MAT 3:2 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–12: John the Baptist taught people to repent and obey God

The story starting at 3:1 occurred about twenty-eight years after 2:23. Matthew did not tell what happened during those twenty-eight years. But he restarted the story at this time in Jesus’ life because Jesus was ready to begin the work that God gave him to do. He began at the time God chose for him.

John the Baptist was the last prophet before Jesus. The story of how John was born is in Luke chapter 1. He was the prophet whom God said would come (3:3). John wore the kind of clothes prophets often wore (3:4). He baptized people who repented. John preached that Jesus would be greater than he was (3:11).

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The work of John the Baptist/Baptizer

The work of John who baptized people

John the Baptizer preached repentance and submission to God’s rule

John the Baptizer prepared people to receive the Lord

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 1:1, Luke 3:1–18 and John 1:19–28.

3:2a

and saying, “Repent,

He said, “Turn to God,
He said, “Turn away from your sins and turn to God,

Repent: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Repent refers in a general way to changing one’s mind. In this context, it refers to changing one’s mind about sin and God. It means to stop sinning and begin to obey God.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Turn from your sins and turn to God (NLT96)

Turn back to God! (CEV)

Change your hearts and lives (NCV)

Leave/Abandon the ways of sin and follow the ways of God

3:2b

for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

because the kingdom of the one who lives in heaven has begun.”
because God is ready to rule his people!”

for: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as for introduces the reason why people should repent. They should repent because the kingdom of heaven is near.

In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of 3:2a and 3:2b. For example:

^2bThe kingdom of heaven is near, ^2aso repent!

the kingdom of heaven: When you translate the phrase the kingdom of heaven, there are two issues to consider:

Issue 1: The meaning of heaven

In the phrase the kingdom of heaven, the word heaven is a figure of speech called metonymy. In this figure of speech, heaven refers to God, but it refers to him indirectly by naming the place where he lives and rules. The Jews considered God’s name to be so holy that they hesitated to say it. So instead of pronouncing God’s name directly, they often used the name of the place where he lives and rules. Because Matthew was writing primarily to Jews, he often used the word heaven to refer to God.

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven means the same thing as “the kingdom of God.” The phrase the kingdom of heaven only occurs in the book of Matthew. The expression “the kingdom of God” is found in all other books, and it even occurs five times in Matthew.

Some ways to translate heaven in this context are:

Make some information explicit. For example:
the one/Lord who lives in heaven
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
God

Issue 2: The meaning of the kingdom of heaven

Both the kingdom of heaven and “the kingdom of God” refer to God’s activity of ruling over his people. God’s rule is not simply giving orders or commands to people. It also includes his protection, care, and blessing for them. God leads, protects, and cares for his people. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. The phrase the kingdom of heaven does not refer to a land or country that God rules over.

Here are some other ways to translate the kingdom of heaven:

As a noun. For example:
the kingdom/rule of the one who lives in heaven
the kingdom of God
God’s kingship
God’s rule over people
As a verbal expression. For example:
God rules his people
God cares for his people as king

See kingdom of heaven in the Glossary for more information.

is near: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as is near is more literally “has approached.” This clause probably means that God’s kingdom had already started. God was ready to rule and save his people through Jesus’ teaching and miracles. It was time to repent.

John was preaching that the kingdom of heaven is near in a time sense, not in a physical sense.

So the entire clause “the kingdom of heaven is near” means:

the kingdom of heaven is being established

now is the time for the one who lives in heaven to rule over you^(plur)

the time for God to rule over people has come

God’s kingship/chieftaincy has begun

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

λέγων

saying

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [and he said]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγων Μετανοεῖτε ἤγγικεν γάρ ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν)

If it would be more natural in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses, since the second clause gives the reason for the command in the first clause. Alternate translation: [The kingdom of the heavens is near, so repent]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν

the Kingdom ˱of˲_the Heavens

John the Baptist is referring to God’s kingdom that currently exists in the heavens. A kingdom is a situation in which a king rules over his people in a specific area. See the book introduction for more information about the kingdom of the heavens. Consider how you might express this idea here and throughout the rest of Matthew. Alternate translation: [God’s complete reign] or [the ability to be fully God’s people]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἤγγικεν

˓has˒_neared

Matthew uses this phrase in the sense of near in time. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [is about to begin] or [is about to happen]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear MAT 3:2

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 3:1–12: John the Baptist taught people to repent and obey God

3:2a

3:2b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)