Matthew 11:16

Matthew 11:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
• New International Version (NIV)“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
• English Standard Version (ESV)"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,

Context of Matthew 11:16

14And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is [the fulfillment of] Elijah [as the messenger] who was to come [before the kingdom]. 15He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market places, who call to the others, 17and say ‘We piped the flute for you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we wailed sad dirges [playing funeral], and you did not mourn and cry aloud.’ 18For John came neither eating nor drinking [with others], and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

Matthew 11:16 word by word

Τίνι δὲ ὁμοιώσω τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην; ὁμοία ἐστὶν παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἃ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροιςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• whereuntoτίςtis · which?G5101
• shall I likenὁμοιόωhomoioō · to likenG3666
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• generationὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• generationγενεάgenea · generationG1074
• It isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• like untoὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
• childrenπαιδάριονpaidarion · boyG3808
• sittingκάθημαιkathēmai · to sitG2521
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the marketsἀγοράagora · marketplaceG58
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• calling untoπροσφωνέωprosphōneō · to call to/summonG4377
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• fellowsἑταῖροςhetairos · friendG2083

Cross-references for Matthew 11:16

• Lamentations 2:13How shall I console you? To what shall I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? With what shall I compare you, so that I may comfort you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?
• Mark 4:30And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to illustrate and explain it?
• Luke 13:18So this led Him to say, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
• Matthew 12:34You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
• Matthew 23:36I assure you and most solemnly say to you, [the judgment for] all these things [these vile and murderous deeds] will come on this generation.
• Matthew 24:34I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place.
• Luke 7:31“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation [who set aside God’s plan], and what are they like?

Commentaries on Matthew 11:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16But whereunto shall I liken this generation? - That is, the Jewish people - , this race: and so the word is often to be understood in the evangelists. In the markets - Or, places of concourse, , from , I gather together; not a market-place only, but any place of public resort: probably meaning here, places of public amusement. Calling unto their fellows - Or, companions. Instead of , companions, many of the best MSS. have , others. The great similarity of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-19Verses 16-19 But whereunto shall I liken … - Christ proceeds to reprove the inconsistency and fickleness of that age of people. He says they were like children - nothing pleased them. He refers here to the “plays” or “sports” of children. Instrumental music, or piping and dancing, were used in marriages and festivals as a sign of joy. See the notes at Isaiah 5:11-12. Compare Job 21:11; 2 Samuel 6:14; Judges 11:34; Luke 15:25. Children imitate their…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-24Verses 16-24 Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge against every one, however excellent and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-19John’s message was like funeral songs. He lived with strict self-denial, fasting often and not drinking wine (Matthew 11:18; see 3:4). The message of Jesus is more like wedding songs, with feasting and drinking (see 9:9–17). In both cases, the people of this time respond to God's messenger with indifference and rejection.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-191. And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciple--rather, "the twelve disciples," he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities--This was scarcely a fourth circuit--if we may judge from the less formal way in which it was expressed--but, perhaps, a set of visits paid to certain places, either not reached at all before, or too rapidly passed through, in order to fill up the time till the return of the Twelve…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 11:16

• Commerce
• Impenitence
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Unbelief
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Child
• Easy
• Games
• Justify
• Learn
• Lowly
• Marketplace
• Meek
• Mighty
• Pipe

Commentaries on Matthew 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings