Matthew 3:17 kjv
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:17 nkjv
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:17 niv
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:17 esv
and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 3:17 nlt
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."
Matthew 3 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 2:7 | "You are my Son; today I have begotten you." | Prophecy of the Messiah's divine Sonship. |
| Isa 42:1 | "Behold my Servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights." | Foreshadows God's chosen, beloved one and pleased soul. |
| Gen 22:2 | "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love..." | "Beloved son" imagery, sacrifice, agapetos in Septuagint. |
| Mt 17:5 | "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'" | Reiterates divine affirmation at Transfiguration. |
| Mk 1:11 | "And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'" | Parallel Gospel account of the baptism. |
| Lk 3:22 | "And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'" | Parallel Gospel account of the baptism. |
| Jn 12:28-30 | "...Then a voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.'" | Divine voice affirming Jesus publicly. |
| Heb 1:5 | "For to which of the angels did God ever say: 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father'?" | Highlights Jesus's superior Sonship to angels. |
| Heb 5:5 | "So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but God said to him, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.'" | Connects Christ's high priesthood with His Sonship. |
| Col 1:13 | "...and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." | Emphasizes Jesus as "the Son of His love." |
| Eph 1:6 | "...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved." | Believers' acceptance is found "in the Beloved" Son. |
| Php 2:6-8 | "...who, being in the form of God... He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death..." | Christ's ultimate obedience pleases God. |
| Jn 3:35 | "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand." | Father's love for the Son and delegated authority. |
| Jn 5:20 | "For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does..." | Demonstrates Father-Son intimacy and shared works. |
| Jn 8:29 | "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." | Jesus consistently pleases the Father. |
| Jn 10:17-18 | "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again." | Father's love for Jesus connected to His sacrificial obedience. |
| 2 Pet 1:17 | "For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" | Apostolic affirmation of the heavenly voice and identity. |
| Psa 40:8 | "I desire to do Your will, my God..." | Reflects Jesus's continuous alignment with the Father's will. |
| Heb 10:5-7 | "...'Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.'" | Christ's incarnation and obedience in doing God's will. |
| Rom 1:3-4 | "...concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David... and declared to be the Son of God with power..." | Confirmation of Jesus's Sonship, particularly post-resurrection. |
| 1 Jn 4:9-10 | "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world..." | Connects God's love for His Son to human salvation. |
| Isa 53:10 | "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief." | Foreshadows God's pleasure in the Servant's sacrificial work. |
| Php 4:18 | "...a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." | The idea of actions being "pleasing to God." |
| 1 Thess 4:1 | "...how you ought to walk and to please God..." | Calls believers to live in a way that pleases God, inspired by Christ. |
| Mt 12:18 | "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!" | Direct quote from Isa 42:1, linking Jesus to the chosen servant. |
Matthew 3 verses
Matthew 3 17 Meaning
Matthew 3:17 reveals God the Father's public declaration of His unique, deep love and full approval for Jesus immediately following His baptism. This voice from heaven identifies Jesus as the "beloved Son," marking the divine affirmation of His identity and the commencement of His public ministry. It is a powerful theological statement about Jesus's divine nature and relationship with God the Father, confirming His unique Sonship and divine pleasure in Him.
Matthew 3 17 Context
Matthew 3:17 immediately follows Jesus's baptism by John in the Jordan River. This event marks a pivotal transition, inaugurating Jesus's public ministry and serving as His anointing by the Holy Spirit. John's preceding ministry had called for repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah, and Jesus's baptism, despite His sinlessness, identified Him with humanity and fulfilled all righteousness. The voice from heaven, along with the visible descent of the Spirit (v.16), forms a unique Trinitarian revelation, clearly identifying Jesus and affirming His divine status and mission at the very outset of His redemptive work. This declaration prepares Jesus, and the reader, for the challenges of temptation and His subsequent ministry.
Matthew 3 17 Word analysis
- "And behold" (καὶ ἰδοὺ - kai idou): A common biblical idiom that introduces something striking, unexpected, or of great significance. It serves to draw the reader's attention and emphasize the extraordinary nature of the divine communication that follows, marking a profound moment.
