Isaiah 40:3–5
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness"
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord." The Hebrew accents read "A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way"; the Greek and the Vulgate put the voice in the wilderness. All four Gospels apply the Greek form to John the Baptist (Mark 1:3; Matthew 3:3; Luke 3:4–6; John 1:23); the Qumran Community Rule applies the Hebrew to its own retreat to the desert to study the law (1QS 8:13–16).
Same letters, different readings: the consonants agree, but ancient readers vocalized or interpreted them differently
The family tree
Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.
✓ contains it · ✕ does not · ❝ quotes part of it · ⓘ reports on manuscripts · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives
- Same line, through lost copies
- Translation
- Uncertain connection
- The oracle as first spoken or written8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
- Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- 4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 41st century BC (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- 1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 11st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- Mark 1:3 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
- Matthew 3:3 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
- Luke 3:4–6 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
- John 1:23 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
Every witness, in order
8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
The oracle as first spoken or written
No original survives. The oldest copies of Isaiah are the Qumran scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a, about 125 BC, nearly complete), 1QIsa-b (1Q8) and some twenty other fragmentary manuscripts.
c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)
Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 40:3–5. Same words as the Masoretic Text, including "in the wilderness" and "a highway for our God." Otherwise the differences are of spelling (fuller use of vowel letters) and small grammatical forms.
1st century BC (reported)
4QIsa-b (4Q56), Qumran Cave 4
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 40:3–5. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. What survives agrees with the Masoretic Text.
1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)
1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 1
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 40:3–5. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. What survives agrees with the Masoretic Text.
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Mark 1:3 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
“Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ: ‘Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν ˚Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ.’”
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight
Mark's citation, after Malachi 3:1 (1:2). KJV: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Matthew 3:3 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
Οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ῥηθεὶς διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, “Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ: ‘Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν ˚Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ.’”
For this is he who was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness…
Matthew's citation. KJV: "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."
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Luke 3:4–6 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
ὡς γέγραπται ἐν βίβλῳ λόγων Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου, “Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ: ‘Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν ˚Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ. Πᾶσα φάραγξ πληρωθήσεται, καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ βουνὸς ταπεινωθήσεται, καὶ ἔσται τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς εὐθείαν, καὶ αἱ τραχεῖαι εἰς ὁδοὺς λείας· καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σὰρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ ˚Θεοῦ.’”
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness… and all flesh shall see the salvation of God
Luke's longer citation (3:4–6). KJV: "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. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
1st century AD; edition 2010s
John 1:23 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
Ἔφη, “Ἐγὼ ‘Φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ: “Εὐθύνατε τὴν ὁδὸν ˚Κυρίου”’, καθὼς εἶπεν Ἠσαΐας ὁ προφήτης.”
He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said
John the Baptist's words about himself in John's Gospel. KJV: "He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias."
Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592
Latin Vulgate (Clementine)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).
Vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini, rectas facite in solitudine semitas Dei nostri. Omnis vallis exaltabitur, et omnis mons et collis humiliabitur, et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas: et revelabitur gloria Domini, et videbit omnis caro pariter quod os Domini locutum est.
Latin numbering: Isaiah 40:3–5. Jerome translated Isaiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).
AD 1008
Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.
ק֣וֹל קוֹרֵ֔א בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֑ה יַשְּׁרוּ֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה מְסִלָּ֖ה לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ כָּל־גֶּיא֙ יִנָּשֵׂ֔א וְכָל־הַ֥ר וְגִבְעָ֖ה יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ וְהָיָ֤ה הֶֽעָקֹב֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר וְהָרְכָסִ֖ים לְבִקְעָֽה׃ וְנִגְלָ֖ה כְּב֣וֹד יְהוָ֑ה וְרָא֤וּ כָל־בָּשָׂר֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃
A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God (v. 3)
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 40:3–5.
1611
King James Bible
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).
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. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872
Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)
How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.
On entend la voix de celui qui crie dans le désert: Préparez la voie du Seigneur, redressez les sentiers de notre Dieu. Toute vallée sera remplie, toute montagne sera abaissée; les chemins tortueux seront redressés, ceux qui étaient raboteux seront aplanis. Et la gloire du Seigneur se manifestera, et toute chair verra le salut de Dieu; car le Seigneur à parlé.
Greek (digital file) numbering: Isaiah 40:3–5. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only); a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Isaiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.
What changed, and why
Classification: a translation and punctuation difference (where "in the wilderness" belongs), carried into later quotation. Hebrew witnesses agree (1QIsa-a; 1QIsa-b and 4QIsa-b partly).
The Greek also changes "a highway for our God" to "the paths of our God," which the Gospels adapt to "his paths." Luke 3:5–6 continues with vv. 4–5, ending "all flesh shall see the salvation of God" (Greek).
Mark 1:2–3 introduces Malachi 3:1 (with Exodus 23:20) before Isaiah 40:3 under the single heading "in Isaiah the prophet."
What the evidence shows
- All four Gospels apply Isaiah 40:3 to John the Baptist.
- 1QS 8:13–16 applies Isaiah 40:3 to the Qumran community. Reported.
- The Hebrew accents attach "in the wilderness" to "prepare."
Sources
Related lessons
- Isaiah 40: Comfort Ye My People →A new voice: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people… her warfare is accomplished" (40:1–2). A voice cries: prepare the LORD's way in the wilderness; every valley raised, every mountain lowered; all flesh shall see his glory (vv. 3–5). Another voice: "All flesh is grass… but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (vv. 6–8). Zion, herald of good news, announces: "Behold your God!", who comes with power and feeds his flock like a shepherd (vv. 9–11). Who measured the waters in his hand? The nations are a drop in a bucket; to whom will you liken God? An idol has to be made so that it will not totter (vv. 12–20). He sits above the circle of the earth, names every star, gives strength to the weary: "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles" (vv. 21–31).
- Investigation: Jesus and Isaiah →Isaiah is quoted in the Gospels more than any other prophet. This study registers 55 uses that involve Jesus: 20 in Matthew, 14 in Mark, 12 in Luke and 9 in John. For each it records who speaks (Jesus as the Gospel reports him, the narrator, John the Baptist, a heavenly voice, Simeon, or a later scribe), the Isaiah passage and its original setting, the Gospel's Greek wording, whether the use is an explicit quotation, a quotation without formula, an allusion, a proposed allusion, or a later Christian connection, and how that Gospel uses it. Each Gospel is kept separate.