Matthew 3:14

“But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?””

Matthew 3:14 · direct translation from the Greek
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14

Matthew 3:14, word by word

JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs

John

John. In the Gospels, John the Immerser (the Baptist) or John son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve.

Where else “Iōannēs” appears
tried to preventδιεκώλυενdiekōlyen

prevent

Prevent, try to stop someone.

Where else “diekōlyen” appears
sayingλέγωνlegōn

say

To express something in words to others.

Where else “legōn” appears
needχρείανchreian

need

What is lacking, required.

Where else “chreian” appears
needἔχωechō

have

To count something or someone as one's own: goods, family, faith, power.

Where else “echō” appears
to be immersedβαπτισθῆναιbaptisthēnai

immerse

To put someone into water; "baptize" comes from it.

Where else “baptisthēnai” appears
comeἔρχῃerchēi

come

To move to where someone is or to a place, and be present there.

Where else “erchēi” appears

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Jesus is immersed

Mark 1:9-11Luke 3:21-22

See them side by side

Matthew 3:13-17

13Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be immersed by him. 14But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Allow it now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allows him to do so. 16And after being immersed, Jesus at once went up from the water; and look, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and coming upon him. 17And look, a voice from the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:9-11

9And it happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was immersed in the Jordan by John. 10And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit coming down like a dove to him. 11And a voice came from the heavens: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:21-22

21Now it happened, when all the people were being immersed, and Jesus too had been immersed and was praying, that heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit came down in bodily form, like a dove, upon him, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”

The context

13Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be immersed by him.

14 · This verse (above)

15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Allow it now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allows him to do so.

Read all of Matthew 3

To study Matthew 3 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What voice was heard from the heavens when Jesus came up out of the water (v. 17)?

  2. 2. What it means

    Why did John tell the Pharisees to bear fruit worthy of a change of mind, and not rely on Abraham (vv. 8–9)?

  3. 3. How I live it

    Jesus came to John to be immersed, even though John tried to prevent him (vv. 13–15). What does this teach you about humility in approaching others?

How to use it