MAT 3:2 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor.
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).

UST “Stop doing what is wrong! You should do that because God is about to establish his heavenly kingdom here.”

AICNT [and][fn] saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near.”

3:2, And: C(04) D(05) W(032) BYZ TR NA28[] SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. ℵ(01) B(03)

OEB ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

WEBBE “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

LSV and saying, “Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near,”

FBV “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has arrived!”

TCNT “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.”

T4T He was preaching to the people who came there. He kept saying, “You need to turn away from your sinful behavior, because God [MET] will soon begin to rule over people, and he will reject you if you do not turn away from your sinful life.”

LEB and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

BBE Saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin; for the kingdom of heaven is near.

Moff "Repent, the Reign of heaven is near."

Wymth "Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."

ASV Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

DRA And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

YLT and saying, 'Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,'

Drby and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.

RV saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(saying, Repent ye/you_all; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. )

SLT And saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.

Wbstr And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

KJB-1769 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(And saying, Repent ye/you_all: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. )

KJB-1611 And saying, Repent yee: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hande.
(Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.)

Gnva And said, Repent: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.
(And said, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. )

Cvdl saynge: Amede youre selues, the kyngdome of heuen is at honde.
(saying: Amede yourselves, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.)

TNT saynge; Repet the kyngdome of heue is at honde.
(saying; Repet the kingdom of heue is at hand. )

Wycl and seide, Do ye penaunce, for the kyngdom of heuenes shal neiye.
(and said, Do ye/you_all penance, for the kingdom of heavens shall neiye.)

Luth und sprach: Tut Buße; das Himmelreich ist nahe herbeikommen!
(and spoke: Tut Buße; the heaven_riches/kingdom is near come_over!)

ClVg et dicens: Pœnitentiam agite: appropinquavit enim regnum cælorum.[fn]
(and saying: Pœnitentiam drive: he_approached because kingdom of_the_heavens. )

3.2 Pœnitentiam. Hoc præco nuntiat, quod post per seipsam Veritas; pœnitentia præcedit, sequitur promissio regni: qui vere pœnitet, in se præteritos errores, deinde erigit animum ad cœleste regnum. Si gratis in baptismo fit remissio, cur prædicatur pœnitentia? Sed triplex est modus pœnitentiæ. Primus, errores et omnia mala ante baptismum abrenuntiare et condemnare: quod necesse est ad Christum venturis. Secundus, post baptismum lapsos per pœnitentiam revocari. Tertius, quo sancti quotidie a talibus purgantur peccatis sine quibus vita non agitur. Pœnitere est ante acta deflere, et deflenda non committere. Pœnitentibus regnum cœlorum adesse dicitur. Non terrena, ut in veteri lege: et hoc per obedientiam Christi. Et hoc regnum cœlorum primus Joannes prædicavit: Pœnitentiam agite. Prima virtus est, per pœnitentiam perimere veterem hominem, et vitia odisse: quod qui non facit, non modo virtutes non comprehendit, sed nec etiam supplicia fugit. Pœnitentiæ virtus timore concipitur, qui est initium sapientiæ. Pœnitentia a puniendo, qua quisque punit quod illicite commisit. Pœnitentiam agere est dignos fructus pœnitentiæ facere. Regnum cœlorum. Id est Christus, per quem sancti regnant in cœlestibus. Vel Evangelium, quo invitat ad regnum. Appropinquavit enim, etc. Nisi appropinquaret, nemo redire posset: quia infirmi et cæci via (quæ est Christus) carebant: quam parans Joannes pœnitenti anteponit.

3.2 Pœnitentiam. This I_beg nuntiat, that after through seipsam Veritas; repentance precedes, follows promise of_the_kingdom: who/which really/truly repent, in/into/on himself passedos errors, then/next raises mind to cœleste kingdom. When/But_if for_free in/into/on baptism fit forgiveness/remission, cur is_preached repentance? But triplex it_is modus of_repentance. Primus, errors and everything evil before baptism abrenuntiare and condemnare: that necessary it_is to Christ/Messiah venturis. Secundus, after baptism lapsos through repentance revocari. Tertius, where holy daily from such purgantur sins without to_whom life not/no is_being_done. Pœnitere it_is before acta deflere, and deflenda not/no committere. Pœnitentibus kingdom of_the_heavens to_be_present it_is_said. Not/No earthly, as in/into/on old lawfully: and this through obedience Christi. And this kingdom of_the_heavens primus Yoannes preached: Pœnitentiam drive. The_first virtue it_is, through repentance perimere old man, and vices odisse: that who/which not/no he_does, not/no just/only by_virtues not/no comprehendit, but but_not also punishments he_fled. Pœnitentiæ virtue with_fear concipitur, who/which it_is the_beginning of_wisdom. Pœnitentia from puniendo, which everyone/whoever punishes that thereite committed. Pœnitentiam to_act it_is worthy fruit of_repentance to_do. Regnum of_the_heavens. That it_is Christ/Messiah, through which holy kingdomsnt in/into/on heavenly. Or the_Gospel, where invites to kingdom. Appropinquavit because, etc. Unless appropinquaret, nobody/no_one redire could: because sick and blind way/road (which it_is Christ/Messiah) carebant: how parans Yoannes pœnitenti anteponit.

UGNT λέγων, μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν.
(legōn, metanoeite, aʸngiken gar haʸ Basileia tōn Ouranōn.)

SBL-GNT ⸀καὶ λέγων· Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
(⸀kai legōn; Metanoeite, aʸngiken gar haʸ basileia tōn ouranōn.)

RP-GNT καὶ λέγων, Μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
(kai legōn, Metanoeite; aʸngiken gar haʸ basileia tōn ouranōn.)

TC-GNT [fn]καὶ λέγων, Μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
(kai legōn, Metanoeite; aʸngike gar haʸ basileia tōn ouranōn. )

3:2 και ¦ — WH

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

SOTN 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

UTN 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]

Parallel MAT 3:2

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

3:2a

3:2b