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Luke 3:7

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 3:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He 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?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He 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 3:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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?
8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do?
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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
“Then said he to the multitude, etc.] That is, John, as the Ethiopic version reads; and the multitude to whom he spake the following words, were many of the Pharisees and Sadducees, as appears from (<400307>Matthew 3:7) That came forth to be baptized of him; who came out of their houses, towns, and cities, round about, to the place where John was; and hearing and seeing what he was about, desired to be admitted to his baptism: not that they “were baptised of him”; as the Arabic version renders it; but they came with a view of being baptized, were it thought fit and proper they should: but John refused them, saying to them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to…”
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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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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:7 God’s coming wrath is the judgment for all who reject the gospel. Israel as a nation would experience this wrath in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (see 21:20-23).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“O generation: Gen 3:15; Psa 58:4, Psa 58:5; Isa 59:5; Mat 3:7-10, Mat 23:33; Joh 8:44; Act 13:10; Jo1 3:8 to flee: Th1 1:10; Heb 6:18 Luke 3:8”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification