MAT 11:15 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Ὁ
2. ho
3. The one
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. the ‹one›
8. the ‹one›
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6666
1. ἔχων
2. eχō
3. having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VPPA·NMS
7. having
8. having
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6667
1. ὦτα
2. ous
3. ears
4. -
5. 37750
6. N····ANP
7. ears
8. ears
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6668
1. ἀκούειν
2. akouō
3. to be hearing
4. -
5. 1910
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ hearing
8. ˓to_be˒ hearing
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6669
1. ἀκουέτω
2. akouō
3. let him be hearing
4. -
5. 1910
6. VMPA3··S
7. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ hearing
8. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ hearing
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6670

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:1–19: Jesus praised John the Baptist

Long before Jesus was born, God spoke of a messenger who would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1). John the Baptist was that messenger. When John’s ministry was ending, he began to doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. So John sent some of his disciples to verify that Jesus was the Messiah (11:3). Jesus indicated that his miracles and preaching were proof that he was the expected Messiah whom God spoke of (11:4–5).

Jesus then showed that John was very important in God’s eyes (11:7–14).

Jesus and John did God’s work in very different ways, but most people refused to listen to either person (11:16–19).

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The question of John the Baptist

Jesus talked about John the Baptizer

Messengers from John the Baptist (NRSV)

Jesus and John the Baptizer’s actions prove who they are

There is a parallel passage for this section in Luke 7:18–35.

11:15

He who has ears, let him hear.

Everyone who is able to hear should listen to what I am saying.
You^(plur) who are able to hear what I say, think about it.

The saying in this verse also occurs in Mark 4:9, Mark 4:23, Luke 8:8, Luke 14:35. You should translate all these passages in the same way.

He who has ears, let him hear: These words are a saying that Jesus used to command or urge the crowd to carefully think about the words that they had just heard. This saying assumes that everyone in the crowd had ears and were able to hear. So it is addressed to all the people who were listening to Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this saying:

Use “they” or “you” instead of he. For example:
All those who have ears to hear, let them hear.
All of you who have ears to hear, hear/listen.
Use a different type of clause. In some languages it may be more natural to use an “if” clause or a reason clause. For example:
If/Since you have ears that can hear, then pay attention.
Translate the saying without including the word ears. For example:
You people who can hear me, listen! (NCV)

let him hear: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as let him hear is a command in the third person. It does not express permission.

Here is one way to make this more clear:

Anyone who has ears should listen! (NJB)

In some languages, it may be necessary to say what the listener should be listening to. For example:

let him listen to me

let him listen to what I say

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν, ἀκουέτω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω)

The phrase ears to hear represents the willingness to understand and obey. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [The one who wishes to understand, let him understand and obey] or [The one who can listen to me should pay attention]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν, ἀκουέτω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω)

Jesus is speaking directly to his audience, not about other people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the second person plural here. Alternate translation: [You who have ears to hear should hear] or [If you have ears to hear, then hear]

Note 3 topic: translate-textvariants

ἀκούειν

˓to_be˒_hearing

Many ancient manuscripts read to hear. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts do not include these words. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

ἀκουέτω

˱him˲_˓let_be˒_hearing

If your language does not use the third-person imperative in this way, you could state this in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [he should hear]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀκουέτω

˱him˲_˓let_be˒_hearing

Although the term him is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [let that person hear]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. The one
2. -
3. 35880
4. S
5. ho
6. R-····NMS
7. the ‹one›
8. the ‹one›
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6666
1. having
2. -
3. 21920
5. eχō
6. V-PPA·NMS
7. having
8. having
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6667
1. ears
2. -
3. 37750
5. ous
6. N-····ANP
7. ears
8. ears
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6668
1. to be hearing
2. -
3. 1910
5. akouō
6. V-NPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ hearing
8. ˓to_be˒ hearing
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6669
1. let him be hearing
2. -
3. 1910
5. akouō
6. V-MPA3··S
7. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ hearing
8. ˱him˲ ˓let_be˒ hearing
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6670

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear MAT 11:15

SR Greek word order

Section 11:1–19: Jesus praised John the Baptist

11:15

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)