Matthew 3 5

Matthew 3:5 kjv

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

Matthew 3:5 nkjv

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him

Matthew 3:5 niv

People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.

Matthew 3:5 esv

Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,

Matthew 3:5 nlt

People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.

Matthew 3 verses

Matthew 3 5 Meaning

Matthew 3:5 describes the widespread, almost unprecedented, response to John the Baptist's ministry. It portrays an extraordinary spiritual hunger or curiosity gripping the populace, leading people from diverse geographical and social backgrounds to venture into the Judean wilderness to hear John's message and participate in his baptism. This mass exodus from established centers of life highlights the compelling nature of John's prophetic call to repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah.

Matthew 3 5 Context

Matthew 3:5 is nestled within the introductory narrative of John the Baptist's ministry. John's appearance fulfills Old Testament prophecies about a messenger preparing the way for the Messiah (Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1). His primary message is a radical call to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 3:2). This verse immediately follows the description of John's unusual lifestyle – his simple diet and clothing – which set him apart as a true prophet. The verse serves to illustrate the widespread impact and recognition John garnered, authenticating his prophetic authority through the unprecedented popular response. It highlights the vast spiritual longing or curiosity that led people away from the established religious structures of Jerusalem and Judaea to the wild, rugged terrain by the Jordan, where John preached a message of spiritual renewal. This historical context reveals a populace under Roman rule, anticipating deliverance, and perhaps disillusioned with contemporary religious leadership, thus ripe for a powerful new voice in the wilderness.

Matthew 3 5 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Tote): A simple temporal connector indicating immediate sequence. It emphasizes the direct and swift popular response to John's appearance and message described in previous verses.
• went out (ἐξεπορεύετο - exeporeueto): This Greek verb is in the imperfect tense, suggesting a continuous or repeated action, implying a steady stream of people departing rather than a single event. It conveys the idea of a significant movement away from populated areas and towards the wilderness, symbolizing a turning from the norm to embrace John's counter-cultural message. The prefix ex- (out) reinforces this outward movement.
• to him: Refers directly to John the Baptist. It signifies that John himself, his message, and his location in the wilderness were the specific points of attraction and destination for these crowds.
• Jerusalem (Ἱεροσόλυμα - Hierosolyma): The capital city, both politically and religiously. Its inclusion signifies that even the sophisticated and religiously devout residents of the urban center were drawn to John, representing the city's inhabitants.
• and all Judaea (Ἰουδαία - Ioudaia): The broader geographical and political region of Judea, the heartland of the Jewish people, ruled by the Roman prefect. "All" (πᾶσα - pasa) signifies a comprehensive sweep, encompassing rural and urban areas throughout the province.
• and all the region round about Jordan (περίχωρος τοῦ Ἰορδάνου - perichōros tou Iordanou): This specifies the immediate vicinity of John's ministry, highlighting the geographical focus around the Jordan River. This area was symbolically significant as the gateway to the Promised Land for the Israelites (Josh 3), a place of ancient prophetic events, and commonly associated with ritual purity baths. The repetition of "all" further emphasizes the universal and comprehensive nature of this migration to John.

• "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan": This entire phrase, particularly with the repeated use of "all," highlights the astonishing extent and demographic breadth of the movement to John the Baptist. It signifies a profound and widespread response, indicating that John's message resonated deeply with a broad spectrum of the population, drawing them out from cities, towns, and the countryside to the wilderness for repentance and baptism. This collective action demonstrates the immediate and substantial impact of John's ministry, foreshadowing the preparation of a people for the coming of Christ. It implies a direct contrast between the "out" movement to the Jordan and the established religious practices centered in Jerusalem.

Matthew 3 5 Bonus section

The description of the crowds "going out" from Jerusalem and Judaea to John in the wilderness carries implicit polemic against the existing religious institutions. It suggests that the spiritual leadership and teaching provided by the Temple and synagogue systems were not adequately satisfying the populace's spiritual hunger. The people had to leave these traditional centers to find an authentic encounter with God through John's ministry. The choice of the Jordan River, associated with national covenant and new beginnings for Israel, for John's baptism, further underscores a symbolic cleansing and re-entry into covenant relationship, outside the temple rituals. This outpouring of people indicates a widespread recognition that a new prophetic voice had arisen, breaking centuries of silence and pointing towards a momentous spiritual shift.

Matthew 3 5 Commentary

Matthew 3:5 vividly depicts the overwhelming public response to John the Baptist. The mass movement of people from the cultural and religious heart of Jerusalem, across the expanse of Judea, and from all surrounding areas to the wilderness by the Jordan River underscores the unique appeal and prophetic authority of John. This unprecedented gathering highlights a significant spiritual unrest and anticipation among the people, indicating that John's radical call to repentance was perceived as a direct and urgent message from God, unlike the messages from the established religious authorities of the day. The sheer scale of the crowds arriving for baptism testified to the powerful divine hand at work through John, preparing the ground for the public appearance of the Messiah. It was a visible manifestation of Israel's spiritual preparation, a "making straight the way of the Lord."