and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The crucial detail here is that the confession wasn't just a general admission of guilt; the Greek word used suggests an open, explicit acknowledgment, likely even a specific recounting of sins. This outward declaration was intrinsically linked to their baptism, highlighting that true repentance involved bringing sins into the light.
and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people of Judea, hearing John the Baptist's urgent message of repentance, flock to the Jordan River to confess their sins. This baptism isn't just a ritual; it's a public declaration of turning away from sin and a preparation for the coming Messiah, marking a significant spiritual awakening sweeping the land.
Why did John the Baptist insist on a public confession of sins right before baptism? What did this act signify for the people flocking to the Jordan River?
The text tells us people were "confessing their sins" as they were baptized. This wasn't just a private whisper; the original language suggests an open declaration.
More Than Just Words:
This public declaration was a powerful way to signal a turning point—a renunciation of past wrongs and a commitment to a new path.
The Jordan River was a significant place. What did being baptized there, confessing sins, truly represent for the people receiving John's baptism?
John's baptism in the Jordan was a powerful symbol. While the exact mode of baptism has been debated through history, the core meaning was about cleansing and a fresh start.
Ask a follow-up
Washing Away the Past:
This act marked a deliberate step toward spiritual renewal and readiness for what God was about to do.
Was John's baptism the final step, or was it pointing somewhere else? Understanding its purpose reveals a crucial aspect of God's plan.
John the Baptist's ministry and his baptism were vital, but they served as a preparatory phase. They weren't the ultimate destination but a bridge leading people toward Jesus.
Preparing the Way:
John's baptism was a powerful, temporary institution, essential for awakening the nation to their need for salvation and directing them toward the Messiah.
Understand the original words
baptizō · Greek Verb
The ritual act of immersion in water, symbolizing identification, purification, and initiation into a new community or spiritual state, often associated with repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
exomologeomai · Greek Verb
The act of acknowledging and admitting wrongdoing before God or others; it signifies a humble agreement with God regarding the reality and guilt of one’s transgressions.
hamartia · Greek Noun
Any action, thought, or condition that violates God’s law, misses the mark of His righteousness, or involves rebellion against His authority.
John the Baptist's ministry emerged during a period of Roman occupation and heightened Messianic expectation. His baptism, rooted in existing Jewish purification rituals but applied to Jews themselves, was a public declaration of repentance, signifying a profound spiritual and national cleansing in preparation for the coming kingdom.
c. 19 BC - 1 BC
Herod the Great's Reign
King Herod the Great rules Judea with Roman backing, a period marked by extensive building projects but also significant political tension and unrest.
c. AD 26-30
Pontius Pilate's Governorship
Pontius Pilate serves as the Roman prefect of Judea. His tenure is characterized by insensitivity to Jewish customs and frequent clashes with the Jewish population.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
John the Baptist's Ministry Begins
John the Baptist starts his public ministry in the wilderness of Judea, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and preparing the way for the Messiah.
c. AD 28-30
Mass Baptisms in the Jordan River
Vast crowds from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the surrounding regions flock to John, confessing their sins and being baptized by him in the Jordan River as a sign of repentance.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Public Ministry
Following his baptism by John, Jesus begins his own public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples across Galilee and Judea.
This Old Testament passage directly links confession of sins to God's dealing with His people, setting a precedent for the public acknowledgment of sin that John the Baptist required.
Nehemiah 9:2-3This chapter describes a public assembly where the Israelites confessed their sins and the sins of their fathers, mirroring the communal confession seen in Matthew 3:6 as a prelude to reaffirming their covenant with God.
Isaiah 53:12This prophetic passage speaks of the Suffering Servant bearing the sin of many and being numbered with the transgressors, which connects to the collective confession of sins in Matthew 3:6 as people identified with sin and looked for redemption.
Acts 2:38Peter's sermon echoes John the Baptist's call to repentance and baptism, showing a continuity where baptism is linked to the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the anticipation John's ministry created.
1 John 1:9This New Testament verse offers the assurance of forgiveness and cleansing when we confess our sins, highlighting that the act of confession, as seen in Matthew 3:6, is a foundational step toward receiving God's grace and living in His light.
barnesMatthew 3:6: "And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Were baptized - The word "baptize" βαπτίζω baptizo signifies originally to tinge, to dye, to stain, as those who dye clothes. It here means to cleanse or wash anything by the application of water. See the notes at Mark 7:4 . Washing, or ablution, was much in use among the Jews, as one of the rites of their religion, Numbers 19:7 ; Hebrews 9:10 . It was not customary, however, among them to baptize those who were convert…
bensonMatthew 3:6: "And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Matthew 3:6 . And were baptized of him in Jordan — Namely, those that were awakened to repentance. It has been questioned by many, whether John baptized these immense multitudes by dipping them in Jordan? In answer to which it has been observed, “that such prodigious numbers could hardly be baptized by immerging their whole bodies under water: nor can we think they were provided with change of raiment for it, which was sc…
The crucial detail here is that the confession wasn't just a general admission of guilt; the Greek word used suggests an open, explicit acknowledgment, likely even a specific recounting of sins. This outward declaration was intrinsically linked to their baptism, highlighting that true repentance involved bringing sins into the light.
The people of Judea, hearing John the Baptist's urgent message of repentance, flock to the Jordan River to confess their sins. This baptism isn't just a ritual; it's a public declaration of turning away from sin and a preparation for the coming Messiah, marking a significant spiritual awakening sweeping the land.
The people of Judea, hearing John the Baptist's urgent message of repentance, flock to the Jordan River to confess their sins. This baptism isn't just a ritual; it's a public declaration of turning away from sin and a preparation for the coming Messiah, marking a significant spiritual awakening sweeping the land.
"and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." — The crucial detail here is that the confession wasn't just a general admission of guilt; the Greek word used suggests an open, explicit acknowledgment, likely even a specific recounting of sins. This…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026