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Amplified Bible Translation

2015 Update Overview

Summary:
The goal of the translation team was to enhance the appeal of
the Amplified Bible by refreshing the base translation text and
refining the amplifications for relevance and clarity. The result
is an Amplified Bible that is easier to read and better than ever
to study and understand. The Amplified Bible, 2015 edition,
includes more amplification in the Old Testament and refined
amplification in the New Testament. Additionally, the Bible text
has been improved to read smoothly without or without amplifications, so that the text may be read either way. The same feel
and style of amplification has been maintained, so that those
who read the 1987 Amplified Bible will be able to easily transition to the revised edition.

Details:
The Amplified Bible 2015 is, as much as is practical, a Literal
Equivalent translation of the Bible that enhances the clarity of
Scripture by using in-text amplifications. The amplifications are
based on the nuances of the Greek and Hebrew languages and
are informed by the latest advances in Biblical research. These
amplifications uniquely expand and clarify the Biblical text,
giving the reader a deeper understanding of Scripture.
The Amplified Bible, 2015 edition, actually provides two
translations of the Bible. This method of translation invites
readers to step into a broader understanding of Scripture as
the amplifications help them to dig deeper into the meaning of
Biblical passages by highlighting nuances of the original Greek
and Hebrew.
2

The Amplified Bible, 2015 edition, consists of two parts:

1. The Foundational Translation faithfully follows the original
Greek and Hebrew text and may be read by skipping over
the amplifications.
2. The Amplified Translation includes amplifications to
enhance readability and textual understanding, and to
provide a framework for deeper study and spiritual growth
by providing fresh insights into the text itself.
Here a few of the benefits of reading the Amplified Bible:
1. Amplifications reveal a words intensity or power along
with the nuances of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek word
used in the original text:
So repent [change your inner selfyour old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to Godseek His purpose
for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted
out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may
come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a
cool wind on a hot day]. Acts 3:19

2. Amplifications clarify the meaning of a theological word:

Who will bring any charge against Gods elect (His chosen
ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless
and putting us in a right relationship with Himself].
Romans 8:33

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through

and through [that is, separate you from profane things,
make you pure and whole and undamagedconsecrated
to Himset apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit
and soul and body be kept complete and [be found]
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

3. Amplifications give greater depth to key verses:

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is
deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work
together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to
those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
Romans 8:28

I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through

Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purposeI am sufficient in Christs sufficiency; I am ready for
anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength
and confident peace]. Philippians 4:13

Amplifications of the same word or phrase may differ slightly

depending on context or emphasis, or to indicate another
nuance of theology or language, or to encourage self-study.
Also many words (e.g., flesh) have slightly different meanings in different contexts, so amplifications vary accordingly.
Amplification permits traditional theological terms to be
retained in the text while they are also clarified by a contemporary word or phrase. Retaining and amplifying these traditional words gives the reader access to the depth of meaning
rooted in these terms.
4. Use of brackets in the Amplified Bible:
A. Brackets are used to add information, supported by other
Scripture, that helps explain verses that are sometimes
misquoted or misunderstood:
Therefore you have no excuse or justification, everyone
of you who [hypocritically] judges and condemns others;
for in passing judgment on another person, you condemn
yourself, because you who judge [from a position of arrogance or self-righteousness] are habitually practicing the
very same things [which you denounce]. Romans 2:1

For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it
or the willingness to gain it unethically] is the root of all
sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered
away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and
through] with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

B. In some verses brackets are used to clarify a theological

term not commonly used in everyday language:
Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us
grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy
of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ
(the Messiah, the Anointed). Romans 5:1

C. Brackets can also be used within a verse to add

information that would otherwise be placed in a
footnote:
At that time Herod [Antipas], the tetrarch [who governed
a portion of Palestine, including Galilee and Perea], having
heard reports about Jesus, Matthew 14:1

Note: Brackets in bold type [...] indicate manuscript differences and are footnoted.
5. Use of italics in the Amplified Bible:
A. Words implied, but not actually contained in the original
text are printed in italic type:
Then came the preparation day of Unleavened Bread on
which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Luke 22:7

