• Matthew 3:11
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 11 ἐγὼ I μὲν indeed ὑμᾶς YOU βαπτίζω I baptize ἐν in ὕδατι water εἰς into μετάνοιαν· repentance; ὁ the (one) δὲ but ὀπίσω behind μου me ἐρχόμενος coming ἰσχυρότερός stronger μου of me ἐστίν, is, οὗ of whom οὐκ not εἰμὶ I am ἱκανὸς fit τὰ the ὑποδήματα sandals βαστάσαι· to carry off; αὐτὸς he ὑμᾶς YOU βαπτίσει will baptize ἐν in πνεύματι spirit ἁγίῳ holy καὶ and πυρί· fire;

  • Matthew 3:11
    King James Version

    • 11 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:

  • Matthew 3:11
    American Standard Version

    • 11 I indeed baptize you in 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 in the Holy Spirit and in fire:

  • Matthew Study Notes—Chapter 3
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 3:11

      baptize you: Or “immerse you.” The Greek word ba·ptiʹzo means “to dip; to plunge.” Other Biblical references indicate that baptism involves complete immersion. On one occasion, John was baptizing at a location in the Jordan Valley near Salim “because there was a great quantity of water there.” (Joh 3:23) When Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, they both “went down into the water.” (Ac 8:38) The same Greek word is used in the Septuagint at 2Ki 5:14 when describing that Naaman “plunged into the Jordan seven times.”

      repentance: Lit., “change of mind.”​—See study notes on Mt 3:2, 8 and Glossary.

      stronger: Signifies having “more authority.”

      sandals: To remove and carry another’s sandals or to untie another’s sandal laces (Mr 1:7; Lu 3:16; Joh 1:27) was considered a menial task that was often done by a slave.

      baptize . . . with holy spirit and with fire: Refers to anointing with holy spirit and destroying by fire. The baptism with holy spirit began at Pentecost 33 C.E. The baptism with fire occurred in 70 C.E. when the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and burned its temple.