ελεγεν 3004 5707 V-IAI-3S ουν 3767 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM εκπορευομενοις 1607 5740 V-PNP-DPM οχλοις 3793 N-DPM βαπτισθηναι 907 5683 V-APN υπ 5259 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM γεννηματα 1081 N-VPN εχιδνων 2191 N-GPF τις 5101 I-NSM υπεδειξεν 5263 5656 V-AAI-3S υμιν 5213 P-2DP φυγειν 5343 5629 V-2AAN απο 575 PREP της 3588 T-GSF μελλουσης 3195 5723 V-PAP-GSF οργης 3709 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. He said (elegen) to the multitudes that came forth (ekporeuomenoiv). The use of the tenses is graphic. He said, the imperfect, and came forth, the present participle; both denoting action in progress, or customary action; so that the sense is, he kept saying, or he used to say to those who were coming out, to the crowds of people which kept pouring out successively. Compare ejxeporeueto, went out, also imperfect, Matt. iii. 5. Luke gives the substance of the Baptist's preaching summarily.Generation (gennhmata). Lit., births. Rev., better, offspring. It has been observed that John's figurative language is altogether the language of the desert. Notice the succession of images: Brood of vipers; fruits (of repentance) the axe at the root of the tree; the slave boy loosing or bearing the sandals; the baptism of fire; the winnowing fan, the threshing floor, the garner, and the burning of the chaff.
Warned (upedeixen). From upo, under, and deiknumi, to shew. Hence, literally, to shew secretly. The word implies a private or confidential hint or reminder. Compare chapter xii. 5; Acts ix. 16; xx. 35.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:7 {To the multitude that went out} (tois exporeuomenois oclois). Plural, {Multitudes}. The present participle also notes the repetition of the crowds as does elegen (imperfect), he used to say. #Mt 3:7-10 singles out the message of John to the Pharisees and Sadducees, which see for discussion of details. Luke gives a summary of his preaching to the crowds with special replies to these inquiries: the multitudes, #10,11, the publicans #12,13, the soldiers #14. {To be baptized of him} (baptisqenai hup' autou). this is the purpose of their coming. #Mt 3:7 has simply "to his baptism." John's metaphors are from the wilderness (vipers, fruits, axe, slave boy loosing sandals, fire, fan, thrashing-floor, garner, chaff, stones). {Who warned you?} (tis hepedeixen humin;). The verb is like our "suggest" by proof to eye, ear, or brain (#Lu 6:47; 12:5; Ac 9:16; 20:35; Mt 3:7). Nowhere else in the N.T. though common ancient word (hupodeiknumi, show under, point out, give a tip or private hint).
