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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 3:8–14

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

34 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 8

  1. Luke 3:8Rank 1 from verse 8
    Open

    8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  2. Acts 26:20Rank 2 from verse 8
    Open

    20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

  3. 2 Peter 1:4–8Rank 3 from verse 8
    Open

    4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

    5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

    6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

    7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

    8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  4. Galatians 5:22–23Rank 4 from verse 8
    Open

    22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

    23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

  5. Ephesians 5:9Rank 5 from verse 8
    Open

    9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

From verse 9

  1. Luke 3:8Rank 1 from verse 9
    Open

    8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  2. Romans 9:7–8Rank 2 from verse 9
    Open

    7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

    8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

  3. Galatians 3:27–29Rank 3 from verse 9
    Open

    27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

    29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

  4. John 8:33Rank 4 from verse 9
    Open

    33¶ They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

  5. Acts 13:26Rank 5 from verse 9
    Open

    26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

From verse 10

  1. John 15:6Rank 1 from verse 10
    Open

    6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

  2. Luke 3:9Rank 2 from verse 10
    Open

    9And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  3. Matthew 7:19Rank 3 from verse 10
    Open

    19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  4. John 15:2Rank 4 from verse 10
    Open

    2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

  5. Luke 13:6–9Rank 5 from verse 10
    Open

    6¶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

    7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

    8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

    9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

From verse 11

  1. Isaiah 4:4Rank 1 from verse 11
    Open

    4When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

  2. Luke 3:16Rank 2 from verse 11
    Open

    16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

  3. Acts 1:5Rank 3 from verse 11
    Open

    5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

  4. Zechariah 13:9Rank 4 from verse 11
    Open

    9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

  5. Acts 2:2–4Rank 5 from verse 11
    Open

    2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

    3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

    4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

From verse 12

  1. Malachi 4:1Rank 1 from verse 12
    Open

    1FOR, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

  2. Matthew 13:30Rank 2 from verse 12
    Open

    30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

  3. Luke 3:17Rank 3 from verse 12
    Open

    17Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

  4. Isaiah 41:16Rank 4 from verse 12
    Open

    16Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

  5. Jeremiah 51:2Rank 5 from verse 12
    Open

    2And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.

From verse 13

  1. John 1:32–34Rank 1 from verse 13
    Open

    32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

    33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

    34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

  2. Mark 1:9–11Rank 2 from verse 13
    Open

    9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

    10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

    11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  3. Matthew 2:22Rank 3 from verse 13
    Open

    22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

  4. Luke 3:21–22Rank 4 from verse 13
    Open

    21Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

    22And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

From verse 14

  1. John 3:3–7Rank 1 from verse 14
    Open

    3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

    4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

    5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

    7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

  2. Acts 1:5–8Rank 2 from verse 14
    Open

    5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

    6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

    7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

    8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

  3. John 13:6–8Rank 3 from verse 14
    Open

    6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

    7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

    8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

  4. Ephesians 2:3–5Rank 4 from verse 14
    Open

    3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

    4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

    5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

  5. Galatians 3:22Rank 5 from verse 14
    Open

    22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 3:8

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fruits

↗

Sense 1: The produce of a plant; offspring. Sense 2: The result and effect of conduct.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

meet

↗

Sense 1: To come or bring together, encounter, assemble, or join. Sense 2: Fitting, suitable, proper, worthy, or qualified.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

repentance

↗

A change of mind and purpose concerning what has been done or intended, often coupled with grief or sorrow.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 3:9

COMBINED MEANING

think

↗

1. To form or hold a thought. 2. To judge or suppose. 3. To intend. 4. To consider or remember. 5. To imagine or esteem.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Abraham

↗

The patriarch formerly named Abram, whom God appointed to be a father of many nations.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

father

↗

Sense 1: A male parent or begetter. Sense 2: An ancestor, forefather, founder, source, originator, chief, elder, or one bearing paternal authority and care. Sense 3: God as Father, including the Father of Jesus Christ and of those described as his children.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

able

↗

Having physical power sufficient; having competent power or strength, bodily or mental.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

raise

↗

Sense 1: To rouse; to stir up. Sense 2: To lift or set upright. Sense 3: To exalt. Sense 4: To build or produce. Sense 5: To call forth. Sense 6: To restore to life.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 3:10

