MAT 11:11 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) I can assure you that no person who’s ever been born is greater than Yohan-the-immerser. But even the least important person in the heavenly kingdom is greater than him.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen one greater than John the Baptist, but the least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

UST Of all the people who have ever lived, there has been no one more important than John the Baptizer. However, the most insignificant people who participate in God’s heavenly kingdom are more important than John. What I have said is true.

BSB Truly I tell you, among [those] born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

BLB Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he!

AICNT “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

OEB I tell you, no one born of a woman has yet appeared who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

WEBBE Most certainly I tell you, amongst those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptiser; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

WMBB Most certainly I tell you, amongst those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

NET “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

LSV Truly I say to you, there has not risen, among those born of women, [one] greater than John the Immerser, but he who is least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

FBV I tell you the truth, that among humanity[fn] there's no one greater than John the Baptist, but even the least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

11:11 Literally, “among those who are born of women.”

TCNT § Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist, but whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

T4T Note this: Of all the people who have ever lived, God does not consider that any of them are greater than John the Baptizer. However, God considers that all those people who have let God rule their lives are greater than John, even if they are insignificant people.

LEB ¶ Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen one greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

BBE Truly I say to you, Among the sons of women there has not been a greater than John the Baptist: but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Moff I tell you truly, no one has arisen among the sons of women who is greater than John the Baptist, and yet the least in the Realm of heaven is greater than he is.

Wymth "I solemnly tell you that among all of woman born no greater has ever been raised up than John the Baptist; yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he.

ASV Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

DRA Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

YLT Verily I say to you, there hath not risen, among those born of women, a greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the reign of the heavens is greater than he.

Drby Verily I say to you, that there is not arisen among [the] born of women a greater than John the baptist. But he who is a little one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

RV Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
(Verily/Truly I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath/has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. )

SLT Verily I say to you, in the begotten of women has there not risen a greater than John the Immerser; but the less in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

Wbstr Verily, I say to you, among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he.

KJB-1769 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
( Verily/Truly I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath/has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. )

KJB-1611 Uerely I say vnto you, Among them that are borne of women, there hath not risen a greater then Iohn the Baptist: notwithstanding, hee that is least in the kingdome of heauen, is greater then he.
(Verily/Truly I say unto you, Among them that are born of women, there hath/has not risen a greater then Yohn the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater then he.)

Bshps Ueryly I say vnto you, among them that are borne of women, arose not a greater then Iohn the Baptist: Notwithstandyng, he that is lesse in the kingdome of heauen, is greater then he.
(Verily/Truly I say unto you, among them that are born of women, arose not a greater then Yohn the Baptist: Notwithstanding, he that is less in the kingdom of heaven, is greater then he.)

Gnva Verely I say vnto you, among them which are begotten of women, arose there not a greater then Iohn Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is the least in the kingdome of heauen, is greater then he.
(Verily/Truly I say unto you, among them which are begotten of women, arose there not a greater then Yohn Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is the least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater then he. )

Cvdl Verely I saye vnto you: Amonge ye children of wemen arose there not a greater then Ihon the baptist. Not withstondinge he that is lesse in the kyngdome of Heauen, is greater then he.
(Verily/Truly I say unto you: Among ye/you_all children of women arose there not a greater then Yohn the baptist. Not withstanding he that is less in the kingdom of Heaven, is greater then he.)

TNT Verely I saye vnto you amonge the chyldren of wemen arose there not a gretter then Ihon the baptist. Notwithstondinge he that ys lesse in the kyngdome of heven ys gretter then he.
(Verily/Truly I say unto you among the children of women arose there not a greater then Yohn the baptist. Notwithstanding he that is less in the kingdom of heaven is greater then he. )

Wycl Treuli Y seie to you, ther roos noon more than Joon Baptist among the children of wymmen; but he that is lesse in the kyngdom of heuenes, is more than he.
(Truly I say to you, there rose noon more than Yohn Baptist among the children of women; but he that is less in the kingdom of heavens, is more than he.)

Luth Wahrlich, ich sage euch, unter allen, die von Weibern geboren sind, ist nicht aufkommen, der größer sei denn Johannes der Täufer; der aber der Kleinste ist im Himmelreich, ist größer denn er.
(Truly, I said you, under all/everyone, the from women born are, is not arise/come_up, the/of_the bigger be because/than Yohannes the/of_the Baptiser; the/of_the but the/of_the Kleinste is in_the heaven_riches/kingdom, is bigger because/than he.)

ClVg Amen dico vobis, non surrexit inter natos mulierum major Joanne Baptista: qui autem minor est in regno cælorum, major est illo.[fn]
(Amen I_mean/say to_you(pl), not/no rose/got_up between natos of_women major/greater Yoanne Baptist: who/which however minor it_is in/into/on kingdom of_the_heavens, major/greater it_is that/there. )

11.11 Major Joanne. In hoc non præfertur patriarchis, et cunctis hominibus, sed æqualis cæteris sanctis ostenditur. Qui autem. Id est, omnis sanctus qui jam est cum Deo, major est eo qui adhuc in mundo. Vel ego quem minorem facit multorum opinio, in Ecclesia sanctorum illi prælatus sum. Vel novissimus angelus cœli melior est quovis homine. In regno. Regnum cœlorum duobus modis accipitur: aut supernum, in quo nondum sumus: aut præsens Ecclesia, in qua adhuc vivimus, et jam quodammodo regnamus.