B. The use of italic and or, or nor introduces

amplification within a sentence:
But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not
subject to the Law. Galatians 5:18

Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or exasperate your

children [with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or
humiliating or abusive; nor by favoritism or indifference;
treat them tenderly with lovingkindness], so they will not
lose heart and become discouraged or unmotivated [with
their spirits broken]. Colossians 3:21

6. Use of parentheses in the Amplified Bible:

A. Parentheses in Roman type (...) supply the definition of a
word in context:
Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she
corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery
with her children. Galatians 4:25

B. Parentheses in bold type (...) indicate a parenthetical

phrase in the text and should be included when reading
aloud:
Or do you not know brethren (for I am speaking to those
who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction [to rule]
over a person as long as he lives? Romans 7:1

7. Use of nouns and pronouns in the Amplified Bible:

A. Names of persons and/or places are often used to replace
pronouns to help the readers understanding of a verse
without having to return to the beginning of the passage
for clarity.
B. In some verses pronouns retained in the text may be
followed by a proper name placed in parenthesis:
...he (John) saw the Spirit of God...lighting on Him
(Jesus). Matthew 3:16

C. Pronouns referring to God, the Father; Jesus, the Son; and

the Holy Spirit are always capitalized, so that the reader
immediately recognizes deity in the text:
6

Peter took Him aside [to speak to Him privately] and

began to rebuke Him, saying, May God forbid it! This will
never happen to You. Matthew 16:22

8. General format (paragraphs/verse numbers) in the

Amplified Bible:
A. Quotation marks have been added according to normal
English usage.
B. Each verse number starts on a new line so the reader can
immediately find a verse regardless of its position within
a paragraph.
C. Paragraph markers have been added as indicated by a
bold verse number or a bold letter if the new paragraph
begins within a verse for verse settings.
D. Old Testament quotations in the New Testament are set in
distinctive type.

Verse Comparison
Most of these verses demonstrate typical revisions, and for
that reason probably contain an above average amount of differences.

AMP 1987

AMP 2015

Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will you

not be accepted? And if you do not
do well, sin crouches at your door;
its desire is for you, but you must
master it.

Genesis 4:7 If you do well [believing

Me and doing what is acceptable
and pleasing to Me], will you not
be accepted? And if you do not do
well [but ignore My instruction], sin
crouches at your door; its desire is for
you [to overpower you], but you must
master it.

Genesis 15:1 After these things, the

word of the Lord came to Abram in a
vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am
your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be
exceedingly great.

Genesis 15:1 After these things the

word of the LORD came to Abram in
a vision, saying, Do not be afraid,
Abram, I am your shield; Your reward
[for obedience] shall be very great.

1 Kings 11:12 However, in your days

I will not do it, for David your fathers
sake. But I will rend it out of the hand
of your son!

1 Kings 11:12 However, I will not do

it in your lifetime, for the sake of your
father David, but I will tear it out of
the hand of your son (Rehoboam).

1 Kings 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah,

Ahab said to him, Are you he who
troubles Israel?

1 Kings 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah,

Ahab said to him, Are you the one
who is bringing disaster on Israel?

Job 1:8 And the Lord said to Satan,

Have you considered My servant Job,
that there is none like him on the
earth, a blameless and upright man,
one who [reverently] fears God and
abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]?

Job 1:8 The LORD said to Satan,

Have you considered and reflected
on My servant Job? For there is none
like him on the earth, a blameless
and upright man, one who fears God
[with reverence] and abstains from
and turns away from evil [because he
honors God].

AMP 1987

AMP 2015

Job 2:12 And when they looked from

afar off and saw him [disfigured] beyond recognition, they lifted up their
voices and wept; and each one tore
his robe, and they cast dust over their
heads toward the heavens.

Job 2:12 When they looked from a

distance and did not recognize him
[because of his disfigurement], they
raised their voices and wept; and
each one tore his robe [in grief] and
they threw dust over their heads
toward the sky [in sorrow].

Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are

they than gold, even than much
fine gold; they are sweeter also
than honey and drippings from the
honeycomb.

Psalm 19:10 They are more desirable

than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the
drippings of the honeycomb.

Psalm 25:12 Who is the man who

reverently fears and worships the
Lord? Him shall He teach in the way
that he should choose.

Psalm 25:12 Who is the man who

fears the LORD [with awe-inspired
reverence and worships Him with
submissive wonder]? He will teach
him [through His word] in the way he
should choose.

Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a

Proverbs 16:22 Understanding
wellspring of life to those who have it, (spiritual insight) is a [refreshing and
but to give instruction to fools is folly. boundless] wellspring of life to those
who have it, But to give instruction
and correction to fools is foolishness.
Proverbs 17:24 A man of understanding sets skillful and godly Wisdom
before his face, but the eyes of a
[self-confident] fool are on the ends
of the earth.

Proverbs 17:24 [Skillful and godly]

wisdom is in the presence of a person
of understanding [and he recognizes
it], But the eyes of a [thickheaded]
fool are on the ends of the earth.

Ecclesiastes 8:3 Be not panic-stricken and hasty to get out of his presence. Persist not in an evil thing, for
he does whatever he pleases.

Ecclesiastes 8:3 Do not be in a hurry

to get out of his presence. Do not join
in a malevolent matter, for the king
will do whatever he pleases.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread

upon the waters, for you will find it
after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread on

the surface of the waters, [be diligently active, make thoughtful decisions],
for you will find it after many days.

STATS
Verse Count
AMP 1987

AMP 2015

OT
23,145
NT
7,956
TOTAL 31,101

OT
23,145
NT
7,958
TOTAL 31,103

Number of Amplifications
(includes multiple amplifications per verse)

Number of Amplifications

35,000

NT -7%
NT

30,000

AMP 1987
AMP 2015

25,000
20,000
NT

15,000

+19%
NT

OT

NT

OT OT

10,000

OT

+14%

5,000

NT OT

[]

OT

()

-52%
NT
OT

and/or/nor

TOTAL

Number of Amplifications
(as percentage of total amplifications)
AMP 1987

CHANGE

AMP 2015

[ ] +15%
( ) + 3%
and/or/nor -17%

and/or/nor

and/or/nor
36%

()

19%

[]

52%

()

[]

15%

67%

12%

10

Number of Verses Amplified

(only counting verses with an amplification)

Number of Verses Amplified

20,000

+7%
NT
NT

15,000

AMP 1987

+18%
NT
OT

NT
OT

10,000

OT

NT

OT

5,000
0

AMP 2015

+27%
NT
NT OT

[]

-39%
OT NT
OT

OT

()

and/or/nor

TOTAL

Number of Verses Amplified

(as percentage of total Bible verses)
+4%

Percentage of Verses Amplified

60%
50%

+7%

AMP 1987

40%

AMP 2015

30%
20%

-11%

+3%

10%
0

[]

()

and/or/nor

11

TOTAL

Uncorrected Proof
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

MATTHEW
AUTHOR: The early church uniformly attributed this Gospel to Matthew, and
no tradition to the contrary ever emerged. This book was known early and
accepted quickly. Matthew occupied the unpopular post of tax collector in
Capernaum for the Roman government, and as a result he was no doubt disliked by his Jewish countrymen. He was chosen as one of the twelve apostles,
and the last appearance of his name in the Bible is in Acts 1:13. Matthews life
from that point on is veiled in tradition.

TIMES: c. 4 BC AD 33

KEY VERSE: Ma 16:16 19

THEME: Matthew is typically described as the story of Jesus written by a Jew

for Jewish people. In this context it contains the most references to Jewish culture and the Old Testament of the Gospels. The authors main purpose seems
to be proving to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah. Matthew is also
the fullest systematic account of Christs teachings. These 5 blocks of teaching are one of the key differences with the other Gospels:
Chapters 5 7,
The Sermon on the Mount; Chapter 10, The Mission Charge; Chapter 13, The
Parables of the Kingdom; Chapter 18, The Church; Chapters 23 25, Judgment
and the End of the World.

