Keraia
Matthew 3

Matthew 3:7

The Mission of John the Baptist · Matthew 3:1–12
Read Matthew 3

Translations

Modern
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Traditional
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Literal
But having seen many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Latin
Videns autem multos pharisæorum, et sadducæorum, venientes ad baptismum suum, dixit eis: Progenies viperarum, quis demonstravit vobis fugere a ventura ira?

Original

Greek
English
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Notes

Matthew 3:7

  • The Pahrisees' name comes from the Hebrew word perushim, which means separated ones or exact interpreters.

  • The Sadducees, a group of priests, probably got their name from Zadok the priest (2 Samuel 15:24–29; Ezekiel 44:10–16).

Events

Parallels

Isaiah 40:1–5 Mark 1:1–8 Luke 3:1–20 John 1:19–28

People

Pharisee: A strict Jewish sect known for legalism and hypocrisy Sadducee: A Jewish sect that denied the resurrection and spirits

Glossary

Adder Baptism of Jesus Brood Gospel of Matthew John the Baptist Prophecy Sadducees Serpent Viper Wrath of God

Topics

Baptism: As Administered by John Baptism: John's Christian Minister: Faithful: John the Baptist Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Name Calling Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by John Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Reproof: Faithfulness in John the Baptist, of the Jews Reproof: John the Baptist Sadducees: Rebuked by John the Baptist The Pharisees: some Came to John for Baptism The Sadducees were Refused Baptism by John Titles and Names of the Wicked: Generation of Vipers Viper: Figurative