Luke 3:5
What does Luke 3:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 3:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 3:5 means
This verse continues the prophecy from Isaiah, describing the dramatic restoration and leveling that will occur as a result of preparing the Lord's way. Metaphorically, it speaks of removing obstacles and making the path smooth: valleys being filled and mountains brought low represent the humbling of the proud and the exaltation of the lowly. The crooked made straight and rough ways smooth signify a moral and spiritual transformation, enabling all to encounter God's salvation without impediment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Every valley will be lifted up, and all the mountains and hills made low, and the twisted will be made straight, and the rough ways smooth;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straightness, and the rough become smooth ways;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Every gorge shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked [places] shall become a straight [path], and the rough places smooth ways,
Context
Building on the Isaiah prophecy introduced in the previous verse, this passage elaborates on the transformative nature of the "preparation." It describes the sweeping changes that are necessary to clear the path for the Lord, moving from the identity of the "voice" to the impact of the message. This sets the stage for the universal impact of John's paving the way.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain:
- Isaiah 45:2
I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron;
- Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
- Ezekiel 17:24
And all the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I, Jehovah, have spoken and have done it.
- Luke 1:51
He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
- Isaiah 2:11
The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.
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