The Genealogy of Jesus the

Messiah

Abraham: [Ps 132:11; Is 11:1]

2
Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the
father of Judah and his brothers [who
became the twelve tribes of Israel].
3
Judah was the father of Perez and

Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father

of Hezron, and Hezron the father of
Ram.
4
Ram was the father of Aminadab,
Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and
Nahshon the father of Salmon.
5
Salmon was the father of Boaz by
Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed
by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
6
Jesse was the father of David the
king.

1:1 genealogy. Jesus genealogy is crucial to

His claim to be the Messiah, as it traces the lineage of Joseph, His recognized father, back to
Abraham through David. It shows that from a
legal standpoint, Jesus is qualified to rule from
the throne of David.
1:3 Tamar. The mention of women in a Jewish
genealogy is unusual. But in addition to Mary,
four women are listed in this catalogue of names:
Tamar, who was involved in a scandal with Judah

(Ge 38); Rahab, the Canaanite harlot of Jericho

(Jos 2:1 21); Ruth, who was not an Israelite,
but a Moabite (Ru 1:4); and Bathsheba, the wife
of Uriah, who committed adultery with David
(2Sa 11:1:1 5). At the beginning of his Gospel,
Matthew shows how Gods grace forgives the
darkest of sins and reaches beyond the nation
of Israel to the world. He also points out that
God can lift the lowest and place them in royal
lineage.

THE RECORD of the genealogy of

1
Jesus the Messiah, the son (descendant) of David, the son (descendant) of

CHAPTER1 1Lk3:23; Ps132:11; Isa11:1; Jer23:5; Mt22:42; Jn7:42; Ac2:30; Ro1:3; Ge12:3 2Ge21:2; Ge25:26;
Ge29:35 3Ge38:27; Ru4:18; 1Ch2:5 61Sa16:1; 17:12; 2Sa12:24

1524

Matthew 1:7

Uncorrected Proof

David was the father of Solomon by

Bathsheba who had been the wife of
Uriah. [Ruth 4:1822; 1 Chr 2:1315]
7
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.
8
Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and
Joram the father of Uzziah.
9
Uzziah was the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz
the father of Hezekiah.
10
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and
Amon the father of Josiah.
11
Josiah became the father of Jeconiah [also called Coniah and Jehoiachin] and his brothers, at the time
of the deportation (exile) to Babylon.
[2 Kin 24:14; 1 Chr 3:15, 16]
12
After the deportation to Babylon:
Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel,
and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.
13
Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and
Eliakim the father of Azor.
14
Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim
the father of Eliud.
15
Eliud was the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan, and
Matthan the father of Jacob.
16
Jacob was the father of Joseph
the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus
was born, who is called the Messiah
(Christ).
17
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen; from David
to the Babylonian deportation (exile),
fourteen generations; and from the

18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was
as follows: when His mother Mary had
been betrothed to Joseph, before they
came together she was found to be with
child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit.
19
And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man
and not wanting to expose her publicly
to shame, planned to send her away
and divorce her quietly.
20
But after he had considered this, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary as
your wife, for the Child who has been
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21
She will give birth to a Son, and
you shall name Him Jesus (The Lord is
salvation), for He will save His people
from their sins.
22
All this happened in order to fulfill
what the Lord had spoken through the
prophet [Isaiah]:
23
BehoLd, the virgin shaLL be with
chiLd and give birth to a Son, and
they shaLL caLL His name ImmanueL
which, when translated, means, God
with us. [Is 7:14]
24
Then Joseph awoke from his sleep
and did as the angel of the Lord had
commanded him, and he took Mary
[to his home] as his wife,
25
but he kept her a virgin until she
had given birth to a Son [her firstborn
child]; and he named Him Jesus (The
Lord is salvation).

1:16 the husband of Mary. Matthew was

careful not to identify Jesus as the physical son
of Joseph. The Greek pronoun translated by
whom is feminine and refers to Mary. called
the Messiah (Christ). The words Messiah
(from the Hebrew) and Christ (from the Greek)
both mean Anointed One.
1:17 Abraham . . . to the Messiah. The genealogy is broken down into three groups of names
with 14 generations in each list. A basic covenant is
set forth in each period: the Abrahamic covenant,
the Davidic covenant, and the New Covenant.

