MAT 11:9 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. ἀλλά
2. alla
3. but
4. -
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6563
1. τί
2. ti
3. why
4. -
5. 50845
6. D·······
7. why
8. why
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6564
1. ἐξήλθατε
2. exerχomai
3. you all came out
4. -
5. 18310
6. VIAA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ came_out
8. ˱you_all˲ came_out
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6527
11. 6565
1. ἐξεληλύθατε
2. exerχomai
3. -
4. -
5. 18310
6. VIEA2··P
7. ˓have˒ come_out
8. ˓have˒ come_out
9. -
10. -
11. 6566
1. Ἰδεῖν
2. horaō
3. -
4. -
5. 37080
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ see
8. ˓to˒ see
9. S
10. -
11. 6567
1. προφήτην
2. profētēs
3. +a prophet
4. -
5. 43960
6. N····AMS
7. ˓a˒ prophet
8. ˓a˒ prophet
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6568
1. Ἰδεῖν
2. horaō
3. To see
4. see
5. 37080
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ see
8. ˓to˒ see
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6569
1. Ναί
2. nai
3. Yes
4. -
5. 34830
6. I·······
7. yes
8. yes
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6570
1. λέγω
2. legō
3. I am saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6524; Person=Jesus
11. 6571
1. ὑμῖν
2. su
3. to you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6527
11. 6572
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6573
1. περισσότερον
2. perissoteros
3. more important than
4. important
5. 40550
6. S····AMS
7. more_important ‹than›
8. more_important ‹than›
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6574
1. προφήτου
2. profētēs
3. +a prophet
4. -
5. 43960
6. N····GMS
7. ˓a˒ prophet
8. ˓a˒ prophet
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6575

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.

11:9a

What then did you go out to see?

So, what kind of person did you go out to see?
So when you went into the wilderness, did you go to see
When you went into the desert, you went to see

What then did you go out to see?: This rhetorical question is exactly the same as the rhetorical question in 11:8a. However, you may have to translate this rhetorical question slightly differently than the one in 11:8a. This is because the expected answer to the pair of rhetorical questions in 11:9a–b is “yes.”

11:9b

A prophet?

Did you^(plur) go to see a prophet?
a prophet?
a prophet.

A prophet?: Some words from the previous sentence are implied but not repeated. It may be more natural in some languages to include some or all of the implied words. For example:

Did you go to see a prophet?

This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that they did go out to see a prophet.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. Your translation should imply that the expected answer was “Yes, they went out to see a prophet.” For example:
Did you go to see a prophet?
You went out to see a prophet, right?
As a statement. For example:
You certainly did go to see a prophet.
It was a prophet whom you went out to see.

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

prophet: See how you translated this word in 1:22 or 10:41a. Also see prophet in the Glossary for further information.

11:9c

Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Yes! I tell you that he is more important than a prophet.
Of course! And I tell you that he is greater/higher than a prophet.
And John is certainly greater than all the other prophets.

Yes, I tell you: The word Yes shows what is the expected answer to the rhetorical question in 11:9b. The words I tell you emphasize the following statement.

Here are some other ways to show this emphasis:

As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:
Let me tell you (GW)
As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
He is certainly more than a prophet

more than a prophet: The words more than a prophet mean that John was not only a prophet, he was greater than all the other prophets. Among the Jews, the highest religious position a man could have was to be called a prophet. So Jesus’ statement showed that John was indeed a very important person.

In Malachi 3:1, it was prophesied that a messenger would come to prepare the way of the Lord. That messenger was John. John was the only prophet who had that privilege. Because of that, he was greater than all the other prophets.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

John is more than a prophet (NCV)

he is greater/higher than a prophet

the prophet you saw is greater than the other prophets

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλὰ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά τί ἐξήλθατε προφήτην Ἰδεῖν Ναί λέγω ὑμῖν καί περισσότερον προφήτου)

Here, much as in [11:8](../11/08.md), the word But introduces a contrast with the possibility that Jesus asked about in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [If not that,] or [So,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

τί ἐξήλθατε? προφήτην ἰδεῖν?

why ˱you_all˲_came_out ˓a˒_prophet (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά τί ἐξήλθατε προφήτην Ἰδεῖν Ναί λέγω ὑμῖν καί περισσότερον προφήτου)

Here the two questions could be divided so that the phrase To see goes with: (1) a prophet. See the ULT. (2) go out. Alternate translation: [what did you go out to see? A prophet?]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἀλλὰ τί ἐξήλθατε? προφήτην ἰδεῖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά τί ἐξήλθατε προφήτην Ἰδεῖν Ναί λέγω ὑμῖν καί περισσότερον προφήτου)

Jesus is using the question form to teach the crowds about John. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate these questions as statements or exclamations. Alternate translation: [Surely you went out to see a prophet!] or [I know why you went out. It was to see a prophet.]

λέγω ὑμῖν

˱I˲_˓am˒_saying ˱to˲_you_all

Jesus uses the clause I say to you to emphasize what he is telling the crowds. Use a natural form in your language for emphasizing the truth and importance of a statement. Alternate translation: [I want you to know]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

καὶ περισσότερον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλά τί ἐξήλθατε προφήτην Ἰδεῖν Ναί λέγω ὑμῖν καί περισσότερον προφήτου)

Jesus is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [and he was more than]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

περισσότερον προφήτου

more_important_‹than› ˓a˒_prophet

Jesus means that John was indeed a prophet, but that he was even more than a typical prophet. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [not just an ordinary prophet] or [greater than the other prophets]

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. 2350
5. alla
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6563
1. why
2. -
3. 50845
5. ti
6. D-·······
7. why
8. why
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6564
1. you all came out
2. -
3. 18310
5. exerχomai
6. V-IAA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ came_out
8. ˱you_all˲ came_out
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6527
11. 6565
1. To see
2. see
3. 37080
4. S
5. horaō
6. V-NAA····
7. ˓to˒ see
8. ˓to˒ see
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6569
1. +a prophet
2. -
3. 43960
5. profētēs
6. N-····AMS
7. ˓a˒ prophet
8. ˓a˒ prophet
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6568
1. Yes
2. -
3. 34830
4. S
5. nai
6. I-·······
7. yes
8. yes
9. S
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6570
1. I am saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6524; Person=Jesus
11. 6571
1. to you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist; R6527
11. 6572
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6573
1. more important than
2. important
3. 40550
5. perissoteros
6. S-····AMS
7. more_important ‹than›
8. more_important ‹than›
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6574
1. +a prophet
2. -
3. 43960
5. profētēs
6. N-····GMS
7. ˓a˒ prophet
8. ˓a˒ prophet
9. -
10. Y31; TJesus'_Message_on_John_the_Baptist
11. 6575

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 11:9

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

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

11:9a

11:9b

11:9c

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