Matthew 3:14

Matthew 3:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
• English Standard Version (ESV)John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

Context of Matthew 3:14

12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

Matthew 3:14 word by word

ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης διεκώλυεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἐγὼ χρείαν ἔχω ὑπὸ σοῦ βαπτισθῆναι, καὶ σὺ ἔρχῃ πρός με;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• forbadδιακωλύωdiakōluō · to hinderG1254
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• needχρείαchreia · needG5532
• to be baptizedβαπτίζωbaptizō · to baptizeG907
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• comestἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314

Cross-references for Matthew 3:14

• Luke 1:43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
• John 13:6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
• John 1:16Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
• John 3:3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
• Acts 1:5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
• Romans 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
• Galatians 3:22But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
• Galatians 4:6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
• Ephesians 2:3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
• Revelation 7:9After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Commentaries on Matthew 3:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14John forbad him - Earnestly and pressingly opposed him: this is the proper import of the words . I have observed that , in composition, most frequently, if not always, strengthens the signification in classic authors. - Wakefield.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14John forbade him - Refused him. I have need - It is more suitable that I should be baptized with thy baptism, the Holy Spirit, than that thou shouldest be baptized in water by me. I am a sinner, and unworthy to administer this to the Messiah.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 Christ's gracious condescensions are so surprising, that even the strongest believers at first can hardly believe them; so deep and mysterious, that even those who know his mind well, are apt to start objections against the will of Christ. And those who have much of the Spirit of God while here, see that they need to apply to Christ for more. Christ does not deny that John had need to be baptized of him, yet declares he will now be baptized…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14John had already admitted (Matthew 3:11–12) that he was less important than the Messiah, so he felt unworthy to baptize him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. But John forbade him--rather, "was (in the act of) hindering him," or "attempting to hinder him." saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?--(How John came to recognize Him, when he says he knew Him not, see on John 1. 31-34.) The emphasis of this most remarkable speech lies all in the pronouns: "What! Shall the Master come for baptism to the servant--the sinless Saviour to a sinner?" That thus much is in the Baptist's words…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 3:14

• Baptism
• Humility
• Jesus, the Christ
• John

In the dictionaries

• Kingdom
• Meet
• Please
• Region
• Repentance
• Unquenchable
• Forbid
• Jesus Christ
• John the Baptist
• baptize, baptized, baptism

Commentaries on Matthew 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings