Keraia
Luke 3

Luke 3:5

The Mission of John the Baptist · Luke 3:1–20
Read Luke 3

Translations

Modern
Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
Traditional
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
Literal
Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; and the crooked will become straight, and the rough ways into smooth.
Latin
…omnis vallis implebitur, et omnis mons, et collis humiliabitur: et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas:

Original

Greek
English
Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.

Notes

Luke 3:4–6

  • The quotation is from the ancient Greek version of Isaiah 40:3–5. It describes God bringing the Jews back from exile in Babylon. After they returned (Ezra 1–2). John shouted in the wilderness to prepare God’s people for the Lord’s coming. God’s salvation is portrayed as a new exodus, bringing deliverance like the first exodus from Egypt.

  • make straight paths for Him … the rough ways smooth: This image reflects the Middle Eastern custom of preparing a road for a king (compare Luke 19:36–38).

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah John the Baptist Baptism

Events

Parallels

Isaiah 40:1–5 Matthew 3:1–12 Mark 1:1–8 John 1:19–28

Glossary

Baptism of Jesus Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Genealogy Gospel Jesus Christ John the Baptist Luke, Gospel of Wilderness

Topics

John: Mission of Valleys: (Filling up of) of Removing all Obstructions to the Gospel