Matthew 3:16 akjv — And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and h…

American King James Version

" And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him: "

— Matthew 3:16, American King James Version

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Matthew 3:16 in Other Translations

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KJV
“And 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:”
King James Version · Read this chapter in KJV
ASV
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; ”
American Standard Version · Read this chapter in ASV
WEB
“Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.”
World English Bible · Read this chapter in WEB
NET
“After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.”
NET Bible · Read this chapter in NET
DRB
“And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.”
Douay-Rheims Bible · Read this chapter in DRB
BBE
“And Jesus, having been given baptism, straight away went up from the water; and, the heavens opening, he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him as a dove;”
Bible in Basic English · Read this chapter in BBE
KJVA
“And 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:”
King James Version with Apocrypha · Read this chapter in KJVA

Matthew 3 — Context

Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.

But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and come you to me?

And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him:

And see a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions

What does Matthew 3:16 say?

Matthew 3:16 in the American King James Version reads: “ And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him: ”

Where is Matthew 3:16 in the Bible?

Matthew 3:16 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 3, verse 16.

Who wrote Matthew?

Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.

What is the book of Matthew about?

Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.

What are the major themes of Matthew?

Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 3:16.

What translation should I read Matthew 3:16 in?

Matthew 3:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.

How can I memorize Matthew 3:16?

Matthew 3:16 reads (AKJV): “ And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him: ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.

Matthew 3:16 akjv — And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and h…

Read in Another Translation

Matthew 3:16 in Other Translations

Matthew 3 — Context

Matthew 3:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

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