1:18 betrothed. In Jewish culture, this covenant

was made about a year before the marriage.
Engagement was understood to be as binding
as a marriage covenant, therefore a legal divorce
was required to withdraw from the agreement.
1:23 Behold . . . Immanuel. The angels message to Joseph indicated that Mary would fulfill
the prophecy of Isaiah (Is 7:14). Jesus, the Greek
form of Joshua means salvation.
1:25 kept her a virgin until. The clear implication is that Mary was a virgin only until the birth of
Jesus. The brothers and sisters of Jesus (13:55 56)

Babylonian deportation to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Conception and Birth of Jesus

71Ch3:10 102Ki20:21; 1Ch3:13 11See1Ch3:15,16; 2Ki24:14-16; 25:11; 2Ch36:10; Jer27:20; 52:11,15; Da1:2
121Ch3:17; Ezr3:2; Neh12:1; Hag1:1 18Lk1:27; Lk1:35 19Dt24:1 20Lk1:35 21Lk1:31; Ac4:12; 5:31;
13:23,38 23Isa7:14 25Ex:13:2; Lk2:7,21

Uncorrected Proof

The Visit of the Magi

NOW WHEN Jesus was born in

Bethlehem of Judea in the days
of Herod the king (Herod the Great),
magi (wise men) from the east came
to Jerusalem, asking,
2
Where is He who has been born
King of the Jews? For we have seen
His star in the east and have come to
worship Him. [Num 24:17; Jer 23:5;
Zech 9:9]
3
When Herod the king heard this,
he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem
with him.
4
So he called together all the chief
priests and scribes of the people and
[anxiously] asked them where the
Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)
was to be born.
5
They replied to him, In Bethlehem
of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet [Micah]:
6
And you, BethLehem, in the Land
of Judah,

Matthew 2:15

1525

Him, report to me, so that I too may

come and worship Him.
9
After hearing the king, they went
their way; and behold, the star, which
they had seen in the east, went on before them [continually leading the way]
until it came and stood over the place
where the young Child was.
10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11
And after entering the house, they
saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped
Him. Then, after opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him
gifts [fit for a king, gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12
And having been warned [by God]
in a dream not to go back to Herod,
the magi left for their own country by
another way.

The Flight to Egypt

7
Then Herod secretly sent for the
magi and learned from them the [exact] time the star [had first] appeared.
8
Then he sent them to Bethlehem,
saying, Go and search carefully for
the Child; and when you have found

Now when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph
in a dream and said, Get up! Take
the Child and His mother and flee to
Egypt, and remain there until I tell
you; for Herod intends to search for the
Child in order to destroy Him.
14
So Joseph got up and took the
Child and His mother while it was still
night, and left for Egypt.
15
He remained there until the death of
Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord
had spoken by the prophet [Hosea]: Out
of Egypt I caLLed My Son. [Hos 11:1]

were probably younger siblings born to Joseph

and Mary after Jesus birth. Joseph could not
have had children by a previous marriage, as
some suppose, for then Jesus would not have
been heir to the Davidic throne as the oldest
son of Joseph.
2:1 magi (wise men) from the east. These
wise men would have been of the same class
as the wise men of Babylon over whom Daniel
was made ruler (Da 2:48). to Jerusalem. Contrary to popular belief, the events of chapter two
probably took place some months after Jesus
birth. Herod murdered all the male children 2
years and under, going by the time the wise
men said the star had appeared (and probably

leaving a significant margin for error). In addition, it would have been strange for Mary and
Joseph to offer the sacrifice of the poor (see
Le 12:8; Lk 2:24) if the wise men had just given
them rich gifts.
2:7 Then Herod. This is Herod the Great, who
reigned over Palestine for over thirty years. A
crafty ruler and lavish builder, Herod had a reign
marked by cruelty and bloodshed.
2:15 to fulfill. The prophecy quoted here, from
Hosea 11:1, refers to the nation of Israel as Gods
son coming out of Egypt in the exodus. Jesus is
the genuine Son of God, and, as Israels Messiah,
is the true Israel (Jo 15:1); therefore He gives fuller
meaning to the prophecy of Hosea.

