Matthew 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
הערת לימוד
Study Note
John the Baptist's inaugural proclamation — 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' — is structurally identical to Jesus' own opening proclamation in Matthew 4:17, suggesting Matthew deliberately frames them as voices in the same eschatological announcement. The Greek metanoeite ('repent') carries the Hebrew shubu ('turn/return') resonance of prophetic covenant-renewal calls, while 'kingdom of heaven' (basileias tōn ouranōn) is Matthew's characteristically Jewish circumlocution for 'kingdom of God.' The claim that the kingdom 'is at hand' (ēngiken) uses the perfect tense of proximity — it has drawn near, it is already arriving — indicating inaugurated rather than merely anticipated eschatology. The baptism of repentance that accompanies the proclamation constitutes the visible social form of the inner transformation being announced.
תרגומים נוספים
Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
and saying, `Reform, for come nigh hath the reign of the heavens,'
Saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin; for the kingdom of heaven is near.
הפניות צולבות
Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto …
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, …
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and …
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; …
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be …
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least …