Matthew 3
The full text of Matthew 3 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
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 the one 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 clothing was made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and 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 baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, 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.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham out of these stones.
10 The ax is already at 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 baptize 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 baptize 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."
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
14 But John tried to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized 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 fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, 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 coming to rest on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Translation notes (6)
- Matthew 3:2a The Greek word metanoeite is more than regret; it means a decisive change of mind and direction. The Greek word eggiken (a perfect tense verb) can be rendered 'has come near' or 'is at hand' / 'has arrived'; the nearness is real and pressing, and both senses are kept by 'has come near.'
- Matthew 3:3a This verse quotes Isaiah 40:3, following the Septuagint. The Hebrew of Isaiah punctuates differently ('a voice calls: in the wilderness prepare the way'); Matthew follows the Greek tradition that connects 'in the wilderness' to the voice.
- Matthew 3:4a The dress deliberately recalls the prophet Elijah, as described in 2 Kings 1:8.
- Matthew 3:11a The Greek word en can mean 'with' or 'in'; 'with water' and 'with the Holy Spirit' is the natural English for this way of describing the instrument of baptism. The phrase 'Spirit and fire' refers to a single baptism (one preposition governs both), often understood as purifying and judging.
- Matthew 3:15a The Greek phrase plerosai pasan dikaiosynen, meaning 'to fulfill all righteousness,' means to do everything God requires. The Greek word dikaiosyne here carries the sense of right conduct within the covenant, not 'justification' (being declared righteous).
- Matthew 3:17a The Greek phrase ho agapetos can mean 'the beloved' or 'the only/cherished one'; this phrase echoes Genesis 22:2 (Isaac) and Isaiah 42:1. The Greek word eudokesa (an aorist verb, indicating a completed action or settled declaration) means 'I am well pleased' or 'in whom I delight.'
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own modern English translation, worked directly from the original Greek and honest to the earliest manuscripts. It was completed in 2026 — the most modern English Bible translation — and is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Every chapter, including all of Matthew, is free to read here on the web.
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