MAT 3:3 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 For this is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
⇔  “A voice of one calling out in the wilderness,
⇔  ‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
⇔  make his paths straight.’ ”

UST That man is the one about whom the Lord said, by speaking through the prophet Isaiah,
⇔ “In the desolate place, someone will be calling out to the people:
⇔ ‘Prepare yourselves to receive the Lord!
⇔ Make yourselves ready for when he comes!’ ”

BSB This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
⇔ “[A] voice of one calling in the wilderness,
⇔ ‘Prepare the way for [the] Lord,
⇔ make straight paths for Him.’ ”[fn]

MSB This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
⇔ “[A] voice of one calling in the wilderness,
⇔ ‘Prepare the way for [the] Lord,
⇔ make straight paths for Him.’ ”[fn]

BLB For this is the one having been spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, saying, "A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths.'"

AICNT For this is the one spoken of {through}[fn] the prophet Isaiah, saying, “A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”[fn]

3:3, through: Later manuscripts read “by.” BYZ TR

3:3, Isaiah 40:3 LXX

OEB John was the one who was spoken of in the prophet Isaiah, where he says –
⇔ “The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness:
⇔ ‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
⇔ make his paths straight.’ ”

JQT “Blessed the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

WEBBE For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
⇔ “The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
⇔ make the way of the Lord ready!
⇔ Make his paths straight!”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken:
⇔ “ The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
⇔ ‘ Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”

LSV for this is he having been spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD,
Make His paths straight.”

FBV He was the one Isaiah spoke about when he said, “A voice is heard crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make the paths straight for him.’ ”[fn]

3:3 See Isaiah 40:3.

TCNT This is the one who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who said,
⇔ “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
⇔ ‘Prepare the way for the Lord;
⇔ make his paths straight.’ ”

T4T John was the person who fulfilled what was said by Isaiah the prophet {what Isaiah the prophet predicted when he said}, long ago:
¶ In a desolate area ◄people will hear someone/someone will be heard► shouting to the people who pass by,
¶ Prepare yourselves to receive the Lord when he comes!
¶ Make yourselves ready so that you will be prepared when he comes [MET, DOU], just like people improve and straighten out the road for an important official!

LEB For this is the one who was spoken about by the prophet Isaiah, saying,
• “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
• ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
• make his paths straight.’ ”[fn]

3:3 A quotation from Isa 40:3|link-href="None"

BBE For this is he of whom Isaiah the prophet said, The voice of one crying in the waste land, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his roads straight.

Moff (This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah:
⇔ The voice of one who cries in the desert,
⇔ "Make the way ready for the Lord,
⇔ level the paths for him.")

Wymth He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying aloud, `In the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.'"

ASV For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
⇔ The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
⇔ Make ye ready the way of the Lord,
⇔ Make his paths straight.

DRA For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

YLT for this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, 'A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye His paths.'

Drby For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying, Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths.

RV For this is he that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
(For this is he that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye/you_all ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. )

SLT For this is he spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, A voice of him crying in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.

Wbstr For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

KJB-1769 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
(For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye/you_all the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. )

KJB-1611 For this is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Esaias, saying, The voyce of one crying in the wildernes, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps For this is he, of whom it is spoken by the prophete Esayas, saying. The voyce of one crying in the wyldernesse: prepare ye the way of the Lorde, make his pathes strayght.
(For this is he, of whom it is spoken by the prophet Esayas, saying. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare ye/you_all the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.)

Gnva For this is he of whome it is spoken by the Prophet Esaias, saying, The voyce of him that crieth in the wildernes, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his pathes straight.
(For this is he of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of him that crieth/cries in the wilderness, Prepare ye/you_all the way of the Lord: make his paths straight. )

Cvdl This is he, of whom it is spoke by ye Prophet Esay, which sayeth: The voyce of a cryer in ye wyldernes, prepare the LORDES waye, and make his pathes straight.
(This is he, of whom it is spoke by ye/you_all Prophet Esay, which saith/says: The voice of a cryer in ye/you_all wilderness, prepare the LORDS way, and make his paths straight.)

