Matthieu 3:9

Darby's French Translation

et ne pensez pas de dire en vous-mêmes: Nous avons Abraham pour père; car je vous dis que Dieu peut, de ces pierres, susciter des enfants à Abraham.

Parallel Translations

La Bible David Martin (1744)
Et ne pr�sumez point de dire en vous-m�mes : nous avons Abraham pour p�re; car je vous dis que Dieu peut faire na�tre de ces pierres m�mes des enfants � Abraham.

La Bible Ostervald (1996)
Et ne pensez pas � dire en vous-m�mes: Nous avons Abraham pour p�re; car je vous dis que, de ces pierres, Dieu peut susciter des enfants � Abraham.

Louis Segond (1910)
et ne pr�tendez pas dire en vous-m�mes: Nous avons Abraham pour p�re! Car je vous d�clare que de ces pierres-ci Dieu peut susciter des enfants � Abraham.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

think: Mark 7:21, Luke 3:8, Luke 5:22, Luke 7:39, Luke 12:17

We: Ezekiel 33:24, Luke 16:24, John 8:33, John 8:39, John 8:40, John 8:53, Acts 13:26, Romans 4:1, Romans 4:11-16, Romans 9:7, Romans 9:8, Galatians 4:22-31

God: Matthew 8:11, Matthew 8:12, Luke 19:40, Acts 15:14, Romans 4:17, 1 Corinthians 1:27, 1 Corinthians 1:28, Galatians 3:27-29, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:14 - Is Numbers 16:3 - all the 1 Samuel 4:3 - Let us Job 8:19 - out of the earth Psalms 22:30 - it shall Proverbs 5:1 - attend Isaiah 41:8 - the seed Isaiah 49:20 - children Jeremiah 3:16 - say Jeremiah 5:15 - O house Jeremiah 7:4 - Trust Ezekiel 16:15 - thou didst Ezekiel 20:38 - I will purge Micah 3:11 - yet Zephaniah 3:11 - that rejoice Haggai 1:8 - and build Malachi 2:10 - all Matthew 15:22 - a woman Matthew 25:8 - Give Mark 12:9 - he will Luke 13:7 - why Luke 13:30 - General John 1:13 - not Acts 2:38 - Repent Acts 3:25 - the children Acts 13:40 - Beware Romans 2:17 - thou art Romans 2:28 - For he Romans 4:12 - to them Romans 11:22 - otherwise 2 Corinthians 11:22 - the seed Ephesians 3:20 - able James 2:21 - Abraham 1 Peter 4:17 - judgment

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And think not to say within yourselves,.... John knew the sentiments of their minds, and the prevailing opinion they had given into, against which he cautions them; as, that because they were Abraham's seed, they were in a state of salvation, in the favour of God, and had a right to all privileges and ordinances: this they trusted in, and boasted of, and would often think of it within themselves, pleasing themselves with the thoughts of it, and speak of it to others;

we have Abraham for our father. The Baptist was aware how ready they would be to object this to him; and therefore prevents their plea from hence in favour of their admission to baptism, by assuring them, that this would have no weight with him, nor give them any right to the ordinance he administered: hence it appears that it is not a person's being born of believing parents that can entitle him to water baptism; or be a reason why it ought to be administered to him: if nothing more than this can be said in his favour, it is a plain case from hence, he ought to be debarred from it. The reason John gives why such a plea as this would be insufficient is,

for I say unto you; I assure you of it; you may depend on it as a certain truth,

that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. To "raise up children" is an Hebrew way of speaking, and the same with

שם or להקים זרע to "raise up seed", or a "name" to another,

Genesis 38:8 and signifies to beget children for another, who are to be called by his name. Some by "the stones" understand the Gentiles, comparable to stones, both for the hardness of their hearts, and their idolatry in worshipping stocks and stones; of and among whom God was able to raise, and has raised up, a spiritual seed to Abraham; who are of the same faith with him, who walk in his steps, and whose father he is: but then it must be supposed, according to this sense, that there were some Gentiles present, since John calls them "these" stones, pointing to some persons or things, that were before him; wherefore I rather think that this phrase is to be taken literally, and that John pointed to some certain stones that were near him, within sight, and which lay upon the banks of Jordan, where he was baptizing; for what is it that the omnipotent God cannot do? He could as easily of stones make men, as make Adam out of the dust of the earth, and then make these men, in a spiritual sense, children of Abraham; that is, believers in Christ, and partakers of his "grace; for if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise", Galatians 3:29. So that God stood in no need of these persons, nor had they any reason to boast of their natural descent from Abraham; since this in spiritual matters, and in things relating to the Gospel dispensation, would stand them in no stead, or be of any advantage to them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And think not to say ... - They regarded it as sufficient righteousness that they were descended from so holy a man as Abraham. Compare John 8:33-37, John 8:53. John assured them that this was a matter of small consequence in the sight of God. Of the very stones of the Jordan he could raise up children to Abraham. The meaning seems to be this: God, from these stones, could more easily raise up those who should be worthy children of Abraham, or be like him, than simply, because you are descendants of Abraham, make you, who are proud and hypocritical, subjects of the Messiah’s kingdom. Or, in other words, mere nativity, or the privileges of birth, avail nothing where there is not righteousness of life. Some have supposed, however, that by these stones he meant the Roman soldiers, or the pagan, who might also have attended on his ministry; and that God could “of them” raise up children to Abraham.