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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Matthew 3:9

I know what you are thinking. You want to say, ‘but Abraham is our father!' That means nothing. I tell you, God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Abraham;   Genealogy;   Gentiles;   Heredity;   Judaism;   Minister, Christian;   Pharisees;   Reproof;   Sadducees;   Salvation;   Self-Delusion;   Scofield Reference Index - Gospel;   Repentance;   Thompson Chain Reference - Common Delusions;   The Topic Concordance - Baptism;   John the Baptist;   Repentance;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Baptism;   Hypocrites;   Jews, the;   Self-Delusion;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abraham;   Baptism;   John the baptist;   Matthew, gospel of;   Mission;   Nation;   Prophecy, prophet;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Abraham;   Baptize, Baptism;   Messiah;   Nahum, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Holy Ghost;   Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Father;   John the Baptist;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abraham;   Luke, Gospel of;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Trinity;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jesus Christ;   John the Baptist;   Jordan;   Mss;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abraham;   Asceticism (2);   Cosmopolitanism;   Doctrines;   Elect, Election ;   Faith ;   Fathers;   Jacob;   John the Baptist;   Logia;   Nation (2);   Old Testament (Ii. Christ as Student and Interpreter of).;   Paradox;   Paronomasia ;   Poet;   Trust;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Levi;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Apostasy, the;   John, the Baptize;   Jesus of Nazareth;   Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Heredity;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Raise;   Salvation;   Think;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Baptism;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
And don’t presume to say 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)
And thinke not to say within your selues, Wee 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
And think 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
And do not presume 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
and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham.
New Century Version
And don't think you can say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.' I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.
Amplified Bible
and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], 'We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance assures us of salvation]'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And thinke not to say with your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: for I say vnto you, that God is able euen of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and do not suppose that you can 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
and do not suppose that you can 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
And do not presume 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.
Contemporary English Version
And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.
Complete Jewish Bible
And don't suppose you can comfort yourselves by saying, ‘Avraham is our father'! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones!
Darby Translation
And do not think to say within 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.
George Lamsa Translation
And do not think and 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
And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham!
Lexham English Bible
And do not think 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
And do not think to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
American Standard Version
and think 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
And say not to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; because I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children for Abraham.
Hebrew Names Version
Don't think to 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
Don't think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather.' For I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!John 8:33,39; Acts 13:26; Romans 4:1,11, 16;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Neither ruminate and say within yourselves, that Abraham is father to us; for I say to you that Aloha is able from these stones to raise up sons unto Abraham.
Murdock Translation
And do not think, and say within yourselves, that Abraham is our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these tones to raise up children to Abraham.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And be not of suche mynde, that ye woulde say within your selues, we haue Abraham to [our] father. For I say vnto you, that God is able, of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham.
English Revised Version
and think 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
Don't think to 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)
And say not within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say to you, God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Weymouth's New Testament
and do not imagine that you can 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)
and nyle ye seie with ynne you, We han Abraham to fadir; for Y seie to you, that God is myyti to reise vp of these stoones the sones of Abraham.
Update Bible Version
and don't think to say to 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.
Webster's Bible Translation
And think 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
and don't think you can 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
and do not think 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
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 not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.
New Revised Standard
Do not presume 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
and think not to be saying within yourselves, - As our father, we have, Abraham; for, I say unto you, that God is able, out of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And think not 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.
Revised Standard Version
and do not presume 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)
And se that ye ons thynke not to saye in your selues we haue Abraham to oure father. For I saye vnto you that God is able of these stones to rayse vp chyldern vnto Abraha.
Young's Literal Translation
and do not think to say in yourselves, A father we have -- Abraham, for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thinke not now, to saye in your selues, we haue Abraham to oure father. For I saye vnto you, that God is able of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and don't pretend to say within your selves, We have Abraham for our father: for I tell you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham:
Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't even try to make the excuse that Abraham was your father. God can make these rocks become Abraham's children if that's what he wants to do. It don't mean nothin'.

Contextual Overview

7 Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to where John was baptizing people. When John saw them, he said, "You are all snakes! Who warned you to run from God's judgment that is coming? 8 Change your hearts! And show by the way you live that you have changed. 9 I know what you are thinking. You want to say, ‘but Abraham is our father!' That means nothing. I tell you, God could make children for Abraham from these rocks. 10 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "I baptize you with water to show that you have changed your hearts and lives. But there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who takes off his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He will come ready to clean the grain. He will separate the good grain from the straw, and he will put the good part into his barn. Then he will burn the useless part with a fire that cannot be stopped."

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

Cross-References

Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman you put here with me gave me fruit from that tree. So I ate it."
Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" She said, "The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit."
Genesis 3:17
Then God said to the man, "I commanded you not to eat from that tree. But you listened to your wife and ate from it. So I will curse the ground because of you. You will have to work hard all your life for the food the ground produces.
Genesis 3:19
You will work hard for your food, until your face is covered with sweat. You will work hard until the day you die, and then you will become dust again. I used dust to make you, and when you die, you will become dust again."
Genesis 3:20
Adam named his wife Eve. He gave her this name because Eve would be the mother of everyone who ever lived.
Genesis 3:21
The Lord God used animal skins and made some clothes for the man and his wife. Then he put the clothes on them.
Genesis 4:9
Later, the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain answered, "I don't know. Is it my job to watch over my brother?"
Genesis 11:5
Then the Lord came down to see the city and the tower.
Genesis 16:8
The angel said, "Hagar, Sarai's slave girl, why are you here? Where are you going?" Hagar said, "I am running away from Sarai."

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.


 
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