For a translation of and lo, see 1.20.
As with the opening of the heavens and with the descent of the Spirit (verse 16), so the voice from heaven also has its counterpart in Ezekiel 1.28–2.1.
It may be possible to say “A voice was heard coming from heaven” or “A voice in heaven spoke.” If it is not possible to use a passive construction like this, translators can say “He (or, They) heard a voice speaking in heaven.” If at all possible it is best to avoid saying specifically that it was God speaking.
The words of the heavenly voice agree with those spoken at the transfiguration (17.5). The quotation may be described as composite, with reflections of Psalm 2.7 (“You are my son, today I have begotten you”) and Isaiah 42.1 (“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him…”).
According to Mark (1.11), the voice is addressed directly to Jesus (“You are”), while in Matthew it is a public proclamation (This is). This refers to Jesus. It may be necessary to say “This man” or “This one.”
Beloved (Good News Translation “dear”) is understood by a number of translations as an attributive adjective, modifying Son (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Phillips, Translator’s New Testament, Luther 1984). The punctuation selected for the UBS Greek New Testament supports this interpretation. However, a contrary view is held by some scholars who maintain that it is a separate title, in apposition. This would then become an independent title equivalent to the Messiah: “my Son, my (or, the) Beloved” (RSV footnote). Among the translations, this interpretation is adopted by Moffatt, New English Bible, Barclay, An American Translation. Both interpretations have the support of sound scholarship. But if this phrase is given the meaning of a separate title, equivalent to that of Messiah, then some improvement must be made over what has traditionally been done in English translations. The reader will not usually see in the phrase “the Beloved” a Messianic title unless a footnote is used. If one feels strongly that this is the meaning, then that meaning should be made clear in the translation itself.
Translators who accept the first interpretation will generally have something like “my Son whom I love.” If the second interpretation is followed, then some formula should be used that would show that Beloved is a title, as in “my Son, the one called (or, known as) the Beloved.”
With whom I am well pleased or “on whom my favour rests” (New English Bible) is representative of the way that most translations have rendered the last clause of verse 17. However, the clause may also be understood as a reference to the divine election of the Messiah: “I have chosen him” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). With whom I am well pleased can be translated “I am very pleased with him,” “who pleases me very much,” or “He gives me much pleasure.” The declaration from heaven may have to be expressed by more than one sentence; for example, “This is my Son. I love him, and he gives me much happiness.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .