Matthew 3:6 Meaning and Explanation
“And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people are baptized in the Jordan as they openly confess their sins.
What Does Matthew 3:6 Mean?
Those who come do not merely listen; they act. They step down into the Jordan and are baptized by John, and they do so while confessing their sins aloud. The washing of the body becomes the outward sign of an inward turning.
Confession here is naming the truth about oneself before God rather than hiding it. To speak one's sins is to lay down the burden of pretense and to ask for cleansing. This honest turning is exactly the repentance John preached, and it prepares the way for the deeper cleansing that the Coming One will bring.
Matthew 3:6 in the Original Language
baptizo (βαπτίζω), 'baptize' -- to immerse or wash, here as a sign of cleansing and turning to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 3:6
What does Matthew 3:6 mean?
The people are baptized in the Jordan as they openly confess their sins.