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Contemporary English Version

Luke 3:8

Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying that you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Baptism;   Minister, Christian;   Reproof;   Sadducees;   Salvation;   Wicked (People);   Scofield Reference Index - Repentance;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ability;   Awakenings and Religious Reforms;   Awakenings, Religious;   Divine;   God;   Humility-Pride;   Jewish;   Power;   Pride;   Weakness-Power;   The Topic Concordance - Bearing Fruit;   Deeds;   Hell;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Genealogy;   Mary;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baptism;   Luke, gospel of;   Race;   Repentance;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fruit;   John the Baptist;   Righteousness;   Easton Bible Dictionary - John the Baptist;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gospels;   Lazarus;   Luke, the Gospel According to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel of;   Ordinances;   Pride;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Holy Spirit;   John the Baptist;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abraham;   Asceticism (2);   Baptism;   Benedictus;   Doctrines;   Elect, Election ;   Eternal Punishment;   Fathers;   Gentiles (2);   Indolence;   Jacob;   John the Baptist;   Paronomasia ;   King James Dictionary - Raise;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Baptism;   Herod, Family of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fruit;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - John the Baptist;   Luke, the Gospel of;   Raise;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Baptism;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
King James Version (1611)
Bring forth therfore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: For I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.
King James Version
Bring 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.
English Standard Version
Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
New American Standard Bible
"Therefore produce fruits that are consistent with repentance, and do not start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children for Abraham.
New Century Version
Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. Don't begin to say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.' I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.
Amplified Bible
"Therefore produce fruit that is worthy of [and consistent with your] repentance [that is, live changed lives, turn from sin and seek God and His righteousness]. And do not even begin to say to yourselves [as a defense], 'We have Abraham for our father [and so our heritage assures us of salvation]'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham [for God can replace the unrepentant, regardless of their heritage, with those who are obedient].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Complete Jewish Bible
If you have really turned from your sins, produce fruit that will prove it! And don't start saying to yourselves, ‘Avraham is our father'! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones!
Darby Translation
Produce therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say in yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father, for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Easy-to-Read Version
Change your hearts! And show by your lives that you have changed. I know what you are about to say—‘but Abraham is our father!' That means nothing. I tell you that God can make children for Abraham from these rocks!
Geneva Bible (1587)
Bring foorth therefore fruites worthy amendement of life, and beginne not to say with your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: for I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore bring forth fruits which are worthy of repentance; and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I say to you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
Good News Translation
Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham!
Lexham English Bible
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!
Literal Translation
Then bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham out of these stones.
American Standard Version
Bring 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.
Bible in Basic English
Make clear by your acts that your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children of Abraham.
Hebrew Names Version
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Avraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Avraham from these stones!
International Standard Version
Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! Don't begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather.' For I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!
Etheridge Translation
Work therefore fruits which are worthy of repentance. And begin not to say within yourselves that Abraham is father to us; for I tell you, that from these stones Aloha is able to raise up sons unto Abraham.
Murdock Translation
Bring forth, therefore, fruits comporting, with repentance. And begin not to say in yourselves: We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that God can, from these stones, raise up sons to Abraham.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Bryng foorth therefore due fruites of repentaunce, and begyn not to say within your selues, we haue Abraham to our father: For I saye vnto you, that God is able of these stones, to rayse vp childre vnto Abraham.
English Revised Version
Bring 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.
World English Bible
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones!
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and say not within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Weymouth's New Testament
Live lives which shall prove your change of heart; and do not begin to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor do ye worthi fruytis of penaunce, and bigynne ye not to seie, We han a fadir Abraham; for Y seie to you, that God is myyti to reise of these stoonys the sones of Abraham.
Update Bible Version
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Webster's Bible Translation
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
New English Translation
Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don't begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!
New King James Version
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
New Living Translation
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, ‘We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
New Life Bible
Do something to let me see that you have turned from your sins. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.
New Revised Standard
Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to be saying within yourselves, As our father, we have, Abraham; for, I say unto you - God is able, out of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance: and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you that God is able of these stones, to raise up children to Abraham.
Revised Standard Version
Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Bringe forth due frutes of repentaunce and begynne not to saye in youre selves we have Abraham to oure father. For I saye vnto you: God is able of these stones to reyse vp chyldren vnto Abraham.
Young's Literal Translation
make, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have a father -- Abraham; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Take hede, brynge forth due frutes of repetauce, & begynne not to saye: We haue Abraha to or father. For I saye vnto you: God is able of these stones to rayse vp children vnto Abraham.
Mace New Testament (1729)
let your actions therefore show your repentance, and don't pretend to say within yourselves, "we have Abraham for our father:" for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Simplified Cowboy Version
You say that you've turned from your wicked ways? Well, the proof is in the puddin'. And don't start tellin' me that you're one of Abraham's kids and that's all you have to be. Shoot, God could turn a dog turd into one of Abraham's kids if he wanted to. That don't give you a pass no more.

