MAT 3:13-17

The Baptism of Jesus

13Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

14But John was preventing him, saying: "I have need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?"

15But Jesus answered and said to him: "Allow it now, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.

16And having been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon him.

17And behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Jewish context, baptism was not a novel concept. Ritual washings were common in Jewish practice, particularly in the context of purification rites. John’s baptism, however, carried a distinct eschatological urgency, calling for repentance in preparation for the coming kingdom. For Jesus to seek baptism from John would have been startling to the original audience, as John himself acknowledges his unworthiness to baptize Jesus. Jesus’ response, 'to fulfill all righteousness ,' would have resonated deeply with Jewish listeners, for whom righteousness often meant alignment with God’s covenantal purposes. The opening of the heavens and the descent of the Spirit as a dove would evoke prophetic imagery, recalling Isaiah’s plea for God to rend the heavens (Isaiah 64:1) and the Spirit’s role in anointing messianic figures. This moment would have been understood as a divine endorsement of Jesus’ identity and mission, signaling the inauguration of God’s redemptive work.

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How other translations render this

MAT 3:13

KJV: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
BSB: At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
Koinōnos: Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

MAT 3:14

KJV: But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
BSB: But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
Koinōnos: But John was preventing him, saying: "I have need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?

MAT 3:15

KJV: 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.
BSB: “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
Koinōnos: But Jesus answered and said to him: "Allow it now, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.

MAT 3:16

KJV: 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:
BSB: As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
Koinōnos: And having been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon him.

MAT 3:17

KJV: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
BSB: And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Koinōnos: And behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 3:13

to be baptized:The word translated 'to be baptized' literally means to dip, plunge, or immerse. It implies a complete submersion, like dipping a cloth into dye or sinking a ship.

MAT 3:15

do permit [it]:The phrase translated 'do permit [it]' carries the sense of letting go, allowing, or even forgiving. It suggests John is being asked to release his objection and allow the action to proceed.
righteousness.:The term translated 'righteousness' refers to a state of being in right relationship with God and others, often implying conformity to divine standards or fulfilling what is just and proper.

MAT 3:16

and:The word translated 'and' here is an interjection that means 'Look!' or 'Behold!' It is used to draw immediate attention to what follows, signaling something significant or surprising.