OET interlinear LUKE 3:21

3:21a

In the Greek text this section begins with a phrase that can be translated literally as “And it happened.” The BSB and some other English versions have not translated it. Some other English versionsEnglish versions that translate this phrase as “Now” include KJV, NASB, NET, NJB, NRSV, and RSV. translate it as “Now” to indicate that the following event happened before the event in the preceding paragraph. Use a way that is natural in your language to introduce a new incident that is not in chronological order.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too: There are two ways to interpret the Greek expression that the BSB translates as When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too:

1. John baptized Jesus during the time he was baptizing the other people. For example:

   While everyone else was being baptized… (CEV) (BSB, NIV, RSV, NLT, REB, NASB, KJV, NET, GW, CEV, NCV)

2. John finished baptizing all the other people, and then he baptized Jesus. For example:

   After all the people had been baptized… (GNT) (GNT, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

The verbs were being baptized and was baptized are passive. In some languages it may be more natural to use active verbs and say who baptized the people and Jesus. For example:

When John was baptizing all the other people, he baptized Jesus also.

all the people: The phrase all the people refers to the large crowds of people who came to John so that he would baptize them.

baptized, Jesus was baptized: See the note at 3:7a for suggestions about translating the word “baptize.” See also baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

3:21b

as He was praying: The pronoun He refers to Jesus. Jesus was praying to God at the time when he was being baptized. If you have made “John” the subject of the previous verse, you may need to use Jesus’ name here. For example:

as Jesus was praying to God

was praying: The Greek word that the BSB translates as was praying indicates that Jesus was speaking or talking to God.

Some languages may use different words to refer to specific kinds of prayer, such as requests, thanks, or praise. Use an appropriate word or expression in your language for this context. Avoid a term that may imply magical or meaningless words.

Some other ways to translate this are:

was talking to God

was asking/begging God

heaven was opened: The clause heaven was opened is passive. It speaks of heaven opening in a similar way as a door or curtain opens. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this clause without a passive verb. For example:

heaven opened (GW)

the heavens opened (NLT)

If you must say who opened heaven, you may supply God. For example:

God opened heaven

heaven: The Greek word that the BSB translates as heaven is also used in 3:22b. It can have two different meanings, depending on the context:

1. heaven, the place where God dwells;

2. the sky.

In the New Testament, God often showed supernatural signs from the sky, such as a voice, fire, or bright light. In this verse either “heaven” or “sky” would fit the context. The Holy Spirit came down like a dove and God’s voice came from heaven or from the sky. Here are some points to consider:

• If your language has a term that can mean either “heaven” or “sky,” use it both here and in 3:22b.

• If it is difficult to speak about heaven (God’s home) being opened in this way, then you may use “the sky” here and “heaven” in 3:22b.

• In languages that do not have a single word for heaven, you may need to use a descriptive phrase:

  the place of God

  the place where God lives