And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- KJV And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
- NKJV And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- NASB and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- NLT And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
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
A voice from heaven declares, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." The Father publicly affirms Jesus' identity.
Overview
The Father's words combine echoes of Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1, identifying Jesus as the royal Messiah and the Servant of the Lord. This declaration confirms Jesus' divine sonship and the Father's delight in him at the outset of his ministry. With the Father, the Son, and the Spirit all present, the verse beautifully reveals the triune God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Isa 42:1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
- Matt 17:5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
- Ps 2:7I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
- Luke 9:35And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”
- Matt 12:18“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
- Mark 9:7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
- 2 Pet 1:17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- Luke 3:22and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- Mark 1:11And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- John 12:28–30Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
- Col 1:13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
- Eph 1:6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
- John 5:37And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,
- Isa 42:21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.
- Rev 14:2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and the loud rumbling of thunder. And the sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:17 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.