3:22a

the Holy Spirit descended on Him: The clause the Holy Spirit descended on Him indicates that the Holy Spirit came down from heaven and perched/sat upon Jesus. The New Century Version has translated this is as:

the Holy Spirit came down on him

Holy Spirit: You should translate the term Holy Spirit here in the same way as you did in 3:16d.

in a bodily form like a dove: There are two ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in a bodily form like a dove:

(1) The Holy Spirit took the bodily form of a dove and came down on Jesus. This is why people often use a picture of a dove to represent the Holy Spirit. For example:

in the form of a dove (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Century Version, New Living Translation (1996); probably King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible)

(2) The Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus in the same way that a dove would come down. God’s Spirit took some bodily form, but it was not necessarily the form of a dove. For example:

in bodily form, descended on him like a dove (New Living Translation (2004))

(footnote in NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), probably Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

dove: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as dove refers to several different species of birds. In English, these birds are sometimes called “doves” and sometimes called “pigeons.” The dove here refers to the same kind of bird that the Berean Standard Bible calls a “pigeon” in 2:24b. (See the note there.) It is recommended that you translate it in the same way here as you did there.

For Jews, doves/pigeons were a symbol of something that is gentle and peaceful. Doves/pigeons that we know today are often not gentle. They can be aggressive and attack other birds. It is important to consider this here where the Holy Spirit is described like a dove.

Here are some ways to translate this word:

• If your readers know doves/pigeons and they are considered good birds, you should use your word for a dove/pigeon.

• If doves/pigeons are unknown, or if they are considered bad, you may want to use the general word for “bird.”

3:22b

a voice came from heaven: The voice was the voice of God the Father. God spoke from heaven and talked to Jesus. The words in 3:22c are what God said to Jesus.

Some other ways to say a voice came from heaven are:

a voice spoke from heaven
-or-
they heard a voice speaking from heaven
-or-
God spoke from heaven

heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heaven is also used in 3:21b. It can have two different meanings, depending on the context:

(a) heaven, the place where God dwells;

(b) the sky.

Here the word heaven refers to the place where God dwells. In some languages, you may need to use a different word than the word you used for “heaven” in 3:21b.

See heaven in the Glossary.

3:22c

You are My beloved Son: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as You are My beloved Son is literally “You are my son, the loved-one.” The words “the loved-one” indicate that Jesus was God the Father’s dear son. Be sure that it is clear in your translation that the word You refers to Jesus. Other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

You are my own dear Son. (Good News Translation)
-or-
You are my Son. I love you.

beloved: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as beloved refers to the concern and affection that God the Father has for God the Son, Jesus.

Consider the most appropriate term to describe this type of love. In some languages there may be an idiom for it. It is possible that you may need to use different expressions to refer to God’s love and human love.

3:22d

in You I am well pleased: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have “with you I am well pleased.” Almost all English versions follow this reading. For example:

I am pleased with you (Good News Translation)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts have “I today have fathered you.” For example:

today have I fathered you (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It has the earliest and most widespread manuscript support, and the majority of English versions follow these manuscripts.

The phrase in You I am well pleased means “I approve of you” and “I am very happy with you.” God the Father was expressing his joy that he receives from his Son. Many English versions say “with you” rather than “in you.” For example:

I am pleased with you (Good News Translation)

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