Bible Strands
Matthew 3:17
And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God the Father speaks from heaven to the assembled crowd, immediately after the Spirit descends on Jesus at His baptism.
The words — ἰδοὺ (idou), "behold," is present in the Greek but absent from the BSB; it is an imperative that seizes the listener's attention before the declaration follows. οὗτός (houtos) is the emphatic demonstrative, a pointing "this one" that distinguishes Jesus from everyone else present.
The thread — The same voice and phrasing recur at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5), and "in whom I am well pleased" echoes Isaiah 42:1's "in whom My soul delights." Psalm 2:7 supplies the sonship language ("You are My Son").
Why it lands — It is a public verdict, not a private feeling: God announces to witnesses who Jesus is and that He is satisfied with Him. The reader is placed in the position of the crowd—receiving a divine identification they did not request.
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
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 42:1 “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
- Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
- Psalms 2:7 I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
- Luke 9:35 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”
- Matthew 12:18 “Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
- Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
- 2 Peter 1:17 For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- John 12:28 Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”