- "a voice from heaven" (φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν - phōnē ek tōn ouranōn): This signifies a direct, unmistakable, and authoritative communication originating from God Himself, beyond any human source. It is a theophany, a manifestation of God's presence, lending ultimate authority and veracity to the message declared.
- "said" (ἔφη - ephē): A straightforward verb indicating an utterance, but in this divine context, it carries the weight of a decree or solemn declaration, establishing truth and reality.
- "This is" (Οὗτός ἐστιν - Houtos estin): A definitive demonstrative phrase providing unequivocal identification. It establishes Jesus's identity beyond doubt, directly from the Father, contrasting Him with other prophets or human leaders.
- "my beloved Son" (ὁ Υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός - ho Huios mou ho agapētos):
- "my Son" (ὁ Υἱός μου - ho Huios mou): Designates a unique and unparalleled relationship, signifying Jesus's divine origin and nature, distinct from Israel's collective sonship or any adoptive sonship. It echoes Psa 2:7, linking Jesus to the Davidic Messiah.
- "beloved" (ὁ ἀγαπητός - ho agapētos): This term means more than simply "loved." In this context, reflecting its Septuagint usage (e.g., for Isaac, Gen 22:2), it strongly implies "unique," "only-begotten," "chosen," or "dearly prized above all others." It underscores God's singular, profound affection and selection of Jesus.
- "with whom I am well pleased" (ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα - en hō eudokēsa):
- "well pleased" (εὐδόκησα - eudokēsa): Conveys complete divine satisfaction, delight, approval, and a positive disposition towards Jesus. It expresses God's affirmation of Jesus's person and His mission, implying His perfect righteousness and anticipation of His forthcoming obedient ministry. This phrase strongly echoes Isa 42:1, directly linking Jesus to the Suffering Servant of the Lord.
Words-group analysis:
- "And behold, a voice from heaven said": This phrase sets the scene for a moment of supreme divine revelation. It highlights the direct, miraculous, and authoritative intervention of God in human history, confirming the extraordinary significance of Jesus's baptism and subsequent ministry.
- "This is my beloved Son": This forms the core of the Father's declaration, serving as the foundational theological statement about Jesus's identity. It emphatically asserts His unique divine Sonship, distinguishing Him from all others and establishing His pre-eminent relationship with the Father.
- "with whom I am well pleased": This statement confirms God's absolute delight and approval of Jesus, both in His person and in His readiness for His messianic task. It suggests perfect alignment with the Father's will and foreshadows a life and sacrifice that would ultimately bring the Father the highest pleasure, initiating a new covenant of grace.
Matthew 3 17 Bonus section
This verse provides one of the clearest New Testament articulations of the Trinity at work simultaneously: the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending visibly as a dove (Mt 3:16), and the Father speaking audibly from heaven. It signifies a collective divine action inaugurating the new era of God's saving plan. The phrase "My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" intentionally fuses two significant Old Testament Messianic expectations: Psa 2:7 (the reigning Kingly Son of David) and Isa 42:1 (the Suffering Servant who fulfills God's will). This blend foreshadows the paradoxical nature of Jesus's ministry—both authoritative King and humble servant unto sacrifice. The declaration serves not only as a public announcement but also as profound divine encouragement and validation for Jesus, preceding His forty days of wilderness temptation, strengthening Him for the spiritual battles ahead.
Matthew 3 17 Commentary
Matthew 3:17 stands as a pinnacle of divine affirmation at the genesis of Jesus's public ministry. This powerful heavenly declaration by God the Father definitively identifies Jesus as His singular, uniquely cherished Son, and expresses complete satisfaction in Him. It validates Jesus's divine identity, marks Him as the promised Messiah who embodies both kingly authority and the humble role of God's beloved Servant, and sets the stage for His perfect life and redemptive mission. This affirmation underscores that Jesus's identity and every step of His obedience brought unqualified joy and approval to the Father.