7As these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [11:8] But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in delicate garments? Behold, those wearing delicate clothing are in the houses of kings. [11:9] But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more exceeding than a prophet. [11:10] For this is he concerning whom it has been written: 'Behold, I myself send the messenger of Mine before your face, who will prepare your way before You.' [11:11] Jesus said: 'Amen, I say to you: there has not been raised up among those born of women one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he. [11:12] From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens is taken by violence, and the violent seize it. [11:13] For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. [11:14] And if you are willing to receive it, he himself is Elijah who is about to come. [11:15] The one having ears, let him hear. [11:16] But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to the others of them [11:17] and say: "We piped for you and you did not dance; we sang a dirge to you and you did not wail." [11:18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say: "He has a demon!" [11:19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say: "Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" And yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'"
MAT 11:7-19
Jesus Testifies about John
In the world it was spoken into
In first-century Judea, John the Baptist’s ascetic lifestyle and prophetic ministry stood in stark contrast to the opulence and softness associated with the elite. Jesus’ rhetorical questions to the crowd highlight this contrast: John was not a reed swayed by the wind, a symbol of instability, nor a man dressed in (soft garments), which were markers of luxury and effeminacy, worn by those in royal courts. Instead, John was a prophet, and more than a prophet—he was the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1, the messenger preparing the way for the Lord. Jesus’ audience would have understood John’s role within the framework of Jewish eschatological expectation, where prophets were seen as God’s spokesmen, often confronting societal corruption. The term (vindicated) underscores that John’s righteousness was publicly affirmed through his faithfulness to his mission, even as he faced opposition. Jesus’ words also subtly critique the elite’s rejection of John’s message, aligning him with the marginalized who embraced it.
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How other translations render this
MAT 11:7
- KJV
- And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
- BSB
- As Johnʼs disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
- Koinōnos
- As these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
MAT 11:8
- KJV
- But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
- BSB
- Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kingsʼ palaces.
- Koinōnos
- But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in delicate garments? Behold, those wearing delicate clothing are in the houses of kings.
MAT 11:9
- KJV
- But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
- BSB
- What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- Koinōnos
- But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more exceeding than a prophet.
MAT 11:10
- KJV
- For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
- BSB
- This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’
- Koinōnos
- For this is he concerning whom it has been written: 'Behold, I myself send the messenger of Mine before your face, who will prepare your way before You.
MAT 11:11
- KJV
- Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- BSB
- Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said: 'Amen, I say to you: there has not been raised up among those born of women one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the lesser one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.
MAT 11:12
- KJV
- And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
- BSB
- From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
- Koinōnos
- From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens is taken by violence, and the violent seize it.
MAT 11:14
- KJV
- And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
- BSB
- And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
- Koinōnos
- And if you are willing to receive it, he himself is Elijah who is about to come.
MAT 11:15
- KJV
- He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
- BSB
- He who has ears, let him hear.
- Koinōnos
- The one having ears, let him hear.
MAT 11:16
- KJV
- But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
- BSB
- To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
- Koinōnos
- But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to the others of them
MAT 11:17
- KJV
- And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
- BSB
- ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
- Koinōnos
- and say: "We piped for you and you did not dance; we sang a dirge to you and you did not wail.
MAT 11:18
- KJV
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
- BSB
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
- Koinōnos
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say: "He has a demon!
MAT 11:19
- KJV
- The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
- BSB
- The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
- Koinōnos
- The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say: "Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" And yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 11:8
- delicate:The word translated 'delicate' here refers to something soft and luxurious, often associated with effeminacy or a pampered lifestyle, contrasting with the rugged appearance of John the Baptist.
MAT 11:12
- is taken by violence,:The phrase translated 'is taken by violence' can mean either that the kingdom is forcefully advanced or that it is assailed and suffers violence, reflecting a dynamic and contested reality.
- violent:The term translated 'violent' describes those who are forceful or zealous, either in a positive sense of pressing into the kingdom or a negative sense of attacking it.
MAT 11:19
- is justified:The word translated 'is justified' means to be declared righteous or vindicated, not necessarily to be made righteous in character, but to be shown to be in the right.