Luke 3:6

Luke 3:6, in plain English

And then Isaiah's prophecy reaches its stunning conclusion: 'And all people everywhere will see God's salvation.'

Why it's here

Luke is the only Gospel writer to include this line, and it sets the tone for his entire book. This salvation is for everyone—no exceptions.

Who's speaking

Luke completes the Isaiah quotation with its most expansive promise.

Where it sits in the story

This is the punchline of the prophecy: not just Israel, not just the religious, but all humanity will see God's salvation. From the very start, Luke tells you this story is for the whole world.

The scholarly reading

Luke uniquely extends the Isaiah quotation to include 'all flesh (pasa sarx) shall see God's salvation (to sōtērion tou theou).' This universalist conclusion is absent from Matthew and Mark's citations.

Language and setting

Luke's inclusion of this verse is theologically programmatic, establishing from the start that salvation extends to all humanity—a central theme in Luke-Acts (cf. Acts 28:28).

Voice

Luke concludes the Isaiah quotation with its universal promise.

Significance

By extending Isaiah's quote to its universalist conclusion, Luke announces his Gospel's grand theme: God's salvation is not for one nation alone but for every human being on earth.

4as 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.

5Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.

6And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”

7Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Read all of Luke 3 — John the Baptist doesn't just call for repentance — he gets specific. Tax collectors, soldiers, and crowds all hear what it costs to change.