TNT This is he of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Esay which sayeth: The voyce of a cryer in wyldernes prepare the Lordes waye and make hys pathes strayght.
(This is he of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Esay which saith/says: The voice of a cryer in wilderness prepare the Lords way and make his paths straight. )

Wycl For this is he, of whom it is seid bi Ysaie, the prophete, seyinge, A vois of a crier in desert, Make ye redi the weies of the Lord; make ye riyt the pathis of hym.
(For this is he, of whom it is said by Isaiah, the prophet, seyinge, A voice of a crier in desert, Make ye/you_all ready the ways of the Lord; make ye/you_all right the paths of him.)

Luth Und er ist der, von dem der Prophet Jesaja gesagt hat und gesprochen: Es ist eine Stimme eines Predigers in der Wüste: Bereitet dem HErr’s den Weg und machet richtig seine Steige!
(And he is the/of_the_(one), from to_him the/of_the Prophet Yesaya said has and spoken: It is a/one voice(n) one/a preacher in the/of_the desert: Prepare to_him LORD’s the way/path/road and makes correct his steep_track!)

ClVg Hic est enim, qui dictus est per Isaiam prophetam dicentem: [Vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini; rectas facite semitas ejus.][fn]
(Here/This it_is because, who/which saytus it_is through Isaiahm prophet saying: [The_voice crying in/into/on in_the_desert: Parate way/road Master; correct do_it path his.] )

3.3 Vox clamantis. Joannes vox, Christus verbum, qui clamat in Joanne: Nullum verbum sine voce auditur, nec vox sine intelligentia verbi valet. Vox viam verbo præparat, ut recipiatur. Unde: Paravi lucernam Christo meo Psal. 131.. In deserto. Forma pœnitentibus: locus conversationis, non frequentia hominum, sed desertum. Vestitus non mollis ad fluxum, sed asper: victus tenuis et inusitatus. Typice, desertum significat sanctorum vitam a mundi illecebris segregatam. Viam Domini. Via Domini ad cor dirigitur, cum sermo ejus diligenter auditur.

3.3 The_voice crying. Yoannes voice, Christ/Messiah the_word/saying, who/which shouts in/into/on Yoanne: None the_word/saying without voice hearingr, but_not voice without intelligence words valet. The_voice way/road word beforeparat, as be_received. From_where/who: Paravi lampm to_Christ/Messiah mine Psal. 131.. In in_the_desert. Forma pœnitentibus: place conversation, not/no frequency/population of_men, but desert. Vestitus not/no soft to flow, but asper: victus thins and inusitatus. Typice, desert means holy_place life from world he/that_onecebris segregatam. The_way/road Master. Via Master to heart directsur, when/with speech his carefully hearingr.

UGNT οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ῥηθεὶς διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ: ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου; εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ.
(houtos gar estin ho ɽaʸtheis dia Aʸsaiou tou profaʸtou legontos, fōnaʸ boōntos en taʸ eraʸmōi: hetoimasate taʸn hodon Kuriou; eutheias poieite tas tribous autou.)

SBL-GNT οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ῥηθεὶς ⸀διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ.
(houtos gar estin ho ɽaʸtheis ⸀dia Aʸsaiou tou profaʸtou legontos; Fōnaʸ boōntos en taʸ eraʸmōi; Hetoimasate taʸn hodon kuriou, eutheias poieite tas tribous autou.)

RP-GNT Οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ῥηθεὶς ὑπὸ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος, Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου· εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ.
(Houtos gar estin ho ɽaʸtheis hupo Aʸsaiou tou profaʸtou, legontos, Fōnaʸ boōntos en taʸ eraʸmōi, Hetoimasate taʸn hodon kuriou; eutheias poieite tas tribous autou.)

