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Matthew 3:5-8

Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Matthew 3:5-8 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

    They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

    But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

    Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Then went oute to hym Ierusalem and all Iury and all the region roude aboute Iorda

    and were baptised of him in Iorda confessynge their synnes

    When he sawe many of the Pharises and of the Saduces come to hys baptism he sayde vnto the: O generacion of vipers who hath taught you to fle from the vengeauce to come?

    Brynge forth therfore the frutes belongynge to repentaunce.

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  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Then went out to him Ierusalem and all Iudea, and all the region rounde about Iordan.

    And they were baptized of him in Iordan, confessing their sinnes.

    Now when he sawe many of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces come to his baptisme, he said vnto them, O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the anger to come?

    Bring foorth therefore fruite worthy amendment of life.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (2)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • Where did John the Baptist baptize?
  • Were the Pharisees baptized by John?

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Cross-references (102)

  • Luke 3:8 (v8) Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you…
  • Acts 26:20 (v8) but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should…
  • 2 Peter 1:4-8 (v8) by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine…
  • Galatians 5:22-23 (v8) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things…
  • Ephesians 5:9 (v8) for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
Show all 100 cross-references
  • Philippians 1:11 (v8) being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
  • Isaiah 1:16-17 (v8) Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do well. Seek…
  • Jeremiah 36:3 (v8) It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I intend to do to them; that they may each return from his evil way; that I…
  • Jeremiah 26:13 (v8) Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has…
  • Matthew 21:28-30 (v8) But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ He answered, ‘I will…
  • Romans 2:4-7 (v8) Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But…
  • Matthew 12:34 (v7) You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
  • Jeremiah 7:3-7 (v8) Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says, “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Don’t trust in…
  • Matthew 22:23 (v7) On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
  • Matthew 23:33 (v7) You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
  • Romans 5:9 (v7) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.
  • 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (v7) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
  • Mark 1:5 (vv5–6) All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
  • Matthew 16:6 (v7) Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
  • Matthew 23:13-28 (v7) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will…
  • Acts 19:18 (v6) Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.
  • Romans 1:18 (v7) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
  • 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (v8) For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold, this…
  • Jeremiah 6:10 (v7) To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, Yahweh’s word…
  • Matthew 3:13-16 (v6) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized…
  • Matthew 16:11-12 (v7) How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”…
  • Matthew 21:32 (v8) For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When…
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (v7) who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes in that day to be…
  • 1 John 3:10 (v7) In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who…
  • Genesis 3:15 (v7) I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise…
  • Psalms 58:3-6 (v7) The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a snake,…
  • Isaiah 57:3-4 (v7) “But draw near here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes. Whom do you mock? Against whom do you make a…
  • Isaiah 59:5 (v7) They hatch adders’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web. He who eats of their eggs dies; and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper.
  • Jeremiah 51:6 (v7) “Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Everyone save his own life! Don’t be cut off in her iniquity; for it is the time of Yahweh’s vengeance.…
  • Ezekiel 36:25 (v6) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness, and from all your idols.
  • Matthew 3:11 (v6) I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will…
  • Matthew 11:7-12 (v5) As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed…
  • Luke 3:7 (v5) He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to…
  • Luke 3:7-9 (v7) He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to…
  • Luke 3:10-14 (v8) The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?” He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has…
  • Luke 16:16 (v5) The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into…
  • John 1:25-28 (v6) They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize in water,…
  • John 3:23 (v5) John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized;
  • John 5:35 (v5) He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
  • John 8:44 (v7) You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand…
  • John 9:40 (v7) Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
  • Acts 2:38-41 (v6) Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will…
  • Hebrews 9:10 (v6) being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
  • 1 John 1:9 (v6) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • Leviticus 16:21 (v6) Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all…
  • Leviticus 26:40 (v6) “ ‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me; and also that…
  • Numbers 5:7 (v6) then he shall confess his sin which he has done; and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, add to it the fifth part of it, and…
  • Joshua 7:19 (v6) Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done!…
  • Job 33:27-28 (v6) He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. He has redeemed my soul from…
  • Psalms 32:5 (v6) I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, and you forgave the iniquity…
  • Proverbs 28:13 (v6) He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
  • Ezekiel 3:18-21 (v7) When I tell the wicked, ‘You will surely die;’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his…
  • Ezekiel 33:3-7 (v7) if, when he sees the sword come on the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people; then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and…
  • Daniel 9:4 (v6) I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, “Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness…
  • Matthew 4:25 (v5) Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
  • Matthew 5:20 (v7) For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of…
  • Matthew 12:24 (v7) But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
  • Matthew 22:15 (v7) Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
  • Matthew 22:34 (v7) But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together.
  • Mark 1:8-9 (v6) I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.” In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized…
  • Mark 7:3-5 (v7) (For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. They don’t…
  • Mark 8:15 (v7) He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
  • Mark 12:13 (v7) They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words.
  • Mark 12:18 (v7) Some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying,
  • Luke 3:16 (v6) John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy…
  • Luke 7:30 (v7) But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.
  • Luke 11:39-44 (v7) The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and…
  • Luke 15:18-21 (v6) I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be…
  • Luke 16:14 (v7) The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.
  • Luke 18:11 (v7) The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous,…
  • John 1:24 (v7) The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
  • John 1:31-33 (v6) I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” John testified, saying, “I have…
  • John 3:23-25 (v6) John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized; for John was not yet thrown…
  • John 7:45-49 (v7) The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?” The officers answered,…
  • Acts 1:5 (v6) For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
  • Acts 4:1-2 (v7) As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, being upset because they taught the…
  • Acts 5:17 (v7) But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy
  • Acts 10:36-38 (v6) The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— you yourselves know what…
  • Acts 11:16 (v6) I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’
  • Acts 15:5 (v7) But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the…
  • Acts 19:4-5 (v6) Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come…
  • Acts 20:31 (v7) Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
  • Acts 22:16 (v6) Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
  • Acts 23:6-9 (v7) But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a…
  • Acts 26:5 (v7) having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:2 (v6) and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
  • Hebrews 6:2 (v6) of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
  • Hebrews 11:7 (v7) By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which…
  • Revelation 6:16-17 (v7) They told the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the…
  • Revelation 12:9-10 (v7) The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown…
  • Matthew 15:12 (v7) Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
  • Colossians 2:12 (v6) having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the…
  • Titus 3:5-6 (v6) not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and…
  • Hebrews 6:18 (v7) that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to…
  • James 5:16 (v6) Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is…

100 distinct cross-references across this passage (102 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (23 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv5–8 The people of Jerusalem.

The people of Jerusalem.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv5–8 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv5–8 The preacher being described, the evangelist proceedeth to tell…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Observe here, The great encouragement which John had in…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v7 The doctrine John preached was that of repentance, in…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv5–8 Then went out to him Jerusalem,.... The uncommon appearance…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv6–8 Confessing their sins - Of their own accord; freely…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Verse 5. Jordan] Many of the best MSS. and…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv5–8 Mat 3:5. Then went out to him Jerusalem —…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv5–8 Jerusalem - The people of Jerusalem.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv5–8 So great was the celebrity of St. John’s sanctity,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5–8 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea,…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv5–8 5. Went out — Left their homes and went…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–8 6. baptized] John introduced no new custom, for ceremonial…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–8 (5) All the region round about Jordan.—This would include…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv5–8 Then. Not merely temporal, as probably in ver. 13,…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv5–8 All the region round about Jordan.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv5–8 5. There went out to him Jerusalem and all…
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain On vv7–8 Mat 3:7-8; Luk 3:7-8. Among the teeming myriads, here…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Sin. (See Scofield "Rom 3:23").
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv5–8 The effect of his preaching:
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v7 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv5, 7, 8 3:5-6 John’s ministry became so popular that many people…
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