol. ἐν μ., ἐν ῥάβδῳ, supr., II, which some would classify here), Rev.13:10 (cf. 6:8). Allied to this usage and distinctly Semitic are the following: ἠγόρασας . . . ἐν τ. αἵματι σου (cf. BDB, see word בְּ, III, 3), Rev.5:9; ὁμολογεῖν ἐν (= Aram. אודי בּ; cf. McNeile on Mt, I.with; M, Pr., 104), Mat.10:32, Luk.12:8; ὀμνύναι ἐν (= cl. accusative, so Jas.5:12), Mat.5:34, al.; also at the rate of, amounting to, Mrk.4:8 (WH; vv. ll., εἰς, ἒν), Act.7:14 (LXX). __IV. Of time, __(a) in or during a period: ἐν τ. ἡμέρᾳ (νυκτί), Jhn.11:9, al.; ἐν σαββάτῳ, Mat.12:2, al.; ἐν τῷ μεταξύ, meanwhile, Jhn.4:31; __(b) at the time of an event: ἐν τ. παρουσίᾳ, 1Co.15:23; ἐν τ. ἀναστάσει, Mat.22:28; __(with) with art. inf., __(α) present (so sometimes in cl., but not as in NT = ἕως; V. M, Pr., 215), while: Mat.13:4, Mrk.6:48, Gal.4:18, al.; __(β) aor., when, after: Luk.9:36, al.; __(d) within (cl.): Mat.27:40, __V. In composition: (1) meaning: (a) with adjectives, it signifies usually the possession of a quality, as ἐνάλιος, ἐν́δοξος; (b) with verbs, continuance in (before ἐν) or motion into (before εἰς), as ἐμμένω, ἐμβαίνω. (ii) Assimilation: ἐν becomes ἐμ- before β, μ, π, φ, ψ; ἐγ- before γ, κ, ξ, χ; ἐλ- before λ. But in the older MSS of NT, followed by modern editions, assimilation is sometimes neglected, as in ἐνγράφω, ἐγκαινίζω, etc. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 2120 NT verses. KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 15:17; 1 Peter 1:2.

δε de G1161 "then" Conj

This is a conjunction that means and, but, or then, used to connect ideas like in Matthew 1:2 and 2 Corinthians 6:15.

Definition: δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; __1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; καὶ ἐὰν δέ, yea even if, Jhn.8:16. __2. Adversative, but, on the other hand, prop., answering to a foregoing μέν (which see), and distinguishing a word or clause from one preceding (in NT most frequently without μέν; Bl., §77, 12): ἐὰν δέ, Mat.6:14, 23, al.; ἐγὼ (σὺ, etc.) δέ, Mat.5:22, 6:6, Mrk.8:29, al.; ὁ δέ, αὐτὸς δέ, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:40, al.; after a negation, Mat.6:19, 20, Rom.3:4, 1Th.5:21, al. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 2552 NT verses. KJV: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Peter 1:7.

ταις ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-DPF

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

ημεραις hēmera G2250 "day" Noun-DPF

The Greek word for day refers to a 24-hour period, used in Revelation 21:25 and Acts 9:24. It can also mean a period of time, like in Luke 21:37.

