King James Bible
"And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."
The Spirit's visible manifestation as a dove marks Jesus' public anointing for ministry, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecies of the Spirit-empowered Messiah. The dove imagery evokes gentleness and peace, contrasting with the fiery judgment John the Baptist had just proclaimed. This divine utterance represents a theophany—God speaking audibly to authenticate Jesus' identity. The heavenly origin emphasizes ultimate authority, paralleling Old Testament moments when God's voice confirmed his chosen servants. The Father's declaration combines royal coronation language from Psalm 2:7 with the Servant imagery of Isaiah 42:1, affirming both Jesus' divine sonship and his role as the suffering servant. This public affirmation launches Jesus' ministry with full Trinitarian witness.