At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
- KJV Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
- NKJV Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
- NASB Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him.
- NLT Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus comes from Galilee to be baptized by John. The sinless Son submits to John's baptism.
Overview
Jesus' coming to be baptized is remarkable, since John's baptism was for repentance from sin, of which Jesus had none. His action shows him identifying with the people he came to save and stepping publicly into his messianic mission. This moment inaugurates his earthly ministry.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- John 1:32–34Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
- Matt 2:22But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
- Mark 1:9–11In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
- Luke 3:21–22When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 3:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.