Definition: ἡμέρα, -ας, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly (very freq.) for יוֹם ;] day; __1. as distinct from night: genitive ἡμέρας, by day (WM, §30, 11), Rev.21:25; ἡ. κ. νυκτός (ν. κ. ̔ἡ.), Act.9:24, 1Th.2:9, 2Th.3:8, Rev.4:8 (BL, §36, 13); ἡμέρας μέσης, at mid-day, Act.26:13; accusative durat., τ. ἡμέρας, Luk.21:37; ὅλην τὴν ἡ., Rom.8:36; ἐν ἡμέρα, Jhn.11:9, Rom.13:13; ἡμέρας ὁδός, a day's journey, Luk.2:44; ἡ. γίνεται, Lk 4:42 22:66; κλίνει, Luk.9:12, al.; metaphorically, Jhn.9:4, Rom.13:12, 1Th.5:4, 5 8, 2Pe.1:19. __2. Of a civil day of 24 hours, incl. night: Mat.6:34, Mrk.6:21, Luk.13:14, al.; τρίτῃ ἡ., Mat.16:21; ἡμέρᾳ κ. ἡ. (cf. יוֹם בְּיוֹם, Est.3:4), 2Co.4:16; ὅλην τ. ἡ., Rom.8:36 10:21; pl., Jhn.2:12, Act.9:19, al.; ἡ. τῶν ἀζύμων, Act.12:3; τ. σαββάτου, Luk.13:14, 16; ἡ κυριάκη ἡ., Rev.1:10. __3. In Messianic sense, of the last day: ἡ ἡ. (ἐκείνη, τ. κυρίου, etc.), Mat.7:22, Luk.6:23, Rom.13:12, 1Co.1:8, 1Th.5:2, 2Th.2:2, 2Pe.3:10, al; by meton., as compared with the divine judgment on that day, ἡ. ἀνθρωπίνη, of a human tribunal, 1Co.4:3 (EV, man's judgment). __4. As in Heb. (also in Gk. writers; Bl, §46, 9; M, Pr., 81), of time in general: Jhn.8:56 14:20, 2Co.6:2, Eph.6:13, 2Pe.3:18; pl. Act.15:7, Eph.5:16, Heb.10:32; πᾶσας τὰς ἡ. (cf. כָּל הַיָּמִים, Deu.4:40, al.; MM, Exp., xv), Mat.28:20; ἐλεύσονται ἡ. ὅταν (ὅτε), Mat.9:15, Mrk.2:20, Luk.5:35 17:22; αἱ ἡ., with genitive of person(s) (Gen.26:1, al.), Mat.2:1, Luk.1:5, Act.7:45, 1Pe.3:20; ἀρχ̀ ἡμερῶν, Heb.7:3. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 366 NT verses. KJV: age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years See also: 1 Corinthians 1:8; Acts 21:5; 1 Peter 2:12.

εκειναις ekeinos G1565 "that" Dem-DPF

This word means 'that one' or 'that thing', as in Luke 18:14. It's used to point out a specific person or object. In the Bible, it helps distinguish between different things or people.

Definition: ἐκεῖνος, -η, -ο (ἐκεῖ), [in LXX chiefly for הַהוּא ,הוּא, and cogn. forms ;] demonstr. pron., that person or thing (ille), implying remoteness as compared with οὗτος (hic); __1. absol., emphatic he, she, it: opposite to οὗτος, Luk.18:14, Jas.4:15; ἡμεῖς, Heb.12:25; ὑμεῖς, Mrk.4:11; ἄλλοι, Jhn.9:9; ἐγώ, Jhn.3:30; to persons named, Mk 16:[10, 13, 20], Jhn.2:21; of one (absent) who is not named, contemptuously (Abbott, JG, §§2385, 2732), Jhn.7:11 9:28; with respect, of Christ, 1Jo.2:6 3:3, al.; referring to a preceding noun, Mrk.16:[10], Jhn.7:45; resumption of a participial subject, Jhn.1:33 9:37 10:1, Rom.14:14, al. (on its reference in Jhn.19:35, see Westc, in l.; Moffatt, Intr., 568; Sanday, Fourth Gospel, 77ff.). __2. As adj., joined, like οὗτος, to a noun with the article: Mat.7:25, Mrk.3:24, Jhn.18:15, al.; esp. of time, past or future: ἐν τ. ἡμέραις ἐ., Mat.3:1, Mrk.1:9, Act.2:18" (LXX), al.; ἐν ἐ. τ. ἡμέρᾳ, esp of the Parousia, Mat.7:22, Luk.6:23, 2Th.1:10, 2Ti.1:12; adverbially, ἐκεινής (sc. ὁδοῦ) = cl. ἐκεινῇ (Bl., §36, 13), that way, Luk.19:4. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 247 NT verses. KJV: he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those See also: 1 Corinthians 9:25; John 11:53; Hebrews 3:10.