are not in any way Least among

the Leaders of Judah;
For from you shaLL come a
RuLer
Who wiLL shepherd My peopLe
IsraeL. [Mic 5:2]

13

CHAPTER2 1Lk2:4,6; Ge25:6; 1Ki4:30 2Lk2:11; Nu24:17; Isa60:3 42Ch36:14; 2Ch34:13; Mal2:7
6Jn7:42; Rev2:27 11Ps72:10; Isa60:6 12Mt1:20 15Hos11:1

1526

Uncorrected Proof

Matthew 2:16

Herod Slaughters the Babies

Then Herod, when he realized that

he had been tricked by the magi, was
extremely angry, and he sent [soldiers]
and put to death all the male children
in Bethlehem and in all that area who
were two years old and under, according to the date which he had learned
from the magi.
17
Then what had been spoken
through Jeremiah the prophet was
fulfilled:
18
A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
RacheL weeping for her
chiLdren;
She refused to be comforted,
Because they were no more.
[Jer 31:15]

19
But when Herod died, an angel
of the Lord appeared in a dream to
Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20
Get up! Take the Child and His
mother, and go to the land of Israel;
for those who sought the Childs life
are dead.
21
Then Joseph got up, and took the
Child and His mother, and came into
the land of Israel.
22
But when he heard that Archelaus
was ruling over Judea in place of his
father Herod [the Great], he was afraid
to go there. Then being warned by
God in a dream, he left for the region
of Galilee,
23
and went and settled in a city called
Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was
spoken through the prophets: He shall
be called a Nazarene.

2:18 Rachel weeping for her children. This

prophecy comes from Jeremiah 31:15, in which
Rachel, entombed near Bethlehem some 13 centuries before the Babylonian captivity, is seen
weeping for her children as they are led away

in 586 BC In the slaughter of the male infants at

the time of Christs birth, Rachel is again seen
weeping for the violent loss of her sons.
2:23 Nazareth. Those who lived in Nazareth
were looked down upon (Jo 1:46). Perhaps God

16

17Jer31:15 22Mt3:13; Lk2:39 23Jn1:45; Jdg13:5; 1Sa1:11 CHAPTER3 1Mk1:4,15; Lk3:2,3; Jn1:28;

THE BIRTH OF JESUS AND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

Mary and Josephs

hometown in Galilee
(2:19-23)

Nazareth
Caesarea

Jorda n River

Samaria
Joppa
Jerusalem

Wise men arrive in Jerusalem

looking for a King (2:2-12)

Bethlehem
Gaza

Flight to

Pelusium

EG
YP
T

Escape to Egypt
(2:13-15)

0
0

10
20

20

30 miles
40 km

Eg

y pt

Jesus is
born (2:1)
Herod kills the
children (2:16-18)

NA BAT E A N S

Uncorrected Proof

The Preaching of John the

Baptist

IN THOSE days John the Baptist

3
appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side

of the Dead Sea] and saying,

2
Repent [change your inner self
your old way of thinking, regret past
sins, live your life in a way that proves
repentance; seek Gods purpose for
your life], for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand.
3
This is the one who was mentioned
by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
The voice of one shouting in the
wiLderness,
Prepare the road for the Lord,
Make His highways straight (level,
direct)! [Is 40:3]
Now this same John had clothing
made of camels hair and a [wide]
leather band around his waist; and
his food was locusts and wild honey.
[Lev 11:22; 2 Kin 1:8; Zech 13:4]
5
At that time Jerusalem was going
out to him, and all Judea and all the
district around the Jordan;
6
and they were being baptized by
him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for bap4

chose this place for His Son to emphasize His

humanness.
3:2 Repent. The Greek verb translated repent
indicates a change of attitude. The basic idea is
a recognition of sin and a reversal of thinking
which changes ones life.
3:3 Prepare the road for the Lord. As roads
were smoothed and straightened for the arrival
of a king, so John was preparing a spiritual path
for the Messiah. The quotation is from Isaiah 40:3.
3:7 Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees
and Sadducees were two prominent groups in
Judaism at the time of Christ. The groups differed
considerably in their beliefs. The Pharisees not
only based their beliefs on the law of Moses, but
also on a large body of oral tradition. They were
devout and zealous, concerned with outward

