Matthew 3:1

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The Ministry of John the Baptist In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις παραγίνεται Ἰωάννης ὁ Βαπτιστὴς, κηρύσσων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς Ἰουδαίας,

Transliteration

¶In de the hēmerais ekeinais paraginetai Iōannēs the Baptistēs, kēryssōn in the erēmō of the Ioudaias,

Grammar Details

• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and/now
• *hēmerais*: dative, feminine, plural - days
• *ekeinais*: demonstrative pronoun, dative, feminine, plural - those
• *paraginetai*: present, middle/passive, indicative, 3rd singular - comes/arrives
• *Iōannēs*: nominative, masculine, singular - John
• *Baptistēs*: nominative, masculine, singular - Baptist
• *kēryssōn*: present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - proclaiming/preaching
• *erēmō*: dative, feminine, singular - wilderness/desert
• *Ioudaias*: genitive, feminine, singular - of Judea

Word Meanings

• *paraginetai*: comes/arrives/appears
• *kēryssōn*: proclaiming/preaching/announcing
• *erēmō*: wilderness/desert/uninhabited place

Referenced Verses

• Isa 40:3-6 : 3 A voice cries out,“In the wilderness clear a way for the LORD; build a level road through the rift valley for our God. 4 Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley. 5 The splendor of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the LORD has decreed it.” 6 A voice says,“Cry out!” Another asks,“What should I cry out?” The first voice responds:“All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field.
• Josh 14:10 : 10 So now, look, the LORD has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the LORD spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old.
• John 1:6-8 : 6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.
• Matt 16:14 : 14 They answered,“Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
• Matt 11:11 : 11 “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!
• Judg 1:16 : 16 Now the descendants of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of date palm trees to Arad in the wilderness of Judah, located in the Negev. They went and lived with the people of Judah.
• Matt 14:2-9 : 2 and he said to his servants,“This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had repeatedly told him,“It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. 6 But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Instructed by her mother, she said,“Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 Although it grieved the king, because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus. 13 The Feeding of the Five Thousand Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
• Matt 17:12-13 : 12 And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
• Matt 21:25-27 : 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying,“If we say,‘From heaven,’ he will say,‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say,‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus,“We don’t know.” Then he said to them,“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
• Matt 21:32 : 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
• Mark 1:3-8 : 3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’” 4 In the wilderness John the baptizer began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 People from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed,“One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
• Mark 1:15 : 15 He said,“The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”
• Mark 6:16-29 : 16 But when Herod heard this, he said,“John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!” 17 For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had repeatedly told Herod,“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not 20 because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John. 21 But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl,“Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 23 He swore to her,“Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 So she went out and said to her mother,“What should I ask for?” Her mother said,“The head of John the baptizer.” 25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request:“I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 26 Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 27 So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. 28 He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
• Luke 1:13-17 : 13 But the angel said to him,“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. 14 Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
• Luke 1:76 : 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
• Luke 3:1-9 : 1 The Ministry of John the Baptist In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth, 6 and all humanity will see the salvation of God.’” 7 So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him,“You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say to yourselves,‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 So the crowds were asking him,“What then should we do?” 11 John answered them,“The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him,“Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He told them,“Collect no more than you are required to.” 14 Then some soldiers also asked him,“And as for us– what should we do?” He told them,“Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.” 15 While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ, 16 John answered them all,“I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming– I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.” 18 And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.
• Luke 7:24 : 24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
• John 1:15-36 : 15 John testified about him and shouted out,“This one was the one about whom I said,‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. 19 The Testimony of John the Baptist Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,“Who are you?” 20 He confessed– he did not deny but confessed–“I am not the Christ!” 21 So they asked him,“Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said,“I am not!”“Are you the Prophet?” He answered,“No!” 22 Then they said to him,“Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John said,“I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 So they asked John,“Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them,“I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, 27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!” 28 These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing. 29 On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,“Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said,‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified,“I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me,‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining– this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.” 35 Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples. 36 Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said,“Look, the Lamb of God!”
• John 3:27-36 : 27 John replied,“No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said,‘I am not the Christ,’ but rather,‘I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 30 He must become more important while I become less important.” 31 The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.
• Acts 1:22 : 22 beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from us– one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.”
• Acts 13:24-25 : 24 Before Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a baptism for repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly,‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’
• Acts 19:3-4 : 3 So Paul said,“Into what then were you baptized?”“Into John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said,“John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
• Josh 15:61-62 : 61 These cities were in the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the city of Salt, and En Gedi– a total of six cities and their towns.
• Matt 3:8 : 8 Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance,
• Matt 11:7 : 7 While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John:“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?