• Matthew 3:16
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 16 βαπτισθεὶς Having been baptized δὲ but ὁ the Ἰησοῦς Jesus εὐθὺς immediately ἀνέβη came up ἀπὸ from τοῦ the ὕδατος· water; καὶ and ἰδοὺ look! ἠνεῴχθησαν were opened up οἱ the οὐρανοί, heavens, καὶ and εἶδεν he saw πνεῦμα spirit θεοῦ of God καταβαῖνον descending ὡσεὶ as if περιστερὰν dove ἐρχόμενον coming ἐπ’ upon αὐτόν· him;

  • Matthew 3:16
    American Standard Version

    • 16 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;

  • Matthew 3:16
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 16 And Jesus having been immersed straightway went up from the water,—and lo! the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming upon him;

  • Matthew 3:16
    King James Version

    • 16 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:

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

    • 3:16

      look!: See study note on Mt 1:20.

      the heavens: Can refer to the physical heavens, that is, the sky, or to the spiritual heavens.

      the heavens were opened up: God evidently caused Jesus to perceive and understand heavenly matters, which may well have included the memory of his prehuman life in heaven.

      like a dove: Doves had both a sacred use and a symbolic meaning. They were offered as sacrifices. (Mr 11:15; Joh 2:14-16) They symbolized innocence and purity. (Mt 10:16) A dove released by Noah brought an olive leaf back to the ark, indicating that the floodwaters were receding (Ge 8:11) and that a time of rest and peace was at hand (Ge 5:29). Thus, at Jesus’ baptism, Jehovah may have used the dove to call attention to the role of Jesus as the Messiah, the pure and sinless Son of God who would sacrifice his life for mankind and lay the basis for a period of rest and peace during his rule as King. As God’s spirit, or active force, descended upon Jesus at his baptism, it may have looked like the fluttering of a dove as it nears its perch.