Matthew 3:11

1527

tism, he said to them, You brood of

vipers, who warned you to flee from
the [divine] wrath and judgment to
come?
8
So produce fruit that is consistent
with repentance [demonstrating new
behavior that proves a change of heart,
and a conscious decision to turn away
from sin];
9
and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance
assures us of salvation]; for I say to
you that from these stones God is able
to raise up children (descendants) for
Abraham. [Luke 3:8]
10
And already the axe [of Gods
judgment] is swinging toward the root
of the trees; therefore every tree that
does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.
11
As for me, I baptize you with water
because of [your] repentance [that is,
because you are willing to change your
inner selfyour old way of thinking,
regret your sin and live a changed life],
but He (the Messiah) who is coming
after me is mightier [more powerful,
more noble] than I, whose sandals I
am not worthy to remove [even as His
slave]; He will baptize you [who truly
repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you
who remain unrepentant] with fire
(judgment). [Luke 3:16]
righteousness. The Sadducees were associated
with a priestly caste, and in doctrine they held
primarily to the first five books of Moses. They
did not believe in the resurrection of the dead,
and did not adhere to all the detailed laws of the
Pharisees. Formerly enemies, the two groups
seemed to unite against a common enemy: the
long awaited Messiah.
3:11 baptize. Sometimes fire has connotations of
judgment in Scripture, but here the fire of Gods
Spirit represents the transforming power of His
grace and love. The baptism of all Jesus disciples
with water is an outward sign of the inward work
of the Holy Spirit. It is the symbol of obedience to
the command to believe in Christs saving work
of grace on the cross.

Jos14:10 2Da2:44; Mt4:17; 10:7 3Isa40:3; Mk1:3; Lk3:4; Jn1:23; Lk1:76 4Mk1:6; 2Ki1:8; Zec13:4;
Lev11:22; 1Sa14:25,26 5Mk1:5; Lk3:7 6Ac19:4,18 7Mt12:34; 23:33; Lk3:7-9; Ro5:9; 1Th1:10
9Jn8:33,39; Ac13:26; Ro4:1,11,16 10Mt7:19; Lk13:7,9; Jn15:6 11Mk1:8; Lk3:16; Jn1:15,26,33; Ac1:5; 11:16;
19:4; Is4:4; 44:3; Mal3:2; Ac2:3,4; 1Co12:13

1528

Matthew 3:12

12
His winnowing fork is in His
hand, and He will thoroughly clear
out His threshing floor; and He will
gather His wheat (believers) into His
barn (kingdom), but He will burn up
the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.

The Baptism of Jesus

13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to
John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him. [Mark 1:911; Luke 3:21,
22; John 1:32]
14
But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, It is I who
need to be baptized by You, and do You
come to me?
15
But Jesus replied to him, Permit
it just now; for this is the fitting way
for us to fulfill all righteousness.
Then John permitted [it and baptized]
Him.
16
After Jesus was baptized, He came
up immediately out of the water; and
behold, the heavens were opened, and
he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on
Him (Jesus), [John 1:32]
17
and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My beloved Son, in
whom I am well-pleased and delighted! [Ps 2:7; Is 42:1]

3:15 to fulfill all righteousness. This phrase

does not suggest that Jesus came for baptism
because He had sinned; the Lord Jesus was without sin (2Co 5:21; He 4:15). His baptism probably
served several purposes. By being baptized, He
confirmed the ministry of John and fulfilled the
Fathers will.
3:17 God, the Father of Christ Most Christians eventually wonder how God may be called
the Father of Christ and Christ, the Son of God.
First, one must recognize that God is spirit (Jo
4:24), and Christ was the Son of God before He
assumed a human body in Bethlehem (Jo 3:16; Ga
4:4). Passages which use terms implying physical
origin must be taken in a figurative sense (He 1:5).
Second, the title expresses a sonship relationship,
unique from that of His disciples (Jo 20:17). He was
begotten of God unlike anyone else (Jo 1:14; 3:16).
The Nicean council in the fourth century used
the phrase very God of very God; begotten, not

The Temptation of Jesus

THEN JESUS was led by the [Holy]