παραγινεται paraginomai G3854 "to come" Verb-PNI-3S

To come or arrive at a place, such as in Luke 14:21 and John 3:23. This word means to become near or appear publicly. It is used to describe people coming to Jesus or arriving at a location.

Definition: παρα-γίνομαι (Ion. and late for -γίγν-), [in LXX chiefly for בּוֹא ;] __1. to be beside or at hand (Hom., Hdt., al.), hence, to stand by, support (Æsch., Thuc., al.) : with dative of person(s), 2Ti.4:16. __2. to come, come up, arrive (Hdt., Xen., al., and frequently in later writers; see MM, xviii; Thackeray, Gr., 267.2): absol., Luk.14:21 19:16, Jhn.3:23, Act.5:21-22, 25 9:39 10:32-33 11:23 14:27 17:10 18:27 21:18 23:16, 35 24:17, 24 25:7 28:21, 1Co.16:3; before εἰς, Jhn.8:2, Act.9:26 15:4; ἐπί, with accusative, Luk.22:52; πρός, with accusative, Luk.7:4, 20 8:19, Act.20:18; id. before ἐκ, Luk.11:6; παρά, with genitive, Mrk.14:43; ἀπὸ . . . εἰς, Mat.2:1, Act.13:14; ἀπὸ . . . ἐπὶ . . . πρός, Mat.3:13; of a teacher coming forward in public: Mat.3:1, Luk.12:51, Heb.9:11.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 37 NT verses. KJV: come, go, be present See also: 1 Corinthians 16:3; Acts 24:17; Hebrews 9:11.

ιωαννης Iōannēs G2491 "John" Noun-NSM

John refers to several important figures in the Bible, including John the Baptist and John the Apostle, one of Jesus' twelve apostles. John the Baptist is mentioned in Matthew 3:1 and John the Apostle in Matthew 4:21.

Definition: Ἰωάνης (Rec. ννης, which see; cf. Dalman, Gr., 142; Tdf., Pr., 79; WH, App., 159; Bl., §3, 10; 10, 2), -ου, dative, -ῃ (but in Mat.11:4. Luk.7:18, 22 Rev.1:1, ει), accusative, -ην, ὁ (Heb. יוֹחָנָן, LXX: Ἰωανάν, 2Ch.23:1, al.; -ννάν, Je 47 (40):8, al., Aq.), Hellenized form of Ἰωανάν, John ( I Est.8:38(41)*), viz., __1. John the Baptist: Mat.3:1, al. __2. John the Apostle, son of Zebedee: Mat.4:21, Mrk.1:19, Luk.5:10, Act.1:13, al. __3. The father of St. Peter: Jhn.1:43 21:15-17. __4. John surnamed Mark: Act.12:12, 25 13:5, 13 15:37. __5. The writer of the Apocalypse, traditionally identified with 2: Rev.1:1, 4 9. Ἰωάννης (D, Ἰωνάθας; see MM, Exp., XV; Bl., §10, 2), ὁ, John: Act.4:6 13:5, Tr., WH, Rev.22:8 (cf. Ἰωάνης).† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 128 NT verses. KJV: John See also: Acts 1:5; Luke 9:19; Revelation 1:1.

ο ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-NSM

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

βαπτιστης Baptistēs G910 "one who baptizes" Noun-NSM

John the Baptist was a baptizer, preparing people for Jesus' arrival, as seen in Matthew 3:1 and Mark 6:25. He baptized many, including Jesus. The term baptizer refers to John's role.

Definition: βαπτιστής, -ου, ὁ (βαπτίζω), a baptizer: of John the Baptist, Mat.3:1 11:11, 12 14:2, 8 16:14 17:13, Mrk.6:25 8:28, Luk.7:20, 33 9:19.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 14 NT verses. KJV: Baptist See also: Luke 7:20; Matthew 3:1; Matthew 17:13.

κηρυσσων kērussō G2784 "to preach" Verb-PAP-NSM

To preach means to proclaim or herald a message, especially the gospel. It is used in Mark 1:45 and Luke 4:18-19 to describe Jesus' ministry of proclaiming God's truth. This preaching is a public declaration of God's message.

