Matthew 3:5

Then went out to him Hierusalem, and all Iudea, and all the region round about Iordane,
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
- New American Standard Version (1995)

Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan;
- American Standard Version (1901)

Then Jerusalem and all Judaea went out to him, and all the people from near Jordan;
- Basic English Bible

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round the Jordan,
- Darby Bible

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region about Jordan,
- Webster's Bible

Then large numbers of people went out to him--people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley--
- Weymouth Bible

Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
- World English Bible

Thanne Jerusalem wente out to hym, and al Judee, and al the cuntre aboute Jordan;
- Wycliffe Bible

Then were going forth unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan,
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for Matthew 3:5

3:3 The way of the Lord - Of Christ. Make his paths straight - By removing every thing which might prove a hinderance to his gracious appearance. #Isaiah 40:3|.

3:4 John had his raiment of camels' hair - Coarse and rough, suiting his character and doctrine. A leathern girdle - Like Elijah, in whose spirit and power he came. His food was locusts and wild honey - Locusts are ranked among clean meats, #Lev 11:22|. But these were not always to be had. So in default of those, he fed on wild honey.

3:6 Confessing their sins - Of their own accord; freely and openly. 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 scarcely practicable for such vast multitudes. And yet they could not be immerged naked with modesty, nor in their wearing apparel with safety. It seems, therefore, that they stood in ranks on the edge of the river, and that John, passing along before them, cast water on their heads or faces, by which means he might baptize many thousands in a day. And this way most naturally signified Christ's baptizing them with the Holy Ghost and with fire, which John spoke of, as prefigured by his baptizing with water, and which was eminently fulfilled, when the Holy Ghost sat upon the disciples in the appearance of tongues, or flames of fire.

3:7 The Pharisees were a very ancient sect among the Jews. They took their name from a Hebrew word, which signifies to separate, because they separated themselves from all other men. They were outwardly strict observers of the law, fasted often, made long prayers, rigorously kept the Sabbath, and paid all tithe, even of mint, anise, and cummin. Hence they were in high esteem among the people. But inwardly, they were full of pride and hypocrisy. The Sadducees were another sect among the Jews, only not so considerable as the Pharisees. They denied the existence of angels, and the immortality of the soul, and by consequence the resurrection of the dead. Ye brood of vipers - In like manner, the crafty Herod is styled a fox, and persons of insidious, ravenous, profane, or sensual dispositions, are named respectively by him who saw their hearts, serpents, dogs, wolves, and swine; terms which are not the random language of passion, but a judicious designation of the persons meant by them. For it was fitting such men should be marked out, either for a caution to others, or a warning to themselves.