4
Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil. [Luke 4:113]
After He had gone without food for
forty days and forty nights, He became
hungry. [Ex 34:28; 1 Kin 19:8]
3
And the tempter came and said to
Him, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
4
But Jesus replied, It is written and
forever remains written, Man shaLL
not Live by bread aLone, but by every
2

word that comes out of the mouth of

God. [Deut 8:3]

5
Then the devil took Him into the
holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him
on the pinnacle (highest point) of the
temple. [Neh 11:1; Dan 9:24]
6
And he said [mockingly] to Him, If
You are the Son of God, throw Yourself
down; for it is written,
He wiLL command His angeLs
concerning You [to serve, care
for, protect and watch over You];
and
They wiLL Lift you up on their hands,
So that You wiLL not strike
Your foot against a stone.
[Ps 91:11, 12]
made, being of one substance with the Father to
describe this unique relationship. Third, the title
describes equality with God. When Jesus claimed
to be one with the Father, He was speaking of
a unity of substance with the Father and thus
equality in all the attributes of deity (Jo 10:30). The
Jews understood this claim, because they took up
stones to stone Him, protesting that You . . . make
Yourself out to be God (Jo 10:33). Fourth, the title
emphasizes Christs role as the revealer of God. He
alone possesses the knowledge of the Father (Jo
14:6 9; 1 Jo 1:2), and He is the sole mediator of
that knowledge (1Ti 2:5). Therefore, no one can
know the Father except through the Son (Jo 14:6).
4:1 4 It is written. Satan did not lead Jesus
into the place of temptation, the Holy Spirit did.
Perhaps part of the reason for this was to show
us how to deal with temptation. Jesus quoted the
Word of God, showing the power of Scripture in
battling with the evil one.

12Mal3:3; 4:1; Mt13:30 13Mk1:9; Lk3:21; Mt2:22 16Mk1:10; Isa11:2; 42:1; Lk3:22; Jn1:32 17Jn12:28;
Ps2:7; Isa42:1; Mt17:5; Mk1:11; Lk9:35; Eph1:6; Col1:13; 2Pe1:17 CHAPTER4 1Mk1:12; Lk4:1; See1Ki18:12;
Eze3:14; 8:3; 11:1,24; 40:2; 43:5; Ac8:39 4Dt8:3 5Neh11:1; Isa48:2; 52:1; Mt27:53; Rev11:2 6Ps91:11,12

Matthew 4:6

1529

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS AND THE SOJOURN IN THE DESERT

Tiberias

I L E E
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Nazareth

Mt.
Tabor

Gadara

Samaria

an

Jesus is baptized
by John in the Jordan
(3:13-17)

Bethabara
Qumran

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Jerusalem

Jesus fasts in the

wilderness for forty
days (4:1-11)

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Jesus temptation on
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0
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8 km

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Grasp the full meaning behind the original Greek and Hebrew texts
with the first-of-its-kind Amplified Study Bible, featuring verse-by-verse
study notes and the text of the newly revised Amplified translation.
The Amplified Study Bible was created to deliver enhanced understanding of
the rich nuances and shades of meaning of the original Bible languages. For this
kind of study, no working knowledge of Greek or Hebrew is requiredjust a desire
to know more about what God says in his Word. Now the updated Amplified
translation is even easier to read and better than ever to study and understand.
It includes more amplification in the Old Testament and refined amplification
in the New Testament. Additionally, the Bible text has been improved to read
smoothly with or without amplifications, so that the text may be read either way.
Its the same feel and style of study material that Amplified readers love, now with
even clearer wording for deeper understanding.

The Amplified Study Bible features:

A unique system of punctuation, italics, references, and synonyms

to unlock subtle shades of meaning as found in the original
languages
More than 5000 concise study notes provide helpful, practical,
application-oriented comments on passages of Scripture and open
the Word for readers to apply it to life
330 practical theological notes draw attention to important doctrinal
content in the Bible and explain how to apply it every day
Book introductions give background information about each of the
Bibles 66 Books
A concordance provides an alphabetical listing of important
passages of key words
Full-color maps of Bible lands are included in the back

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