Luke 3 · Verse 15

Luke 3:15

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

Luke 3:15, King James Version

Luke 3:15 in other translations

BSB	The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
WEB	As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,
ASV	And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;
YLT	And the people are looking forward, and all are reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether or not he may be the Christ;
DARBY	But as the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ,
BBE	And while the people were waiting, and all men were questioning in their hearts about John, if he was the Christ or not,
Webster	And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, whether he was the Christ, or not;

What does Luke 3:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 3:15-17

15-17. whether he were the Christ--showing both how successful he had been in awakening the expectation of Messiah's immediate appearing, and the high estimation, and even reverence, which his own character commanded. (Also see on Mt 3:10.)

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 15. In expectation. Expecting the Messiah. Marg. suspense. That is, they were not certain whether John was not himself the Messiah. They confidently expected his appearing, and there minds were in suspense, or they were in a state of doubt whether he had not already come, and whether John was not the Messiah.

Mused in their hearts of John. Thought of his character, his preaching, and his success, and anxiously inquired whether he did not do the things which were expected of the Messiah.

(4) "in expectation" or "in suspense" (5) "mused" or "reasoned" or "debated"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 15 Whether he were the Christ - So general was the reformation which was produced by the Baptist's preaching that the people were ready to consider him as the promised Messiah. Thus John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, and reformed all things; showed the people, the tax-gatherers, and the soldiers, their respective duties, and persuaded them to put away the evil of their doings. See the note on Mat 17:11.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 3:15-20

John the Baptist disowned being himself the Christ, but confirmed the people in their expectations of the long-promised Messiah. He could only exhort them to repent, and assure them of forgiveness upon repentance; but he could not work repentance in them, nor confer remission on them. Thus highly does it become us to speak of Christ, and thus humbly of ourselves. John can do no more than baptize with water, in token that they ought to purify and cleanse themselves; but Christ can, and will baptize with the Holy Ghost; he can give the Spirit, to cleanse and purify the heart, not only as water washes off the dirt on the outside, but as fire clears out the dross that is within, and melts down the metal, that it may be cast into a new mould. John was an affectionate preacher; he was beseeching; he pressed things home upon his hearers. He was a practical preacher; quickening them to their duty, and directing them in it. He was a popular preacher; he addressed the people, according to their capacity. He was an evangelical preacher. In all his exhortations, he directed people to Christ. When we press duty upon people, we must direct them to Christ, both for righteousness and strength. He was a copious preacher; he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. But a full stop was put to John's preaching when he was in the midst of his usefulness. Herod being reproved by him for many evils, shut up John in prison. Those who injure the faithful servants of God, add still greater guilt to their other sins.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 3:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠροσδοκῶντοςProsdokōntosWhen were expectingG4328

δὲdethenG1161

τοῦtoutheG3588

λαοῦlaoupeopleG2992

καὶkaiandG2532

διαλογιζομένωνdialogizomenōnwonderingG1260

πάντωνpantōnallG3956

ἐνeninG1722

ταῖςtaistheG3588

καρδίαιςkardiaisheartsG2588

αὐτῶνautōnof themG846

περὶpericoncerningG4012

τοῦtou<the>G3588

Ἰωάννου,IōannouJohn,G2491

μήποτεmēpotewhetherG3361

αὐτὸςautoshe himselfG846

εἴηeiēwould beG1510

ὁhotheG3588

χριστός,christosChrist,G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 3:15

John 10:24
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
John 3:28-29
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
John 1:19-28
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

expectation. or, suspense.
Joh 10:24
mused. or, reasoned, or debated.
Joh 1:19-28; 3:28,29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Luke 3:14
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Luke 3:15
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Luke 3:16
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Read all of Luke 3

Luke 3:15 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y estando el pueblo esperando, y pensando todos de Juan en sus corazones, si él fuese el Cristo,
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	– Et comme le peuple était dans l’attente, et que tous raisonnaient dans leurs cœurs à l’égard de Jean si lui ne serait point le Christ,
German Elberfelder 1871	Als aber das Volk in Erwartung war, und alle in ihren Herzen wegen Johannes überlegten, ob er nicht etwa der Christus sei,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Existimante autem populo, et cogitantibus omnibus in cordibus suis de Joanne, ne forte ipse esset Christus,