Matthew 3:1–2
John the Immerser calls people to change their minds because the kingdom is near
Study it word by word1In those days John the Immerser appears, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea
2and saying, “Change your minds, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
In its context
…
3For this is the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, when he says, “A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
4Now John himself had his clothing made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Its words in the original
- ἡμέραιςhēmerais· day
Day. "In the days of" someone: in their time.
- παραγίνεταιparaginetai· arrive, come
Arrive, come, be present.
- ἸωάννηςIōannēs· John
John. In the Gospels, John the Immerser (the Baptist) or John son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve.
- βαπτιστὴςbaptistēs· Immerser
The Immerser: "the one who immerses", the title of John, who immersed in water those who changed their minds. Tradition calls him "the Baptist".
- κηρύσσωνkēryssōn· proclaim
Proclaim aloud, like a herald announcing a message on behalf of the king.
- ἐρήμῳerēmōi· wilderness, desolate
Wilderness: an uninhabited, uncultivated place; also lonely, deserted.
- ἸουδαίαςIoudaias· Judea
Judea, the southern region of the land of Israel, around Jerusalem.
- λέγωνlegōn· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ΜετανοεῖτεMetanoeite· change one's mind
Change one's mind: turn around one's way of thinking, and with it one's way of living, to return to God. It is usually translated "repent".
- ἤγγικενēngiken· come near
Come near, draw near; be at hand.
- βασιλείαbasileia· kingdom
Kingdom: the reign of a king and the place where he reigns. "The kingdom of heaven" is the reign of God.
- οὐρανῶνouranōn· heaven, sky
Heaven: the sky and, above all, the place of God. "The heavens" is sometimes a respectful way of saying "God".