Lexicon :: Strong's G2048 - erēmos

In those days [fn]John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying,

“THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘PREPARE THE ROAD FOR THE LORD,

[fn]MAKE HIS HIGHWAYS STRAIGHT (level, direct)!’”

Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out in the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind [which is commonplace]?

When Jesus heard about John, He left there privately in a boat and went to a secluded place. But when the crowds heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

A VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,

[fn]MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”

Immediately the [Holy] Spirit forced Him out into the wilderness.

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there.

The child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah].

“THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,

[fn]MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.

Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

When daybreak came, Jesus left [Simon Peter’s house] and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and [they] came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them.

When John’s messengers left, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? [fn]A reed shaken by the wind?

Now the day was ending, and the twelve [disciples] came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging, and get provisions; because here we are in an isolated place.”

For that reason Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but left there and went to the district that borders on the uninhabited wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and He stayed there with the disciples.

‘LET HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE BECOME DESOLATE,

AND LET THERE BE NO ONE TO LIVE IN IT’;

and [again],

‘LET ANOTHER TAKE HIS POSITION AS OVERSEER.’

“After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT [fn]Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH.

“Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God directed Moses to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.

But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” (This is a desert road).

“REJOICE, O BARREN WOMAN WHO HAS NOT GIVEN BIRTH;

BREAK FORTH INTO A [joyful] SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;

FOR THE DESOLATE WOMAN HAS MANY MORE CHILDREN

THAN SHE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.”

DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS [your fathers did] IN THE REBELLION [of Israel at [fn]Meribah],

ON THE DAY OF TESTING IN THE WILDERNESS,