MAT 3:17 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT and behold, a voice from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”

UST Then God spoke from heaven! He declared, “This man is my Son, the one whom I love dearly. What he does pleases me.”

BSB And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

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

AICNT and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

OEB and from the heavens there came a voice which said, ‘This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.’

WEBBE Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET And a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”

LSV and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delighted.”

FBV A voice from heaven said, “This is my son whom I love,[fn] who pleases me.”

3:17 Or “This is my son, the beloved one.”

TCNT And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

T4T Then God [SYN] spoke from heaven, saying, “This is my Son. I love him. I am very pleased with him.”

LEB And behold, there was[fn] a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

3:17 The words “there was” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to make a complete sentence in English

BBE And a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

Moff And a voice from heaven said,
⇔ "This is my Son, the Beloved,
⇔ in him is my delight."

Wymth while a voice came from Heaven, saying, "This is My Son, the dearly loved, in whom is My delight."
¶ 

ASV and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

DRA And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

YLT and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, 'This is My Son — the Beloved, in whom I did delight.'

Drby and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight.

RV and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

SLT And behold a voice from the heavens, saying, This is my dearly beloved Son, in whom I was contented.

Wbstr And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

KJB-1769 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

KJB-1611 And loe, a voice from heauen, saying, This is my beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleased.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps And loe, there (came) a voyce from the heauens, saying: This is my beloued sonne, in whom I am well pleased.
(And lo, there (came) a voice from the heavens, saying: This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.)

Gnva And loe, a voyce came from heauen, saying, This is my beloued Sonne, in whome I am well pleased.
(And lo, a voice came from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. )

Cvdl And lo, there came a voyce fro heue sayng: Thys ys that my beloued sonne, in whom is my delyte.
(And lo, there came a voice from heue saing: Thys is that my beloved son, in whom is my delight.)

TNT And lo there came a voyce from heven sayng: Thys ys that my beloved sonne in whom is my delyte.
(And lo there came a voice from heaven saing: Thys is that my beloved son in whom is my delight. )

Wycl a vois fro heuenes, seiynge, This is my louyd sone, in which Y haue plesid to me.
(a voice from heavens, saying, This is my loved son, in which I have pleased to me.)

Luth Und siehe, eine Stimme vom Himmel herab sprach: Dies ist mein lieber Sohn, an welchem ich Wohlgefallen habe.
(And see/look, a/one voice(n) from_the heaven down spoke: This/These is my love(v) son, at/to which_one I pleasure have.)

ClVg Et ecce vox de cælis dicens: Hic est Filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi complacui.
(And behold voice from/about the_heavens saying: Here/This it_is Son mine beloved, in/into/on where to_me I_was_pleased. )

UGNT καὶ ἰδοὺ, φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Υἱός μου, ὁ ἀγαπητός ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα.
(kai idou, fōnaʸ ek tōn ouranōn legousa, houtos estin ho Huios mou, ho agapaʸtos en hō eudokaʸsa.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἰδοὺ φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα· Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα.
(kai idou fōnaʸ ek tōn ouranōn legousa; Houtos estin ho huios mou ho agapaʸtos, en hō eudokaʸsa.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἰδού, φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, λέγουσα, Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα.
(Kai idou, fōnaʸ ek tōn ouranōn, legousa, Houtos estin ho huios mou ho agapaʸtos, en hō eudokaʸsa.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἰδού, φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, λέγουσα, Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα.
(Kai idou, fōnaʸ ek tōn ouranōn, legousa, Houtos estin ho huios mou ho agapaʸtos, en hō eudokaʸsa. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:13–17: John baptized Jesus

In this section, Jesus came to John the Baptist and asked John to baptize him. John thought that the man who was greater (Jesus) should baptize the man who was not as great (John). This is why John at first did not think that it was right for him to baptize Jesus. But Jesus said that it was the right thing at that time. So John agreed to do it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Baptism of Jesus (NIV)

Jesus is Baptized by John (NCV)

John baptizes Jesus (GW)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 1:9–11 and Luke 3:21–22.

3:17a

And a voice from heaven said,

Then suddenly a voice spoke from heaven; it said:
Also unexpectedly, God spoke from heaven. He said:

The Greek of 3:17a begins with a word that is often translated as “behold.” It is the same Greek word that occurs in 3:16b. This word indicates another unexpected and extraordinary event: a voice from heaven spoke. The BSB omits this word.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

behold (ESV)

Suddenly

And just as unexpectedly

In some languages, it is not necessary to translate this word.

a voice from heaven said: The word voice is used figuratively here. It stands for the words that were spoken or the person who spoke the words. In this case, the voice was the voice of God. God spoke from heaven. The words that follow in 3:17b are what God said about Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Someone spoke from heaven and said

God spoke from heaven and said

God who was in heaven spoke. He said

heaven: Here the word heaven refers to the place where God lives. See how you translated this word in 3:2.

3:17b

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

“This is my dearly loved Son. I am very pleased with him.”
“This person is my Son. I love him and am very happy with him.”

This is My beloved Son: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as This is My beloved Son is literally “This is my son the beloved.” The words “the beloved” indicate here that Jesus was God the Father’s one and only dear son. This phrase does not imply that God has other sons whom he did not love.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

This is my own dear Son (GNT)

This is my dearly-loved Son (JBP)

This person is my son. I love him.

My…Son: The phrase My…Son describes the relationship that Jesus had with God the Father. “The Son of God” or “God’s Son” is a title that was often used to refer to a savior who would be a descendant of King David. God would send this savior to rescue his people. This person was often referred to as the “Messiah” or “Christ.”

The title “the Son of God” also indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. The relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship with Mary that resulted in her becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus. The Son of God existed eternally as the Son with his Father.

In areas where people do not understand the title “the Son of God” in this way, you may want to include a footnote that explains the correct meaning. Here is a suggested footnote:

This title refers to Jesus. It indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It does not mean that God the Father had a sexual relationship with Mary that resulted in her becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus. Mary became pregnant with Jesus in a miraculous way by the Holy Spirit of God.

In some languages, it is natural to speak of a son as a “child,” without specifying male or female. If that is true in your language, you may use a more general term, such as:

my ChildA translation of the title “the Son of God” must include a familial term such as “son” or “child.” Translations such as “the man who is God,” “the divine man,” or “the God man” are not acceptable, since they do not retain familial language. Examples of acceptable translation options include “the Son who comes from God,” and “the divine/unique/eternal Son of God.”

Other verses will usually make clear that Jesus was a male child. If you use a phrase such as “my male child,” be sure that it does not imply that God had another child who was female.

in whom I am well pleased!: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as I am well pleased means, “I am delighted” or “I am very pleased/satisfied.” Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He makes me very happy/pleased.

in him I take great delight (NET)

he makes my heart glad

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἰδού φωνή ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ Υἱός μού ὁ ἀγαπητός ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα)

The word behold draws the attention of the audience and asks them to listen carefully. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express behold with a word or phrase that asks the audience to listen, or you could draw the audience’s attention in another way. Alternate translation: [listen] or [suddenly]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν

Matthew is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply a verb of speaking if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [a voice spoke from the heavens]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

φωνὴ

Matthew is using voice to represent the person who is speaking, which is God the Father. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a person speaking] or [God the Father spoke]

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

λέγουσα

saying

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

Note 5 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

ὁ Υἱός μου, ὁ ἀγαπητός

the Son the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἰδού φωνή ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ Υἱός μού ὁ ἀγαπητός ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα)

The word Son is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὁ Υἱός & ὁ ἀγαπητός

the Son & the beloved

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [my Son, whom I love,]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

εὐδόκησα

˱I˲_took_pleasure

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [who pleases me]

Parallel MAT 3:17

Section 3:13–17: John baptized Jesus

3:17a

3:17b