Mark 1:3
New International Version
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

New Living Translation
He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”

English Standard Version
the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

Berean Standard Bible
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”

Berean Literal Bible
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.'"

King James Bible
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

New King James Version
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”

NASB 1995
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”

NASB 1977
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”

Amplified Bible
A VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”

Christian Standard Bible
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!

American Standard Version
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight;

Contemporary English Version
In the desert someone is shouting, 'Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.'"

English Revised Version
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"A voice cries out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

Good News Translation
Someone is shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!'"

International Standard Version
He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

Majority Standard Bible
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

NET Bible
the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'"

New Heart English Bible
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his roads straight.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Weymouth New Testament
"The voice of one crying aloud: 'In the Desert prepare a road for the Lord: Make His highways straight.'"

World English Bible
the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A voice of one calling in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD, "" Make His paths straight.”

Berean Literal Bible
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.'"

Young's Literal Translation
'A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye his paths,' --

Smith's Literal Translation
A voice of him crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his beaten paths straight.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.”

New American Bible
A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The voice that cries in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, and straighten his high ways.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“A voice that cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of THE LORD JEHOVAH and make level his paths.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Godbey New Testament
the voice of one roaring in the wilderness; Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.

Haweis New Testament
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths strait.”

Mace New Testament
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

Weymouth New Testament
"The voice of one crying aloud: 'In the Desert prepare a road for the Lord: Make His highways straight.'"

Worrell New Testament
the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.'"

Worsley New Testament
and again, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight:" accordingly John came baptizing in the wilderness,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Mission of John the Baptist
2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.” 3“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.…

Cross References
Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

Matthew 3:3
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

Luke 3:4
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.

John 1:23
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Exodus 23:20
Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

Matthew 11:10
This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

Luke 7:27
This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

John 1:19-23
And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” / He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” / “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” ...

Acts 19:4
Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

Isaiah 57:14
And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”

Isaiah 62:10
Go out, go out through the gates; prepare the way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones; raise a banner for the nations!

Malachi 4:5-6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. / And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Matthew 17:11-13
Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. / But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” / Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,


Treasury of Scripture

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Isaiah 40:3-5
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God…

Matthew 3:3
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Luke 3:4-6
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight…

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Mark 1
1. The office of John the Baptist.
9. Jesus is baptized;
12. tempted;
14. he preaches;
16. calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John;
23. heals one that had a demon;
29. Peter's mother in law;
32. many diseased persons;
40. and cleanses the leper.














A voice of one calling in the wilderness
This phrase is a direct reference to the prophecy found in Isaiah 40:3, which is fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist. The "voice" signifies a herald, someone who announces the coming of a significant figure, in this case, Jesus Christ. The "wilderness" is both a literal and symbolic location. Historically, the wilderness was a place of testing and preparation for the Israelites, and it is where John the Baptist preached repentance. The Greek word for "wilderness" (ἔρημος, erēmos) can also mean a solitary or uninhabited place, emphasizing the need for spiritual preparation away from the distractions of daily life.

Prepare the way for the Lord
This command is a call to readiness and repentance. The word "prepare" (ἑτοιμάζω, hetoimazō) implies making ready or equipping oneself for an important event. In ancient times, preparing the way for a king involved clearing and leveling roads. Spiritually, this preparation involves repentance and turning one's heart towards God. The "way" (ὁδός, hodos) is not just a physical path but a metaphor for one's life journey and spiritual direction. The "Lord" here refers to Jesus, affirming His divine authority and messianic role.

Make straight paths for Him
The imagery of making "straight paths" (εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους, eutheias poieite tas tribous) suggests removing obstacles and creating a direct route. In a spiritual sense, this means removing sin and anything that hinders one's relationship with God. The call to make paths "straight" is an invitation to live a life of integrity and righteousness, aligning one's actions with God's will. Historically, this reflects the practice of preparing roads for the arrival of a king, ensuring that nothing would impede his journey. This phrase emphasizes the need for personal and communal transformation in anticipation of Christ's coming.

(3) The voice of one crying in the wilderness.--See Note on Matthew 3:3.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“A voice
Φωνὴ (Phōnē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5456: Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.

of one calling
βοῶντος (boōntos)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 994: To shout, call aloud, proclaim. Apparently a prolonged form of a primary verb; to halloo, i.e. Shout.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

wilderness,
ἐρήμῳ (erēmō)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2048: Lonesome, i.e. waste.

‘Prepare
Ἑτοιμάσατε (Hetoimasate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2090: To make ready, prepare. From hetoimos; to prepare.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

way
ὁδὸν (hodon)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3598: A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.

for [the] Lord,
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

make
ποιεῖτε (poieite)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

straight
εὐθείας (eutheias)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2117: Perhaps from eu and tithemi; straight, i.e. level, or true; adverbially at once.

paths
τρίβους (tribous)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5147: A worn path, beaten way, road, highway. From tribo; a rut or worn track.

for Him.’”
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying (Mar Mk Mr)
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