Definition: κηρύσσω [in LXX chiefly for קָרָא ;] to be a herald, to proclaim: Mrk.1:45 7:36, Luk.4:18-19" (LXX) (but see Field, Notes, 174) Luk.8:39, Rom.2:21, 1Co.9:27, Gal.5:11, al.; in NT, chiefly of the proclamation of the Gospel, to proclaim, preach: τὸ εὐαγέλιον, Mat.4:23 9:35 24:14 26:13, Mrk.1:14 13:10 14:9 16:15, Gal.2:2, Col.1:23, 1Th.2:9; before εἰς, Mrk.1:39 13:10, Luk.4:44, 1Th.2:9; ἵνα, Mrk.6:12; with inf.. Rom.2:21; κ. Χριστόν, Ἰησοῦν, Act.8:5 9:20 19:13, 1Co.1:23 15:12, 2Co.1:19 11:4, Php.1:15; 1Ti.3:16 (cf. προ-κηρύσσω) (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 60 NT verses. KJV: preacher(-er), proclaim, publish See also: 1 Corinthians 1:23; Luke 24:47; 1 Peter 3:19.

εν en G1722 "in/on/among" Prep

τη ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-DSF

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

ερημω erēmos G2048 "deserted" Adj-DSF

Deserted means being alone or uninhabited, like the desert where Jesus often went, as mentioned in Matthew 14:13 and Mark 1:36.

Definition: ἔρημος (in older Gk. ἔρῆμος), -ον [in LXX chiefly for מִדְבָּר ;] solitary, lonely, desolate, deserted: __(a) of persons, γυνή, Gal.4:27 (LXX); __(b) of places, Mat.14:13, 15 23:38 (WH, om.), Mrk.1:36 6:32, Luk.4:42 9:12, al.; as subst., ἡ ἔ. (sc. χώρα; as in Hdt., ii, 32, al.), the desert, Mat.3:1, 3, Mrk.1:3-4, Jhn.3:14, al.; pl., αἱ ἔ., desert places, Luk.1:80 5:16 8:29 (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 50 NT verses. KJV: desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness See also: 1 Corinthians 10:5; Luke 8:29; Hebrews 3:8.

της ho G3588 "the/this/who" Art-GSF

The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.

Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

ιουδαιας Ioudaia G2449 "Judea" Noun-GSF

Judea is a region in southern Palestine, below Samaria, as mentioned in Matthew 2:1 and 3:1. It is also used to refer to the people who live there, the Judeans.

Definition: § Judea, Judean, "land of the Judahites" Judea, the southern party of the country, below Samaria, Mt. 2:1, 5, 22; 3:1; metonymy the inhabitants of Judea

Usage: Occurs in 43 NT verses. KJV: Judæa See also: 1 Thessalonians 2:14; Luke 1:5; Romans 15:31.

Study Notes — Matthew 3:1

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Matthew 3:1 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Matthew 3:1
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 3:1
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 3:1
Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 3:1
Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 3:1
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 3:1
Cambridge Bible on Matthew 3:1
Barnes' Notes on Matthew 3:1
Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 3:1
Sermons on Matthew 3:1

Context — The Mission of John the Baptist

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

2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This 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.’”

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Isaiah 40:3–6	A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field.
2	John 1:6–8	There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
3	Luke 1:76	And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
4	Luke 1:13–17	But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
5	Luke 3:1–20	In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’” Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.” The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people. But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
6	Matthew 11:11	Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
7	Acts 19:3–4	“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied. Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
8	Matthew 16:14	They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
9	Acts 13:24–25	Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
10	Mark 1:15	“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

Matthew 3:1 Summary

Matthew 3:1 tells us that John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, which means he was calling people to turn away from their sins and towards God. This is similar to what we see in the book of Exodus, where the Israelites had to journey through the wilderness to reach the Promised Land (Exodus 13:18). John's message was one of repentance, preparing the way for Jesus Christ to come and bring salvation to all people, as seen in (Matthew 4:17) and (Acts 2:38). As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves what it means to 'prepare the way' for the Lord in our own lives and how we can apply this principle in our daily walk with God.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was John the Baptist and why is he important in the Bible?

