Mark 1:3 kjv
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Mark 1:3 nkjv
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' "
Mark 1:3 niv
"a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'?"
Mark 1:3 esv
the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'"
Mark 1:3 nlt
He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
'Prepare the way for the LORD's coming!
Clear the road for him!' "
Mark 1 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 40:3 | A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD...” | Original prophecy fulfilled by John the Baptist |
| Mal 3:1 | “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me...” | Prophecy of a forerunner for the Lord |
| Mal 4:5-6 | “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes...” | Prophecy of Elijah as the forerunner |
| Matt 3:1-3 | ...John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent... For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, ‘A voice...’” | Fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3 in John's ministry |
| Luke 3:2-6 | ...The word of God came to John... And he went... preaching a baptism of repentance... as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “A voice...” | John's ministry fulfills Isaiah's prophecy |
| John 1:23 | He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” | John the Baptist identifies himself |
| Luke 1:17 | And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children... to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. | John's role in preparing people for the Lord |
| Ps 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? ...He who has clean hands and a pure heart... | Spiritual preparation for God's presence |
| Ps 50:23 | The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God! | Living a righteous life prepares the way |
| Prov 4:26 | Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. | Exhortation for straight and righteous paths |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus is the ultimate Way |
| Acts 13:24 | Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. | John's preparation through repentance |
| Acts 2:36 | Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” | Identification of Jesus as "Lord" |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name... that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... | Jesus is declared Lord of all |
| 2 Cor 10:5 | We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ... | Clearing obstacles for knowing God/Christ |
| Heb 12:12-13 | Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet... | Making spiritual paths straight for disciples |
| 2 Pet 3:10-12 | But the day of the Lord will come... Since all these things are to be thus dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God... | Living a life of readiness for the Lord's coming |
| Hos 2:14 | "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her." | Wilderness as a place of encounter with God |
| Ex 3:1-2 | Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro... He led his flock to the west side of the wilderness... the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire... | Wilderness as a site for divine revelation |
| 1 Kgs 19:4-8 | But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness... he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. | Wilderness as a place of spiritual retreat/renewal |
| Jas 4:8 | Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. | Call for inner purity to draw near to God |
| Acts 9:2 | ...that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. | Early Christian movement as "The Way" |
Mark 1 verses
Mark 1 3 Meaning
Mark 1:3 introduces John the Baptist as the divinely appointed herald who fulfills the ancient prophecy of Isaiah 40:3. This verse declares that a distinct voice would sound in the desolate wilderness, urging people to prepare for the arrival of the Lord and to remove all obstacles—both literal and spiritual—that might impede His coming. It signifies the commencement of God's redemptive action through the direct preparation for Jesus, identifying Him implicitly as "the Lord."
Mark 1 3 Context
Mark 1:3 is directly quoted from Isaiah 40:3 (LXX) and serves as a foundational verse for understanding the identity and mission of John the Baptist within Mark's Gospel. It establishes that John's appearance and ministry were not random but were the prophetic fulfillment of Old Testament scripture, demonstrating divine orchestratiJon and legitimacy. Mark begins his Gospel immediately with this prophecy, asserting that John's work, which includes baptizing in the wilderness and preaching repentance, directly paves the way for Jesus, thus affirming Jesus's identity as "the Lord" of the prophecy. Historically, roads in the ancient world, especially for royal arrivals, required clearing, leveling, and straightening of winding paths. This metaphor applies spiritually, urging listeners to remove moral and spiritual obstacles in their lives. The mention of "the wilderness" holds significance in Jewish thought, echoing the Exodus, times of divine encounter, and a place of testing and purity. Mark, following the Septuagint, specifically connects the voice to the wilderness, establishing John's location for his ministry, distinct from urban centers, emphasizing his prophetic austerity and independence from established religious institutions.