Contextual Overview

1 For fifteen years Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip, was the ruler in the countries of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish high priests. At that time God spoke to Zechariah's son John, who was living in the desert. So John went along the Jordan Valley, telling the people, "Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven." Isaiah the prophet wrote about John when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him. Fill up every valley and level every mountain and hill. Straighten the crooked paths and smooth out the rough roads. Then everyone will see the saving power of God.'" Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, "You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying that you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire." The crowds asked John, "What should we do?" John told them, "If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else." When tax collectors came to be baptized, they asked John, "Teacher, what should we do?" John told them, "Don't make people pay more than they owe." Some soldiers asked him, "And what about us? What do we have to do?" John told them, "Don't force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay." Everyone became excited and wondered, "Could John be the Messiah?" John said, "I am just baptizing with water. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in his barn and burn the husks with a fire that never goes out." In many different ways John preached the good news to the people. But to Herod the ruler, he said, "It was wrong for you to take Herodias, your brother's wife." John also said that Herod had done many other bad things. Finally, Herod put John in jail, and this was the worst thing he had done. While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, "You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you." When Jesus began to preach, he was about thirty years old. Everyone thought he was the son of Joseph. But his family went back through Heli, Matthat, Levi, Melchi, Jannai, Joseph, Mattathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda; Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi; Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David, Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon; Amminadab, Admin, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah; Cainan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Kenan, Enosh, and Seth. The family of Jesus went all the way back to Adam and then to God. 2The Preaching of John the Baptist For fifteen years Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip, was the ruler in the countries of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish high priests. At that time God spoke to Zechariah's son John, who was living in the desert. 3 So John went along the Jordan Valley, telling the people, "Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven." 4 Isaiah the prophet wrote about John when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him. 5 Fill up every valley and level every mountain and hill. Straighten the crooked paths and smooth out the rough roads. 6 Then everyone will see the saving power of God.'" 7 Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, "You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? 8 Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying that you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. 9 An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire." 10 The crowds asked John, "What should we do?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fruits: Isaiah 1:16-18, Ezekiel 18:27-31, Acts 26:20, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Corinthians 7:11, Galatians 5:22-24, Philippians 1:11, Hebrews 6:7, Hebrews 6:8

worthy of: or, meet for

We: Luke 13:28, Luke 13:29, Luke 16:23-31, Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:2, Jeremiah 7:4-10, John 8:33, Romans 4:16, Romans 9:7

of these: Luke 19:40, Joshua 4:3-8, Matthew 8:11, Matthew 8:12, Matthew 21:43, Galatians 3:28, Galatians 3:29

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 5:11 - Restore Job 34:32 - if Ezekiel 33:24 - but we Zechariah 8:16 - are Malachi 2:10 - all Matthew 3:8 - forth Matthew 3:9 - think Matthew 21:32 - came Luke 3:10 - What Luke 7:39 - he spake Luke 13:16 - being Luke 16:24 - Father Luke 19:8 - Behold Ephesians 4:28 - steal no more

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
The snake was sneakier than any of the other wild animals that the Lord God had made. One day it came to the woman and asked, "Did God tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?"
Genesis 3:2
The woman answered, "God said we could eat fruit from any tree in the garden,
Genesis 3:3
except the one in the middle. He told us not to eat fruit from that tree or even to touch it. If we do, we will die."
Genesis 3:9
The Lord called out to the man and asked, "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:10
The man answered, "I was naked, and when I heard you walking through the garden, I was frightened and hid!"
Genesis 3:12
"It was the woman you put here with me," the man said. "She gave me some of the fruit, and I ate it."
Genesis 3:21
Then the Lord God made clothes out of animal skins for the man and his wife.
Genesis 3:22
The Lord said, "These people now know the difference between right and wrong, just as we do. But they must not be allowed to eat fruit from the tree that lets them live forever."
Deuteronomy 5:25
But we don't want to take a chance on being killed by that terrible fire, and if we keep on hearing the Lord 's voice, we will die.
Deuteronomy 23:14
You must keep your camp clean of filthy and disgusting things. The Lord is always present in your camp, ready to rescue you and give you victory over your enemies. But if he sees something disgusting in your camp, he may turn around and leave.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance,.... Or "meet" for it, such as will show it to be true and genuine: "and begin not to say within yourselves": in one of Beza's copies, and in another of Stephens's, it was read, "think not", as in Matthew 3:9. the sense is the same. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, leave out the phrase, "within yourselves": what they are forbid to say follows,

we have Abraham to our father, for I say unto you, God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham; which need not be thought strange, when the creation of Adam out of the earth, and the production of such a numerous offspring, as the Israelites were, from Abraham and Sarah, when past all hope of children, and are signified by the rock and pit in Isaiah 51:1 are considered;

Isaiah 51:1- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

On the baptism of John - see the notes at Matthew 3:0.


 
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