Luke 3:3

3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins,
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 John traveled throughout the region around the Jordan River. He told people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 He went into all the countryside around the Jordan River. There he preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.

Luke 3:3 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 3:3

And he came into all the country about Jordan
He came out of the wilderness of Judea, where he first began his ministry, to some parts of the country that bordered on Jordan, and was near unto it, on either side the river; sometimes he was at Bethabara, and sometimes at Aenon, near Salim; for he did not take a tour round about all, the country that encompassed Jordan, but being at it, or in places adjacent to it, all the country round about came to him; see ( Matthew 3:5 ) .

Preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins:
this was the work and office of John, as signified by Elias, in ( Malachi 4:5 Malachi 4:6 ) the Jews say F14,

``the Israelites will not repent, till Elias comes; as it is said, ( Malachi 4:5 Malachi 4:6 ) in the land of Israel repentance delights.''

John came into this land, preaching this doctrine; (See Gill on Mark 1:4).


FOOTNOTES:

F14 Pirke Eliezer, c. 44.

Luke 3:3 In-Context

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—
2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.

Cross References 1

  • 1. ver 16; S Mark 1:4
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