Luke 3 22

Luke 3:22 kjv

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Luke 3:22 nkjv

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

Luke 3:22 niv

and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Luke 3:22 esv

and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Luke 3:22 nlt

and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy. "

Luke 3 verses

Luke 3 22 Meaning

Luke 3:22 vividly describes the divine affirmation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, marking the inauguration of His public ministry. It is a profound manifestation of the Holy Trinity: God the Father declares His beloved Son from heaven, the Son is baptized, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in a discernible form. This event serves as a foundational declaration of Jesus' identity and divine mission, signifying God's ultimate pleasure in Him and anointing Him for His redemptive work.

Luke 3 22 Context

Luke chapter 3 begins with John the Baptist's ministry of preaching repentance and baptizing for the forgiveness of sins, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy (Isa 40:3-5). His message calls all people to prepare for the Lord's coming. Jesus, among many others, comes to John to be baptized, though He has no sins to confess. This act of humility signifies His identification with humanity and His willingness to fulfill all righteousness (Matt 3:15). Luke 3:22 immediately follows Jesus' baptism, showcasing the pivotal moment when heaven publicly validates His identity and prepares Him for His subsequent ministry, which includes temptation and the commencement of His public teaching and healing. The event highlights the shift from John's preparatory work to Jesus' Messianic fulfillment.

Luke 3 22 Word analysis

• "and the Holy Spirit" (καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, kai to pneuma to hagion):

  • καὶ (kai): "and" – connects this divine attestation directly to Jesus' baptism.
  • πνεῦμα (pneuma): Spirit, breath, wind. Here, the Third Person of the Godhead.
  • ἅγιον (hagion): Holy, set apart, sacred. Denotes divine purity and unique essence.
  • Significance: Identifies the active agent as God Himself, distinct yet united with the Father and Son, highlighting the Triune nature of God. The Holy Spirit empowers and sanctifies.

• "descended on Him" (καταβῆναι ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν, katabēnai ep' auton):

  • καταβῆναι (katabēnai): "to descend," indicating a deliberate, purposeful act of divine presence coming down from heaven to Jesus.
  • ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν (ep' auton): "upon Him," direct and specific direction towards Jesus.
  • Significance: Demonstrates God's specific anointing and commissioning of Jesus for His redemptive mission, not just a general presence.

• "in bodily form" (σωματικῷ εἴδει, sōmatikō eidei):

  • σωματικῷ (sōmatikō): "bodily, corporeal." Indicates a visible, tangible, and objective manifestation.
  • εἴδει (eidei): "form, appearance, shape." The outward presentation.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that the Holy Spirit's presence was not merely a subjective feeling or an inner prompting, but an external, observable reality to those present, providing clear validation.

• "like a dove" (ὡσεὶ περιστεράν, hōsei peristeran):

  • ὡσεὶ (hōsei): "like, as if, about." A simile, meaning it resembled a dove but was not literally a dove.
  • περιστεράν (peristeran): "a dove."
  • Significance: The dove symbolizes peace, purity, innocence, gentleness, and is often associated with new beginnings (Gen 8:8-12, Noah's ark). Unlike the fire and wind of Pentecost or Sinai, this imagery emphasizes the serene and gracious nature of Jesus' anointing, and perhaps His role as the bearer of peace and a new creation.

• "and a voice came from heaven" (καὶ φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, kai phōnē egeneto ex ouranou):

  • φωνὴ (phōnē): "voice, sound." Here, the distinct articulation of speech.
  • ἐγένετο (egeneto): "it came to pass, it happened." Indicating a concrete event.
  • ἐξ οὐρανοῦ (ex ouranou): "out of heaven." Denotes a direct, unambiguous communication from God the Father.
  • Significance: This audible declaration underscores divine authority and truth, eliminating any doubt about Jesus' identity. It's a theophany, God speaking directly to humanity through His Son.

• "You are My beloved Son" (Σὺ εἶ ὁ Υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, Sy ei ho Huios mou ho agapetos):

  • Σὺ (Sy): "You" – singular, direct address to Jesus.
  • ὁ Υἱός μου (ho Huios mou): "My Son." Establishes a unique, divine filial relationship, not merely human. Echoes Psa 2:7, affirming Jesus' Messianic kingship.
  • ὁ ἀγαπητός (ho agapetos): "the beloved one." Indicates a unique, precious, and chosen Son. It points to divine affection and selection, reminiscent of Isa 42:1.
  • Significance: This is the central affirmation. It definitively declares Jesus' divine nature and His unique relationship with the Father. It is a revelation of who Jesus truly is.

• "with You I am well pleased" (ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα, en soi eudokēsa):

  • ἐν σοὶ (en soi): "in You," "with You," indicating the focus of God's pleasure.
  • εὐδόκησα (eudokēsa): "I was well pleased, I have found delight." Expresses God's perfect satisfaction and approval. This perfect participle signifies a past action with continuing results, implying eternal pleasure. Echoes Isa 42:1 again.
  • Significance: God's ultimate approval validates Jesus' Person and future mission. It confirms His perfect obedience even before He began His public ministry, establishing His blameless character and divine favor for the work He was about to undertake.

Luke 3 22 Bonus section

This event is not merely a symbolic moment but a dynamic activation and public manifestation of the Spirit's anointing upon Jesus. While Jesus was already the Son of God by nature (Jn 1:1, Lk 1:35), the Spirit's descent and the Father's voice signify a new phase: His anointing for public ministry as the Messiah. The phrase "in bodily form" differentiates this from other instances where the Spirit's presence might be felt or seen as fire (Acts 2). This tangible, visual, and audible affirmation established Jesus' credentials beyond doubt for His earthly work, demonstrating the unified will of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the mission of salvation.

Luke 3 22 Commentary

Luke 3:22 is a profound Trinitarian event, revealing the three Persons of the Godhead acting in perfect unity for the redemptive plan. The Holy Spirit's descent in bodily form like a dove underscores a unique anointing and signifies a new, peaceful era of God's direct interaction with humanity through His Son. The Father's voice, direct from heaven, emphatically declares Jesus' divine Sonship and expresses infinite delight in Him. This moment serves as a formal commissioning and divine validation of Jesus' identity as the long-awaited Messiah, the Servant prophesied in Isaiah, and the beloved Son of God, marking the commencement of His public ministry. It reassures Jesus of His Father's approval and publicly designates Him as the one through whom God's ultimate salvation would be brought to fruition.