TC-GNT Οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ῥηθεὶς [fn]ὑπὸ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου, λέγοντος,
⇔ Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ,
⇔ Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου·
⇔ εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ.
(Houtos gar estin ho ɽaʸtheis hupo Aʸsaiou tou profaʸtou, legontos,
⇔ Fōnaʸ boōntos en taʸ eraʸmōi,
⇔ Hetoimasate taʸn hodon Kuriou;
⇔ eutheias poieite tas tribous autou. )

3:3 υπο ¦ δια CT

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.

3:3a

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

This was the man whom Isaiah the prophet told about long ago, saying,
The person who was saying this is the man whom God’s spokesman Isaiah spoke about long ago when he said,

The Greek of 3:3a begins with conjunction that is often translated as “for.” This word often introduces a reason. However, here it introduces some information about John the Baptist. Do not translate this verse as if it were the reason for 3:2. The BSB and many English versions do not translate this conjunction.

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: This clause means that God, through the prophet Isaiah, had spoken about John the Baptist. Many years before this time, the prophet Isaiah (in Isaiah 40:3) had prophesied about John the Baptist.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

This was the man whom God’s prophet Isaiah spoke about

God, through the prophet Isaiah, spoke about this man when he wrote

spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: See 1:22 and 2:23b for a similar phrase and consider how you translated it there.

3:3b

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

“A voice of someone in the wilderness is shouting this:
“A person is calling with a loud voice in a land where no one lives, saying:

A voice of one calling in the wilderness: In the BSB, as in the Greek, this is not a complete sentence. In some languages, it may be necessary to make it into a complete sentence by including another form of the word calling. (See the note below for the meaning of calling in this context.) Isaiah was talking about something that would happen seven hundred years later. So you should use the verb form that is natural for a prophecy about the future. In English it is possible to use either the present or the future tense. For example:

There is a voice crying in the desert.

A voice will cry out in the desert.

A voice of one calling: The voice is the voice of a person. Someone was calling out in order to proclaim a message.

The Greek word that the BSB translates as calling means “shout or call out loudly.” Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

A man is shouting

Someone will call out

the wilderness: The word wilderness is the same word as in 3:1b. See how you translated it there.

3:3c–d

Before you translate 3:3c–d, there are at least two issues to consider:

Issue 1: Parallelism

Verse 3:3c–d is a Hebrew form of poetry called a parallelism. In a parallelism, an idea is repeated. In this particular parallelism, the idea in 3:3c is repeated and made more specific in 3:3d.

The parallel parts in 3:3c–d that are similar in meaning are shown here:

^3c Prepare the way for the Lord,

^3d make straight paths for Him.

In some languages, people will think that the parallel parts in 3:3c–d describe different events. In other words, they will think that “Prepare the way” and “make paths straight” describe different events.

If that is true in your language, you should:

Indicate that both expressions refer to the same thing. For example:
^3cPrepare the way for the Lord,
^3d I repeat more specifically, make straight paths for Him
Combine the parallel parts. For example:
Prepare straight paths for the Lord

Issue 2: Metaphor

In addition, 3:3c–d uses metaphors. In these metaphors, the person in the wilderness asked the people to prepare their hearts to receive the Lord. He did this by comparing preparing their hearts to preparing a road to welcome the Lord.

In biblical times, when someone important was about to visit a town, the people living there would make sure that the road was prepared for him to travel on. It had to be smooth and straight. This was a way to welcome and honor an important visitor. In the same way, people should prepare their hearts to receive and welcome the Lord. See below for some translation advice.

3:3c

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

‘Make^(plur) the road ready for the Lord to come,
‘Just as you prepare a road for an important person, so prepare your hearts for the Lord.

Prepare the way for the Lord: This clause is the first part of the parallelism. It means approximately the same thing as 3:3d. The difference is that it is more general.

This clause is also a metaphor. In this metaphor, the person in the wilderness told the people to prepare themselves to receive/welcome the Lord. He compared preparing their hearts (or themselves) to preparing a way/road for the Lord to come. He was not literally commanding the people to make their roads better.

