Luke 3:2
What does Luke 3:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 3:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 3:2 means
Amidst the established political and religious powers, a divine shift occurs: the Word of God—the authoritative declaration from God Himself—comes directly to John, the son of Zacharias, who is living in the wilderness. This emphasizes that divine authority doesn't originate from human institutions or positions of power, but directly from God, speaking to His chosen vessel in an unexpected location. This direct divine commission authenticates John's prophetic role and message.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949When Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the waste land.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Annas and Caiaphas being chief priests--there came a word of God unto John the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Under the high priests Anna and Caiphas: the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, [the] word ofGod came upon John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
Context
Following the detailed historical markers of the previous verse, this verse immediately introduces John the Baptist and the source of his authority. It directly connects the historical setting to the divine intervention, demonstrating that John's ministry is not self-initiated but divinely appointed, an essential preface to understanding his powerful preaching.
v.1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
v.2This passage
v.3And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zephaniah 1:1
The word of Jehovah which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
- Jeremiah 1:2
to whom the word of Jehovah came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
- Jonah 1:1
Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
- Jeremiah 2:1
And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
- John 18:24
Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
- Hosea 1:1
The word of Jehovah that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
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