Matthew 3:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Complete Jewish Bible:

But Yochanan tried to stop him. "You are coming to me? I ought to be immersed by you!"

Berean Standard Bible:

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

American Standard Version:

But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But^{G1161} John^{G2491} forbad^{G1254} him, saying^{G3004}, I^{G1473} have^{G2192} need^{G5532} to be baptized^{G907} of^{G5259} thee^{G4675}, and^{G2532} comest^{G2064} thou^{G4771} to^{G4314} me^{G3165}?

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Commentary for Matthew 3:14

Matthew 3:14 captures a pivotal moment in the New Testament where John the Baptist and Jesus Christ meet at the Jordan River. The historical context is set during the ministry of John the Baptist, who was called by God to prepare the way for the Messiah, as prophesied in the Old Testament (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1). John's role was to call the people of Israel to repentance and to administer a baptism of repentance, signifying a readiness for the coming kingdom of God.

In this verse, when Jesus approaches John to be baptized, John initially objects, recognizing Jesus as the one who is greater and whose sandals he is not worthy to carry (Matthew 3:11). John's protest, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" reflects his understanding of Jesus' divine authority and his own unworthiness in comparison. John sees his baptism as one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, something that Jesus, being without sin (Hebrews 4:15), does not need.

The themes present in this verse include humility, as John the Baptist defers to Jesus' higher status; the recognition of Jesus' divine mission and purity; and the foreshadowing of Jesus' role in offering a baptism not of repentance, but of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Additionally, this moment underscores the importance of righteousness and the fulfillment of God's plan through Jesus' submission to John's baptism, an act that serves as Jesus' public anointing and the beginning of His earthly ministry. Jesus' acceptance of baptism also demonstrates His solidarity with humanity and His commitment to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), setting an example for believers to follow.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G2491
   There are 130 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Ἰωάννης
   Transliteration: Iōánnēs
   Pronunciation: ee-o-an'-nace
   Description: of Hebrew origin (יוֹחָנָן); Joannes (i.e. Jochanan), the name of four Israelites:--John.
   
3. Strong's Number: G1254
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: διακωλύω
   Transliteration: diakōlýō
   Pronunciation: dee-ak-o-loo'-o
   Description: from διά and κωλύω; to hinder altogether, i.e. utterly prohibit:--forbid.
   
4. Strong's Number: G3004
   There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λέγω
   Transliteration: légō
   Pronunciation: leg'-o
   Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
   
5. Strong's Number: G1473
   There are 334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐγώ
   Transliteration: egṓ
   Pronunciation: eg-o'
   Description: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me. For the other cases and the plural see ἐμέ, ἐμοί, ἐμοῦ, ἡμᾶς, ἡμεῖς, ἡμῖν, ἡμῶν, etc.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2192
   There are 628 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔχω
   Transliteration: échō
   Pronunciation: skheh'-o
   Description: a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
   
7. Strong's Number: G5532
   There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: χρεία
   Transliteration: chreía
   Pronunciation: khri'-ah
   Description: from the base of χράομαι or χρή; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution:--business, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want.
   
8. Strong's Number: G907
   There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: βαπτίζω
   Transliteration: baptízō
   Pronunciation: bap-tid'-zo
   Description: from a derivative of βάπτω; to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:--Baptist, baptize, wash.
   
9. Strong's Number: G5259
   There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὑπό
   Transliteration: hypó
   Pronunciation: hoop-o'
   Description: a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.
   
10. Strong's Number: G4675
    There are 360 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: σοῦ
    Transliteration: soû
    Pronunciation: soo
    Description: genitive case of σύ; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
    
11. Strong's Number: G2532
    There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καί
    Transliteration: kaí
    Pronunciation: kahee
    Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
    
12. Strong's Number: G2064
    There are 604 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔρχομαι
    Transliteration: érchomai
    Pronunciation: el'-tho
    Description: middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) , or (active) , which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
    
13. Strong's Number: G4771
    There are 163 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: σύ
    Transliteration: sý
    Pronunciation: soo
    Description: the personal pronoun of the second person singular; thou:-- thou. See also σέ, σοί, σοῦ; and for the plural ὑμᾶς, ὑμεῖς, ὑμῖν, ὑμῶν.
    
14. Strong's Number: G4314
    There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πρός
    Transliteration: prós
    Pronunciation: pros
    Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
    
15. Strong's Number: G3165
    There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μέ
    Transliteration: mé
    Pronunciation: meh
    Description: a shorter (and probably original) form of ἐμέ; me:--I, me, my.