• Luke 3:22
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 22 καὶ and καταβῆναι to come down τὸ the πνεῦμα spirit τὸ the ἅγιον holy σωματικῷ to bodily εἴδει shape ὡς as περιστερὰν dove ἐπ’ upon αὐτόν, him, καὶ and φωνὴν voice ἐξ out of οὐρανοῦ heaven γενέσθαι to come to be Σὺ You εἶ are ὁ the υἱός Son μου of me ὁ the ἀγαπητός, loved, ἐν in σοὶ you εὐδόκησα. I thought well.

  • Luke 3:22
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily appearance as a dove, upon him,—and a voice out of heaven came—Thou art my Son the Beloved, in thee I delight.

  • Luke 3:22
    King James Version

    • 22 And 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.

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

    • 3:22

      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. The way that God’s holy spirit, or active force, came down upon Jesus at his baptism may have looked like the fluttering of a dove as it nears its perch.

      a voice came out of heaven: The first of three instances in the Gospel accounts where Jehovah is reported as speaking audibly to humans.​—See study notes on Lu 9:35; Joh 12:28.

      You are my Son: See study note on Mr 1:11.

      I have approved you: See study note on Mr 1:11.