OET interlinear LUKE 3:16

3:16a

John answered all of them: The Greek word that the BSB translates as answered can also be translated as “replied” or “responded.” However, the text does not say that the people asked John a question. The word answered may indicate here that John answered a question that the people were thinking about. John knew that the people were wondering if he might be the Christ.John 1:19 says that some people asked him about this.

In some languages it may not be natural to use a word like answered unless the question has been mentioned. If that is true in your language, you may use a more general word like “said” (as in the CEV).

I baptize you with water: The phrase I baptize you with water means “I baptize you using water.” John used the water of the Jordan River to baptize people.

I: The word I is emphatic in Greek. In this context it emphasizes a contrast between John and the Messiah: “I, John, baptize with water, but he….”

baptize: The verb baptize means to purify/wash someone or something with a special ritual that uses water.In English versions of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, some verses use the verbs “wash” and “clean” to translate the Greek verb baptizō (“baptize”). For example, Luke 11:38 says, “But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash (baptize) before the meal, was surprised.” (The Greek verb here is baptizō, but English versions translate it as “wash.” The context refers to a ritual washing, not merely a removal of dirt.) Mark 7:4 and Matthew 23:25 both speak of washing/cleaning cups and other utensils. The verb in Mark is baptizō, while the verb in Matthew is katharizō (clean). Again, a ritual cleansing is involved. John’s baptism and Christian baptism also involve a ritual washing, but they have spiritual purposes and results, as well as ritual ones. In this context the ritual was connected with people being purified from sin. The people were not being cleaned to remove dirt. Baptism was an initiation into a new spiritual condition.

Here are some ways to translate “baptize”:

• Use a descriptive term. For example:

  ritually wash

  initiate people in/with water

• Use a term for a similar ritual that is already part of your culture. You may need to indicate that it has a special connection with God here. For example:

  purify people with God’s ceremonial bath

  wash people in initiation water for God

• Use a term that is already accepted by the local churches. This term may be borrowed from the national language or transliterated from Greek or English.

Luke used a form of the same Greek verb in 3:7a and 3:12a, and the noun form of this word at 3:3c. For more help in translating baptize, see the note for “baptism” in 3:3c and “to be baptized” in 3:7a. Also see baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

you: John used the word you to speak in general about all the people whom he baptized. This included the people who were listening to him at that time. It also included many other people who had come to him at other times. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the pronoun you in a more general way. For example:

I baptize people with water

I baptize with water (NLT96)

3:16b

but One more powerful than I will come: The clause One more powerful than I refers to the Christ.

more powerful: The phrase more powerful in this context means “mightier,” “greater,” or “having more authority.” For example:

there is one coming who is greater than I am (NCV)

will come: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as will come is literally “is coming.” It indicates here that the more powerful person would soon come.

3:16c

the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie: With this statement, John emphasized that the Christ was much greater than he was. In their culture, it was the work of a slave to untie the straps of his master’s sandals. John was saying that the Christ was so great that he, John, was not even worthy to be his slave.

If the meaning of this action is not clear to your readers, here are some other ways to translate it:

• Translate both the action and its meaning. For example:

  I feel inadequate to even serve him like a slave by loosening the ties of his sandals.

• Translate the action in a more general way and also translate its meaning. For example:

  I am not even qualified to take off his shoes.

  Because of his greatness, I would be ashamed to even remove his shoes.

• Translate the meaning without the action. For example:

  I am not even worthy to be his slave. (NLT96)

In some translations it may be helpful to include a footnote to explain the meaning of untying someone’s sandals. For example, the CEV footnote says:

untie his sandals: This was the duty of a slave.

straps: The word straps refers to thongs or strings that tied a sandal onto a person’s foot. The thongs were usually made of leather (animal skin).

sandals: The word sandals refers to a type of shoe. The sandals people wore in that time were usually made from a piece of leather that formed a bottom for the shoe. This leather bottom was tied onto the foot with leather straps or thongs.

I am not worthy: The Greek word that the BSB translates as worthy means “qualified” or “adequate” to do something. John felt that he was not important enough to act as Jesus’ slave. He felt he did not deserve the honor of serving him. He was emphasizing how great Jesus was.

In this context, the focus of worthy is on John’s status, not his character. Do not imply that John was a bad or evil person. Also do not imply that John was not physically able to do this task.

Some other ways to translate the clause I am not worthy are:

I do not deserve the honor of

I am not important/great enough

3:16d

In 3:16d, John again illustrated that the Christ was greater than he was. The way that the Christ baptized people was greater than the way John baptized them. John baptized people with water, but the Christ would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire.

As you translate 3:16d, remember that the word “baptize” has a meaning similar to the words “wash” and “cleanse.” In this part of the verse John used the word “baptize” in a figurative sense. The Christ would cleanse or purify people “with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”Some scholars also interpret Luke’s use of fire here as figurative. Since it is recommended that your word for “fire” be used in the translation, these notes do not give an opinion as to whether the fire is purely figurative or in some sense real.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: Scholars interpret this sentence in many different ways. Two major views are:

1. Jesus would baptize God’s people with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

2. Jesus would baptize God’s people with the Holy Spirit and “baptize” others with the fire of God’s judgment.

You should translate so that people can interpret this part of the verse in either of these ways.

If your word for baptize implies a physical washing that only makes a person’s body clean, then you may have to find another word. However, your translation should try to keep the contrast between John’s baptism and the Christ’s baptism. Some ways to do this are:

When he baptizes you, he will cause the Holy Spirit and fire to initiate/purify you…

As for his baptism, he will send the Holy Spirit and fire to purify you…

If it is not possible to use your term for “baptize” with the word “fire,” you may need to use a different verb. Some examples are:

He will baptize/cleanse people with the Holy Spirit, and he will also purify/cleanse people with fire.

He will wash/cleanse you with the Holy Spirit, and purify you with fire.

See baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

He: In Greek, the pronoun He is emphatic. It refers to the Christ,In this Gospel, Luke has already identified Jesus as the Christ (2:11). and contrasts with the pronoun “I” in 3:16a.

you: When John used the pronoun you here, he was referring to people in general (as in 3:16a). In some languages it may be more natural to use a more general term. For example:

He will baptize people

with the Holy Spirit: The word with indicates the means by which the Christ will baptize people. He will baptize them “with” the Holy Spirit. It does not mean that the Christ along with the Holy Spirit will baptize people.

Holy Spirit: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Holy Spirit refers to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is God, together with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is Spirit in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is Holy in the sense that he is God and unique from every other being. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless.

Some ways to translate Holy Spirit are:

Spirit/Breath of God

Holy/Sacred Spirit

Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.

This term also occurs in 1:15c. Translate it here as you did there. See also holy, sense A2, in KBT.The concept of fire purifying can be found in Isaiah 4:4, which predicts that the women of Jerusalem would be purified by “a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.” Another example is Isaiah 6:6–7.