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

14If you are willing to accept their message, John is the Elijah who was to come. 15Let the person who has ears listen! “How can I describe the people who are living now? They are like children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to other children, 17‘We played music for you, but you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn’t show any sadness.’ 18“John came neither eating nor drinking, and people say, ‘There’s a demon in him!’

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 2:13“What example can I give you? What parallel can I show you, people of Jerusalem? What comparison can I make that will comfort you, beloved people of Zion? Your wounds are as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?
• Mark 4:30Jesus asked, “How can we show what God’s kingdom is like? To what can we compare it?
• Luke 13:18Jesus asked, “What is God’s kingdom like? What can I compare it to?
• Matthew 12:34You poisonous snakes! How can you evil people say anything good? Your mouth says what comes from inside you.
• Matthew 23:36I can guarantee this truth: The people living now will be held accountable for all these things.
• Matthew 24:34“I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place.
• Luke 7:31“How can I describe the people who are living now? 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