Paragraph 3:16–17

3:16a

As soon as: The phrase As soon as here means “immediately” or “without waiting.”

Here are some ways to connect this phrase to the rest of the sentence:

• Connect it to the word “baptized.” For example:

And when was Jesus was baptized (English Standard Version)

• Connect it to the verb “went up.” For example:

he went up immediately from the water (Revised Standard Version)

Jesus was baptized: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was baptized is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

After Jesus was baptized (God’s Word)

• As an active verb. For example:

⌊John⌋ baptized Jesus

It is clear from the context that John baptized Jesus. It is not clear what the form of baptism was like. You should translate this word in the same way that you did previously in this chapter (3:6b, 3:11, 3:13, and 3:14).

He went up out of the water: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went up can also means “came up” (as in the Good News Translation). In this context, it means that “Jesus came out of the river.” Jesus had stepped down into the river in order to be baptized. This word indicates that he returned to the edge of the river and stepped onto dry land.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he walked out of the water
-or-
he exited the river

3:16b

Suddenly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Suddenly is often translated as “behold.” It literally means “look” or “see.” This word brings attention to the words that follow. This word is often used when something unexpected and extraordinary happens. In this passage, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus.

If you have a term that gets the attention of people, you may want to use it here. Here are some English examples:

and behold (English Standard Version)
-or-
Unexpectedly
-or-
Look!

the heavens were opened: There is a textual issue in this verse. In some Greek manuscripts, this clause includes a Greek word that means “to him.”

(1) Many Greek manuscripts do not have this Greek word, and most English versions do not translate this word. For example:

the heavens were opened (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have the word that can be translated “to him” after “heaven was opened.” For example:

Then heaven was opened to him (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) as the majority of English versions do.

heavens: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heavens can have two different meanings, depending on the context:

(a) the place where God lives

(b) the sky: the place where the sun, moon, and stars can be seen

In the New Testament, God often showed supernatural signs from the sky. Some signs were a voice, fire, and a bright light. In this verse, either the meaning “heaven” or “sky” would fit the context: The Holy Spirit came down like a dove and God’s voice came from heaven or the sky.

were opened: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were opened is passive. Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

• As a passive verb. For example:

heaven was opened (Good News Translation)

• As an active verb. For example:

⌊God⌋ opened heaven

This phrase illustrates heaven opening like a door or curtain is opened.

3:16c

He saw: The pronoun He refers to Jesus here.

the Spirit of God: The Spirit of God refers to the Holy Spirit.

See the note on “the Holy Spirit” at 1:18d, and consider how you translated 1:18.

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

(1) The Spirit of God took the bodily form of a dove and came down on Jesus.

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

coming down in the form of a dove
-or-
flying down in the shape of a dove

dove: A dove is a small, gentle bird. It is like a pigeon. It symbolized something that is gentle and peaceful. There are at least two ways to translate this word:

• If doves or some similar birds such as pigeons are known in your areas and are considered good birds or a good sign, you can use your word for a dove or pigeon.

• If doves are unknown or if they are considered a bad sign, use the general name for “bird.”

3:16d

and resting on Him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and resting on Him is literally “coming upon him.” The text does not indicate exactly where on Jesus the dove landed. So you should not specify that it was on his head or his shoulder.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

coming down on him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
landing on him
-or-
descending to him

-or-

sat/perched on him

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