The way that “hearts” and “way/road” are similar is that people need to prepare these things to welcome the Lord.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor and explain the meaning in a footnote. A possible footnote would be:
This is a metaphor. Matthew quoted Isaiah as saying that the people needed to get ready for the Lord to come. They needed to repent and prepare their hearts and lives for his coming. Isaiah compared this to improving a road to receive the Lord.
Change the metaphors to similes. For example:
Prepare yourselves for the Lord like you prepare a road for an important person
Just as you prepare a road for a king when he comes, prepare your hearts for the Lord to come.
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
Prepare yourselves to receive the Lord
Make the necessary changes in your life to receive/welcome the Lord

This verse refers to people preparing themselves in a moral and spiritual way. Your translation should not imply that they should prepare themselves only in a physical way, such as cleaning their houses.

way: The Greek word that the BSB translates as way refers to a “road/path.” In this metaphor, a person’s heart or life is compared to a “road” or “path.”

the Lord: Here the word Lord refers to the “Lord God.” Matthew understood this to mean that God would come to Israel in the person of Jesus the Messiah.

3:3d

make straight paths for Him.’”

make^(plur) the paths straight for him.’ ”
I repeat, just as you^(plur) make roads straight for receiving an important person, so make your lives straight for receiving the Lord.’ ”

make straight paths for Him: This clause is the second part of the parallelism. It means approximately the same thing as 3:3c. The difference is that it is more specific.

This clause also repeats the metaphor in 3:3c. In this metaphor, the person in the wilderness told the people to make their hearts (themselves) correct so that they could receive and welcome the Lord. He compared making themselves correct to making straight paths for the Lord. He was not literally commanding the people to make their paths straight.

The way that “hearts” and paths are similar is that people need to prepare these things to welcome the Lord.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor and explain the meaning in a footnote. A possible footnote is presented above in 3:3c.
Change the metaphors to similes. For example:
Just as you make straight paths for a king make yourselves straight/correct for the Lord to come.
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
Make yourselves ready for him

You should translate 3:3d in a similar way to 3:3c.

straight paths: The Greek word that the BSB translates as paths is a synonym of “way/road” in 3:3c. If your language translates both “road” and “path” with the same word, you can repeat it. Or you can use the pronoun “them” or “it.” For example:

^3cPrepare the road for the Lord, ^3dmake the road straight for him.

^3cPrepare the road for the Lord, ^3dmake it straight for him.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γάρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτος Γάρ ἐστίν ὁ ῥηθείς διά Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος Φωνή βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Ἑτοιμάσατε τήν ὁδόν Κυρίου εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τάς τρίβους αὐτοῦ)

Here, the word For introduces a further explanation of what Matthew has said about John the Baptist. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [In fact,] or [Now]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὁ ῥηθεὶς

the_‹one› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτος Γάρ ἐστίν ὁ ῥηθείς διά Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος Φωνή βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Ἑτοιμάσατε τήν ὁδόν Κυρίου εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τάς τρίβους αὐτοῦ)

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: [the one about whom the Lord spoke]

Note 3 topic: writing-quotations

λέγοντος

saying

In Matthew’s culture, saying was a normal way to introduce a quotation from an important text, in this case, the Old Testament book written by Isaiah the prophet (see [Isaiah 40:3](../isa/40/03.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase that indicates that Matthew is quoting from an important text. Alternate translation: [who wrote in his book] or [who declared]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

φωνὴ βοῶντος

Isaiah is using voice to represent a person speaking. 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 calling out] or [Someone calling out]

Note 5 topic: writing-quotations

βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ

˱of˲_˓a˒_shouting_‹one› in the desert

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [of one calling out in the wilderness and saying] or [of one calling out in the wilderness, declaring]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

τῇ ἐρήμῳ: ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου; εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ

the desert (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὗτος Γάρ ἐστίν ὁ ῥηθείς διά Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος Φωνή βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ Ἑτοιμάσατε τήν ὁδόν Κυρίου εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τάς τρίβους αὐτοῦ)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. If you do, you will need to delete the single quotation mark at the end of this quotation. Alternate translation: [the wilderness that people must make ready the way of the Lord, that they must make his paths straight]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου; εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a connecting word in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: [Make ready the way of the Lord; yes, make his paths straight]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor