And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 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.”
- BSB And a voice from heaven said, “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 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
- Matt 17:5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
- Ps 2:7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
- Luke 9:35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
- Matt 12:18Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
- Mark 9:7And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
- 2 Pet 1:17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
- Luke 3:22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
- Mark 1:11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
- John 12:28–30Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
- Col 1:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
- Eph 1:6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
- John 5:37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
- Isa 42:21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
- Rev 14:2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
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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.