Matthew 11:10

This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses a crowd that has gone out to see John the Baptist, affirming John's role after John himself sent a question from prison (11:2–6).

The words — οὗτος (houtos, "this one") is the identification word that pins John to the prophetic formula; it is a specific claim of fulfillment, not a generic reference.

The thread — The quotation is Malachi 3:1; the "prepare the way" language also echoes Isaiah 40:3, and Malachi 4:5 adds the Elijah dimension that John's role later absorbs (11:14).

Why it lands — The verse draws a hard line between the messenger and the one who comes, forcing the reader to stop looking for the kingdom in the forerunner.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Cross-references

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
Luke 7:26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
John 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Matthew 3:3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”