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Luke 3:4

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 3:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
Luke 3:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2in the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;
4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
5Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth;
6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
← Luke 3:3Luke 3:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, etc.] (<234003>Isaiah 40:3) saying, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight; (See Gill on “<400303>Matthew 3:3”).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“On the baptism of John - see the notes at Matthew 3:0. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Isa 40:3. Luke 3:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:4-6 The quotation is from Isa 40:3-5 (Greek version); it speaks of God’s delivering the Jews from exile in Babylon. After the Jews had returned from exile (Ezra 1–2), the passage became associated with God’s end-time salvation. 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. • Clear the road for him! . . . the rough places made smooth: The image reflects the Middle Eastern practice of preparing a road at the approach of a king, something like “rolling out the red carpet” (cp. Luke 19:36-38).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The voice: Isa 40:3-5; Mat 3:3; Mar 1:3; Joh 1:23 Prepare: Luk 1:16, Luk 1:17, Luk 1:76-79; Isa 57:14, Isa 62:10; Mal 4:6; Joh 1:7, Joh 1:26-36, Joh 3:28-36 Luke 3:5”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 3 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification