MAT 11:16 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. τίνι
2. tis
3. to what
4. -
5. 51010
6. R····DNS
7. ˱to˲ what
8. ˱to˲ what
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6671
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. PS
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6672
1. ὁμοιώσω
2. homoioō
3. I will be likening
4. liken
5. 36660
6. VIFA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ likening
8. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ likening
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6524; Person=Jesus
11. 6673
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6674
1. γενεάν
2. genea
3. generation
4. generation
5. 10740
6. N····AFS
7. generation
8. generation
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6675
1. ταύτην
2. houtos
3. this
4. -
5. 37780
6. E····AFS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6676
1. ὁμοία
2. homoios
3. similar
4. -
5. 36640
6. S····NFS
7. similar
8. similar
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6677
1. Ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. It is
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ is
8. ˱it˲ is
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6678
1. παιδαρίοις
2. paidarion
3. -
4. -
5. 38080
6. N····DNP
7. ˱to˲ little_children
8. ˱to˲ little_children
9. -
10. -
11. 6679
1. παιδίοις
2. paidion
3. to little children
4. children
5. 38130
6. N····DNP
7. ˱to˲ little_children
8. ˱to˲ little_children
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; F6681; F6694; F6698; F6699; F6704
11. 6680
1. καθημένοις
2. kathēmai
3. sitting
4. sitting
5. 25210
6. VPPM·DNP
7. sitting
8. sitting
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6680
11. 6681
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6682
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6683
1. τῇ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 6684
1. ἀγοραῖς
2. agora
3. marketplaces
4. -
5. 580
6. N····DFP
7. marketplaces
8. marketplaces
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6685
1. ἀγορᾷ
2. agora
3. -
4. -
5. 580
6. N····DFS
7. marketplace
8. marketplace
9. -
10. -
11. 6686
1. καθημένοις
2. kathēmai
3. -
4. -
5. 25210
6. VPPM·DNP
7. sitting
8. sitting
9. -
10. -
11. 6687
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 6688
1. ἅ
2. hos
3. who
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····NNP
7. who
8. who
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6689
1. προσφωνοῦσιν
2. prosfōneō
3. -
4. -
5. 43770
6. VPPA·DMP
7. calling_out
8. calling_out
9. -
10. -
11. 6690
1. προσφωνοῦντα
2. prosfōneō
3. calling out
4. calling
5. 43770
6. VPPA·NNP
7. calling_out
8. calling_out
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6691
1. τοῖς
2. ho
3. to the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DNP
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6692
1. τοῖς
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DMP
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. -
11. 6693
1. ἑτέροις
2. heteros
3. others
4. others
5. 20870
6. R····DNP
7. others
8. others
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6680; F6700; F6703; F6709
11. 6694
1. ἑταίροις
2. hetairos
3. -
4. -
5. 20830
6. N····DMP
7. friends
8. friends
9. -
10. -
11. 6695
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. -
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMP
7. ˱of˲ them
8. ˱of˲ them
9. -
10. -
11. 6696

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.

Paragraph 11:16–19

In this paragraph, Jesus compared the people of his generation to children playing in the market. The people of that generation criticized John’s harsh lifestyle and did not respond to his message. They also criticized Jesus’ joyous lifestyle and did not respond to his message. They were like children who refused to dance to happy songs, but they also refused to mourn to sad songs. They were never satisfied. They rejected both John and Jesus.

11:16a

To what can I compare this generation?

¶ “To what/whom can I compare today’s people?
¶ “Here is what the people who are now living are like.

Verse 11:16a begins a new topic. The Greek introduces this new topic with a conjunction that is often translated as “but.” However, there is no contrast here. In most languages, it will be better to begin this paragraph without the word “but,” as the BSB and many other English versions do.

To what can I compare this generation?: This is a rhetorical question. It is the type of rhetorical question that a teacher asks a class. The teacher knows the answer, but he asks the class this type of question to make them think about the issue. Here Jesus also used this question to introduce a new topic.

Be careful not to translate this in a way that would imply that Jesus was searching for an answer to his question. Jesus himself gave the answer in 11:16b–17.

Here are some other ways to translate this rhetorical question:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
What/Whom shall I compare this generation to?
As a statement. For example:
Here is what I would compare this generation to:

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

this generation: This phrase refers to all the people who lived at the same time as Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the people of this day (GNT)

the people who are living now (GW)

11:16b

They are like children sitting in the marketplaces

I can compare them to children sitting in the market
They are like some children sitting in the public/village square

They are like: The pronoun They refers to “this generation.” In some languages, it will be more natural to say:

This generation is like

children sitting in the marketplaces: The Greek word that the BSB translates as marketplaces refers to a large, open area where people came to buy and sell things. There was room for children to play there. It was a place where many public events happened.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

market (CEV)

public/village square

middle of the village

11:16c

and calling out to others:

and shouting to their friends,
and shouting/complaining to the other children,

calling out: The words calling out refer to speaking loudly so that people some distance away can hear. Some English versions translate this word as “shout,” but it is not the type of shout that angry people do. Here it is more of a complaint.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

call out (NET)

complain (NLT)

to others: The Greek word that the BSB translates as to others refers to the other children who were there. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to the others

to their friends (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνι Δέ ὁμοιώσω τήν γενεάν ταύτην ὁμοία Ἐστίν παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἅ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροις)

The word Now introduces the next topic. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the next topic, or you could leave Now untranslated. Alternate translation: [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τίνι δὲ ὁμοιώσω τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην?

˱to˲_what (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνι Δέ ὁμοιώσω τήν γενεάν ταύτην ὁμοία Ἐστίν παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἅ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροις)

Jesus is using the question form to introduce a comparison between this generation and children sitting in the marketplace. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [Here is what I compare this generation to.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην

Here, generation represents the people who are part of the generation, which means that they are adults who are currently alive. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [today’s people] or [the people of this generation]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ὁμοία ἐστὶν

similar (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνι Δέ ὁμοιώσω τήν γενεάν ταύτην ὁμοία Ἐστίν παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἅ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροις)

These words are the beginning of Jesus’ comparison. His opponents complain about John being too austere, and they complain about Jesus not being austere enough, just like children who complain when other children don’t dance with them, and then complain again when they don’t cry with them. Since Jesus explains this comparison in the following verses, you do not need to explain it here in your translation.

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

ταῖς ἀγοραῖς

the marketplaces

A marketplace is a large, open-air area where people buy and sell goods. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of area, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [the town square] or [the park]

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. But
2. -
3. 11610
4. PS
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. PS
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6672
1. to what
2. -
3. 51010
5. tis
6. R-····DNS
7. ˱to˲ what
8. ˱to˲ what
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6671
1. I will be likening
2. liken
3. 36660
5. homoioō
6. V-IFA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ likening
8. ˱I˲ ˓will_be˒ likening
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6524; Person=Jesus
11. 6673
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6674
1. this
2. -
3. 37780
5. houtos
6. E-····AFS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6676
1. generation
2. generation
3. 10740
5. genea
6. N-····AFS
7. generation
8. generation
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6675
1. It is
2. -
3. 15100
4. S
5. eimi
6. V-IPA3··S
7. ˱it˲ is
8. ˱it˲ is
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6678
1. similar
2. -
3. 36640
5. homoios
6. S-····NFS
7. similar
8. similar
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6677
1. to little children
2. children
3. 38130
5. paidion
6. N-····DNP
7. ˱to˲ little_children
8. ˱to˲ little_children
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; F6681; F6694; F6698; F6699; F6704
11. 6680
1. sitting
2. sitting
3. 25210
5. kathēmai
6. V-PPM·DNP
7. sitting
8. sitting
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6680
11. 6681
1. in
2. -
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6682
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6683
1. marketplaces
2. -
3. 580
5. agora
6. N-····DFP
7. marketplaces
8. marketplaces
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6685
1. who
2. -
3. 37390
5. hos
6. R-····NNP
7. who
8. who
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6689
1. calling out
2. calling
3. 43770
5. prosfōneō
6. V-PPA·NNP
7. calling_out
8. calling_out
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6691
1. to the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DNP
7. ˱to˲ the
8. ˱to˲ the
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6692
1. others
2. others
3. 20870
5. heteros
6. R-····DNP
7. others
8. others
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6680; F6700; F6703; F6709
11. 6694

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.