COMBINED MEANING

laid

↗

Sense 1: Placed, set, put down, deposited, arranged, established, founded, imposed, applied, stored, buried, or overlaid. Sense 2: Reclined or brought to rest.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

root

↗

Sense 1: The part of a plant fixed in the earth. Sense 2: Figuratively, the origin, cause, foundation, ancestor, or source of growth. Sense 3: To take root or eradicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fruit

↗

Sense 1: The produce borne by plants or the land. Sense 2: Offspring or increase. Sense 3: A result, product, consequence, character, or work proceeding from something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hewn

↗

Sense 1: Cut, chopped, shaped, carved, or taken out by a cutting tool. Sense 2: Cut down or separated from a source, literally or by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cast

↗

1. To throw, send, put, lay, or direct a person or thing into, upon, around, toward, or away from a place, or into a stated condition. 2. To put away, reject, expel, remove, overthrow, or bring down. 3. To put forth or use a lot for choosing, dividing, or assigning. 4. To form an object by pouring molten material into a mould. 5. To shed, drop, or bring forth young, fruit, leaves, or flowers. 6. To raise, form, or prepare a bank, mount, trench, or way. 7. In "cast ... in his teeth," to reproach or charge something against him. 8. As a noun, the distance something may be thrown.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fire

↗

Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 3:11

COMBINED MEANING

indeed

↗

Truly, certainly, actually, or in fact; used for emphasis, confirmation, or concession before a contrast.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

baptize

↗

Sense 1: To immerse in water. Sense 2: To immerse figuratively in or with the Holy Ghost or fire.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

water

↗

Sense 1: The common liquid necessary for life. Sense 2: As a verb, to supply with water, irrigate, or cause to drink.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

repentance

↗

A change of mind and purpose concerning what has been done or intended, often coupled with grief or sorrow.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

worthy

↗

Sense 1: Deserving, fit, suitable, or having worth. Sense 2: As a noun, a person of merit, rank, or valor.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bear

↗

Sense 1: To carry, support, convey, endure, sustain, or be answerable for. Sense 2: To produce or bring forth offspring, fruit, or another result. Sense 3: In ‘bear witness’ or ‘bear record,’ to testify or give witness. Sense 4: A large wild animal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

holy

↗

Sense 1: Morally pure, righteous, undefiled, and separate from evil; supremely so of God. Sense 2: Hallowed, consecrated, set apart, devoted, or belonging to God or sacred use; distinguished from what is common, profane, or unclean.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ghost

↗

Sense 1: A spirit. Sense 2: In the title Holy Ghost, the divine Spirit of God. Sense 3: The life or spirit yielded up at death, in the expression to give or yield up the ghost.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

fire

↗

Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 3:12

COMBINED MEANING

fan

↗

Sense 1: An instrument for winnowing grain by separating chaff from it. Sense 2: To winnow, scatter, or separate as with a fan.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

floor

↗

A level surface underfoot; especially a threshing floor where grain is separated.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wheat

↗

A grain-bearing plant and its seed, commonly ground into flour for bread.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

burn

↗

Sense 1: To consume, injure, heat, dry, or harden by fire or intense heat. Sense 2: To be on fire.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

chaff

↗

The light, dry husks or refuse separated from grain, easily driven by wind or burned.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fire

↗

Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 3:14

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

need

↗

Sense 1: Want: occasion for something; necessity; a state that requires supply or relief. Sense 2: To require or lack something necessary.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Matthew 3:7–17

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

3:7¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

3:8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Selected passage

3:9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Selected passage

3:10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Selected passage

3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Selected passage

3:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Selected passage

3:13¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Selected passage

3:14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Selected passage

3:15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

3:16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

3:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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