John the Baptist was a prophet who prepared the way for Jesus Christ, as seen in Matthew 3:1, and his role is also mentioned in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1, which prophesied about his coming to prepare the way for the Lord.

What does it mean that John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness of Judea?

The wilderness of Judea was a desolate area near the Jordan River, and John's preaching there symbolized a call to repentance and separation from the world, much like the Israelites' journey through the wilderness in the book of Exodus, such as Exodus 13:18.

Is John the Baptist's message of repentance still relevant today?

Yes, the message of repentance is still relevant today, as seen in Matthew 3:1 and also in Matthew 4:17, where Jesus Himself preached repentance, and in Acts 2:38, where Peter preached repentance on the day of Pentecost.

How does John the Baptist's preaching in the wilderness relate to the overall story of the Bible?

John the Baptist's preaching in the wilderness is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, such as Isaiah 40:3, and it marks the beginning of Jesus' ministry, as seen in Matthew 3:13-17, and sets the stage for the rest of the New Testament narrative, including the book of Matthew and the other Gospels, such as Mark 1:1-8 and Luke 3:1-20.

Reflection Questions

What does it mean for me to 'prepare the way' for the Lord in my own life, and how can I apply this principle from Matthew 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3?
How can I, like John the Baptist, be a voice calling others to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, as seen in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8?
What are some areas in my life where I need to 'make straight paths' for the Lord, as mentioned in Matthew 3:3 and Isaiah 40:3-5?
What can I learn from John the Baptist's example of humility and willingness to prepare the way for someone else, as seen in John 3:30 and Matthew 3:11-12?
How can I balance the call to repentance with the message of God's love and grace, as seen in Matthew 3:1-2 and Romans 5:8?

Gill's Exposition on Matthew 3:1

In those days came John the Baptist,.... The Evangelist having given an account of the genealogy and birth of Christ; of the coming of the wise men from the east to him; of his preservation from

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 3:1

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, For the proper introduction to this section, we must go to -- Luke 3:1-2.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 3:1

MATTHEW CHAPTER 3 The preaching of John the Baptist; his office, and manner of living. ,6 He baptizeth in Jordan, and rebuketh the Pharisees. Christ is baptized, and receiveth a witness from heaven. That is, in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, when John the Baptist and Christ also were about thirty years of age, , for there was no great difference betwixt the age of Christ and John, as may be learned from ,41,57. In those days, while Joseph and Mary, and our blessed Lord, dwelt in Nazareth. See . This phrase in those days is the same with in those years. It is an ordinary thing in the Hebrew to confound the words signifying a day and a year, and the Greeks did the same, as appears by the seventy interpreters, ,7. The evangelists pass over with a great deal of silence our Saviour’ s minority, only mentioning his disputing with the doctors in the temple, . Came John the Baptist; John the son of Zacharias, , called the Baptist, either because he baptized Christ, or because by him God instituted the ordinance of baptism, which before that time the Jews used in the admission of their proselytes. Preaching according to his commission, , where it is said the word of the Lord came to him. In the wilderness of Judea; some parts of Judea, where houses and inhabitants were very few. None must think that the history of the second chapter is continued in this, there was a distance of twenty-eight or twenty-nine years; the evangelist designing not to satisfy men’ s curiosity, but only to give us that part of Christ’ s story which might be profitable to us to know.

Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 3:1

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, Ver. 1. In those days came John the Baptist] Whom Chrysologus fitly calleth fibulam legis et gratiae, the bond or buckle of both Testaments. He standeth as that angel, with one foot on the sea (the law), and with the other foot on the land (the gospel), Revelation 10:1. Preaching in the wilderness of Judea] A place wherein we find six cities with their villages, Joshua 15:62, but called a wilderness, because more thinly inhabited. In which sense we may say of Germany, that Aceldama or field of blood, and many other once rich and fertile countries, that they are become a wilderness, war being a tragedy that always destroys the stage whereon it is acted; but for the wickedness of them that dwell therein it is that a fruitful land is turned into a wilderness, saith David, Psalms 107:34. And the heathen historian, Herodotus, saith little less, when he tells us that the ruin and rubbish of Troy are set by God before the eyes of men, for an example of that rule, that great sins have great punishments. Iam seges est ubi Troia fuit. Now grain grows where Troy was. (Ovid.) Now alterius perditio sit tua cautio, saith an ancient: not to be warned by others is a sure presage of ruin. (Isidore soliloq.) Scipio beheld and bewailed the downfall of Rome in the destruction of Carthage. And when Hannibal was beleaguering Saguntum in Spain, the Romans were as sensible thereof as if he had been then beating upon the walls of their Capitol. (Livy.) A storm often times begins in one place and ends in another. When the sword rides circuit (as a judge) it is in commission, Ezekiel 14:17; Jeremiah 47:6-7. And, "When I begin" (saith God) "I will make an end," 1 Samuel 3:12. We cannot but foresee a storm, unless we be of those in Bernard, who seek straws to put out their eyes with. If we break not off our sins by repentance (that there may be a lengthening of our tranquillity, Daniel 4:27), a removal of our candlestick may be as certainly foreseen and foretold as if visions and letters were sent us from heaven, as once to the Church of Ephesus. God may well say to us, as to them of old, "Have I been a wilderness unto Israel, a land of darkness?" Jeremiah 2:31; or, as Themistocles to his Athenians, Are ye weary of receiving so many benefits by one man? Bona a tergo formosissima. Our sins have long since solicited an utter dissolution and desolation of all; and that we should be made a heap and a hissing, a waste and a wilderness. Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 49:2. Quod Deus avertat. Because God left. Qui festucam quaerunt, unde oculos sibi eruant.

Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 3:1

III. (1) John the Baptist.—For the birth and early life of the forerunner of the Christ, see Notes on. Luke 1. The manner in which he is mentioned here shows that his name was already well known to all readers of the Gospel. So, in like manner, Josephus names him as popularly known by the same title (Ant. xviii. 5, § 2), and describes his work as that of a preacher of repentance in nearly the same terms as St. Matthew. The symbolism of ablution as the outward sign of inward purification was, of course, derived from the Mosaic ritual. It was ordered for the consecration of the priests (Exodus 29:4; Leviticus 8:6), for the purification of the leper and other unclean persons (Leviticus 14:8; Leviticus 15:31-32). It had received a fresh prominence from the language of Isa 1:16, of Ezekiel 36:25, of Zechariah 13:1, and probably (though the date of the practice cannot be fixed with certainty) from its being used on the admission of proselytes, male or female, from heathenism. The question asked by the priests and Levites in John 1:25 implies that it was expected as one of the signs of the coming of the Messiah, probably as the result of the prophecies just referred to. That which distinguished the baptism of John from all previous forms of the same symbolism was, that it was not for those only who were affected by a special uncleanness, nor for the heathen only, but for all. All were alike unclean, and needed purification, and their coming to the baptism was in itself a confession that they were so. The baptism was, as the name implied, an immersion, and commonly, though not necessarily, in running water. The abrupt way in which the narrative is introduced “in those days,” after an interval of thirty years from the close of Matthew 2, may be explained as referring to the well-known period of the commencement of John’s ministry; or it may loosely refer to Matthew 1:23, and imply that time had gone on with no change in the general circumstances. (Comp. Exodus 2:11. See Excursus on the intervening History in the Notes on this Gospel.) Came.—Literally, with the vividness of the historic present, cometh.Preaching.—Here, as everywhere in the New Testament, the word implies proclaiming after the manner of a herald.In the wilderness of Judæa.—The name was commonly applied to the thinly populated region in the southern valley of the Jordan, and so was equivalent to “the country about Jordan” of Luke 3:3, including even part of the district east of the river. In this region John had grown up (Luke 1:80).