Mark 1 3 Word analysis
- A voice (φωνὴ - phōnē): Represents a message with divine authority, not merely an audible sound. It signifies a declaration of God's will. John is presented as the spokesperson for God, relaying His crucial announcement.
- of one crying (βοῶντος - boōntos): Emphasizes the urgency, boldness, and distinctness of the proclamation. It is a powerful shout, indicating a matter of utmost importance demanding immediate attention, not a quiet suggestion. It speaks to a prophetic tradition of speaking forth God's word with intensity.
- in the wilderness (ἐρήμῳ - erēmō): Significant in Jewish tradition as a place of encounter with God, testing (Exodus), prophecy (Elijah), and purity (Essenes). Unlike the Septuagint where "in the wilderness" modifies the voice, the Masoretic Text (Hebrew) connects it with the way. Mark, by quoting the Septuagint, stresses that the crier is literally in the wilderness, placing John's ministry squarely in this theologically potent locale, away from Jerusalem's corrupt institutions, enhancing his prophetic authority. It points to a new beginning, often initiated in desolation.
- Prepare (ἑτοιμάσατε - hetoimasate): An imperative command calling for active, decisive readiness. It implies making things ready in advance for an impending event, like preparing a royal road. Spiritually, it means repentance and transformation, making oneself ready to receive God.
- the way (ὁδὸν - hodon): Literally a road or path, but metaphorically refers to one's conduct, teachings, or course of life (e.g., "the Way" for early Christianity, Acts 9:2). Here, it refers to making direct and unhindered access for the Lord.
- of the Lord (Κυρίου - Kyriou): This title, when applied to the "Lord" whose way is being prepared, in the original prophecy (Isa 40:3) refers to YHWH (God of Israel). Mark's application to Jesus directly elevates Jesus to a divine status, equating Him with YHWH, affirming His supreme authority and nature from the very outset of the Gospel.
- make straight (εὐθείας - eutheias) his paths (τρίβους - tribous): "Straighten" implies removing obstacles, winding turns, and making things level and clear. "Paths" is synonymous with "way" and reinforces the metaphor of clearing routes. Spiritually, it means removing obstacles like sin, unrighteousness, pride, or hardened hearts that impede God's presence or our reception of His message. It implies a moral and ethical realignment to align with divine standards. This rectification is both internal (hearts) and external (actions).
Mark 1 3 Bonus section
The precise wording of Mark 1:3 highlights a significant textual variance between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Septuagint (LXX) of Isaiah 40:3. While the MT reads "In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord," potentially linking "wilderness" to where the way is prepared, Mark, like Matthew and Luke, follows the LXX reading, which is interpreted as "A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord...'" This crucial difference emphasizes that the voice—John the Baptist—is geographically located in the wilderness, a literal description of John's historical ministry and location. This not only roots John in prophecy but also symbolically connects him to wilderness motifs in Jewish history, suggesting purification and a fresh start before a major divine event. It serves as an polemic against those who might look for the Messiah exclusively within the established temple or city, showing that God's new move originates from an unexpected, yet biblically resonant, place.
Mark 1 3 Commentary
Mark 1:3 is more than a mere quotation; it's a profound theological declaration opening Mark's Gospel. It establishes John the Baptist's pivotal role as the direct fulfillment of Isaiah's ancient prophecy, bridging the Old Testament expectations with the dawning reality of Jesus. The image of a "voice in the wilderness" preparing the "way of the Lord" vividly portrays John's urgent, solitary ministry calling for repentance in anticipation of God's immediate advent in Jesus. This preparation involves a moral straightening – a clearing away of spiritual obstacles (sins, prejudices, self-righteousness) and a re-alignment of life according to God's will. By attributing the Old Testament title "Lord" (referring to YHWH) directly to the one for whom John prepares the way, Mark subtly but powerfully asserts Jesus's divine identity and authority from the Gospel's beginning. The verse serves as a foundational summons for the audience to recognize God's impending decisive action through Jesus and to respond with readiness and changed hearts.