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 3:1

CHAPTER III. John the Baptist begins to preach, 1. The subject of his preaching, 2, 3. Description of his clothing and food, 4. The success of his ministry, 5, 6. His exhortation to the Pharisees, 7-9. He denounces the judgments of God against the impenitent, 10. The design of his baptism, and that of Christ, 11, 12. He baptizes Christ in Jordan, 13-15; who is attested to be the Messiah by the Holy Spirit, and a voice from heaven, 16, 17. NOTES ON CHAP. III. Verse 1. John the Baptist] John, surnamed The Baptist, because he required those to be baptized who professed to be contrite because of their sins, was the son of a priest named Zacharias, and his wife Elisabeth, and was born about A. M. 3999, and about six months before our blessed Lord. Of his almost miraculous conception and birth, we have a circumstantial account in the Gospel of Luke, chap. 1: to which, and the notes there, the reader is requested to refer. For his fidelity in reproving Herod for his incest with his brother Philip's wife, he was cast into prison, no doubt at the suggestion of Herodias, the profligate woman in question. He was at last beheaded at her instigation, and his head given as a present to Salome, her daughter, who, by her elegant dancing, had highly gratified Herod, the paramour of her incestuous mother. His ministry was short; for he appears to have been put to death in the 27th or 28th year of the Christian aera. Came - preaching] κηρυσσων, proclaiming, as a herald, a matter of great and solemn importance to men; the subject not his own, nor of himself, but from that God from whom alone he had received his commission. See on the nature and importance of the herald's office, at the end of this chapter. κηρυσσειν, says Rosenmuller, de iis dicitur, qui in PLATEIS, in CAMPIS, in AERE aperto, ut a multis audiantur, vocem tollunt, c. "The verb κηρυσσειν is applied to those who, in the streets, fields, and open air, lift up their voice, that they may be heard by many, and proclaim what has been committed to them by regal or public authority as the KERUKES among the Greeks, and the PRECONES among the Romans." The wilderness of Judea] That is, the country parts, as distinguished from the city; for in this sense the word wilderness, מדבר midbar or מדבריות midbarioth, is used among the rabbins. John's manner of life gives no countenance to the eremite or hermit's life, so strongly recommended and applauded by the Roman Church.

Cambridge Bible on Matthew 3:1

Ch. Matthew 3:1-12. John Baptist preaches in the Wilderness of Judæa. Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:1-18; John 1:15-34 St Luke does not name the Pharisees and Sadducees, he gives the particular exhortations to the various classes of people who came to hear John. In the fourth Gospel the Baptist’s disclaimer of the Messiahship (cp. also ch. John 3:25-36) and his teaching respecting the person of Christ are reported more fully.

Barnes' Notes on Matthew 3:1

In those days - The days here referred to cannot be those mentioned in the preceding chapter, for John was but six months older than Christ.

Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 3:1

§ 15. — COMING AND OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, Matthew 3:1-13.1. In those days — The days in which our Saviour dwelt at Nazareth, as is detailed in the last chapter.Yet between the two chapters an interval

Sermons on Matthew 3:1

	Sermon	Description
	Spirit of a True Prophet - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill	In this sermon, the preacher highlights the historical context of the Israelites' captivity under Pharaoh for 400 years and their subsequent periods of captivity. He emphasizes tha
	(John - Part 6): John the Baptist, a Man Sent From God by A.W. Tozer	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of seeking God's calling and purpose for our lives. He contrasts the shallow interests and pursuits of worldly achievements w
	(John the Baptist Comes to Town) - Part 2 Calling Men to Come Clean With God by Rolfe Barnard	In this sermon, the preacher highlights the moral decay and violence that is prevalent in society, not just in New York City but throughout America. He emphasizes the need for true
	1 John - Ground of Fellowship by Stephen Kaung	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that we are currently living in the last days, which are characterized by difficult times and a lack of love for God. The speaker also highli
	Deal With Sin, Christ Is Coming by Carter Conlon	This sermon emphasizes the importance of dealing with sin as Christ is coming. It delves into the struggle of recognizing our sinful nature and the need for repentance and surrende
	Holy Violence by C.H. Spurgeon	In this sermon, the preacher passionately expresses his desire to be more earnest in his preaching of the word of God. He acknowledges his own sinful nature and the possibility of
	An Axe That Sets Us Free (The Truth Will Set You Free) by Zac Poonen	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and humility in preaching the word of God. He encourages preachers to evaluate their sermons and strive to