11.11 Mayor Yoanne. In this not/no beforefertur patriarchis, and to_all to_humans, but equals the_rests to_the_saints is_shown. Who however. That it_is, everyone holy who/which already it_is when/with to_God, major/greater it_is by_him who/which still in/into/on to_the_world. Or I which minor he_does of_many opinio, in/into/on Assembly/Church holy_place them beforelatus I_am. Or latest/last messenger/angel heavens better it_is quovis man. In kingdom. Regnum of_the_heavens for_two in_ways accepted: or supernum, in/into/on where not_yet we_are: or present Assembly/Church, in/into/on which still we_live, and already in_a_certain_way kingdomsmus.

UGNT ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐκ ἐγήγερται ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν μείζων Ἰωάννου τοῦ Βαπτιστοῦ. ὁ δὲ μικρότερος ἐν τῇ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν, μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστιν.
(amaʸn, legō humin, ouk egaʸgertai en gennaʸtois gunaikōn meizōn Yōannou tou Baptistou. ho de mikroteros en taʸ Basileia tōn Ouranōn, meizōn autou estin.)

SBL-GNT ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐκ ἐγήγερται ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν μείζων Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ· ὁ δὲ μικρότερος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστιν.
(amaʸn legō humin, ouk egaʸgertai en gennaʸtois gunaikōn meizōn Yōannou tou baptistou; ho de mikroteros en taʸ basileia tōn ouranōn meizōn autou estin.)

RP-GNT Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐκ ἐγήγερται ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν μείζων Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ· ὁ δὲ μικρότερος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστιν.
(Amaʸn legō humin, ouk egaʸgertai en gennaʸtois gunaikōn meizōn Yōannou tou baptistou; ho de mikroteros en taʸ basileia tōn ouranōn meizōn autou estin.)

TC-GNT § Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐκ ἐγήγερται ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν μείζων [fn]Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ· ὁ δὲ μικρότερος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστιν.
( § Amaʸn legō humin, ouk egaʸgertai en gennaʸtois gunaikōn meizōn Yōannou tou baptistou; ho de mikroteros en taʸ basileia tōn ouranōn meizōn autou estin. )

11:11 ιωαννου ¦ ιωανου WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN 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.

11:11

Verse 11:11 indicates that John was the boundary between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the kingdom. He was the last Old Testament prophet. There was no one greater than John. But in the period of the kingdom, even the least person is greater than the greatest person in the period of the law.

11:11a

Truly I tell you,

I assure you^(plur) that
Then Jesus said, “I tell you^(plur) with certainty,

In 11:10 Jesus quoted a verse from the Old Testament. But 11:11 is Jesus’ own words. If this is not clear from the grammar of your language, you may want to add something to make it clear. For example:

Jesus said,

Jesus continued speaking:

Truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words that the BSB translates as Truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. When he began a statement with these words, he was asking people to listen with extra attention.

Here are some other ways to introduce this:

I assure you (NLT96)

Listen to this:

Let me tell you this:

If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.

This clause also occurs in 10:42. You should translate it here as you did there.

11:11b

among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist.

John the Baptist is the greatest person who has ever been born.
John the Baptist is the most important human being who has ever lived.

among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist: The clause those born of women is a figurative way to refer to human beings (as opposed to spirit beings). The verb has risen also means “has lived.” It does not refer to rising from sleep or from the dead.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptizer (GW)

John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived (GNT)

John the Baptist is the most important human being who has ever lived.

no one greater than John the Baptist: This phrase means that no human being had a more important role than John. John was the one whom God chose to prepare people for the Messiah’s coming.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

John…is the most important person

of all the people who have ever lived, John…has the greatest position/privilege

11:11c

Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

But even so, the lowest person in the kingdom of heaven/God is greater than John.
However, under God’s rule/chieftaincy, even the person of the smallest status/rank is more important than John.

Yet: Verse 11:11c seems to conflict with 11:11b, but it is also true. The two parts are a paradox.

Here are some other ways to introduce this part of the paradox:

But (GNT)

However

even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he: This sentence compares a person in the time of the kingdom of God with John (who lived at the end of the time of the law). It indicates that even a person who has the lowest status in the kingdom of God is greater than John. Even insignificant people in the kingdom are more important than the most important people in the time of the Old Testament law. This implies that the new way that Jesus was establishing (the kingdom) is better than the old way (the law).

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

in the kingdom of heaven, even the lowest person is greater/higher than John

the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John (GW)

the person of the lowest rank/status in the kingdom of God is great/important compared with John

even the least: This phrase refers to the person who has the lowest status, rank, or position in the kingdom of God.

the kingdom of heaven: In the phrase the kingdom of heaven, the word heaven is a figure of speech called metonymy. In this figure of speech, heaven refers to God, but it refers to him indirectly by naming the place where he lives and rules. The Jews considered God’s name to be so holy that they hesitated to say it. So instead of pronouncing God’s name directly, they often used the name of the place where he lives and rules. Because Matthew was writing primarily to Jews, he often used the word heaven to refer to God.

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven means the same thing as “the kingdom of God.” The phrase the kingdom of heaven only occurs in the book of Matthew. The phrase “the kingdom of God” is found in all other places in the New Testament, and it even occurs five times in Matthew.

Here are some other ways to translate heaven in this context:

Make some information explicit. For example:
the one/Lord who lives in heaven
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
God

This phrase also occurs in 3:2b, 5:3b and 10:7b. Also see kingdom of heaven in the Glossary.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν

among ˓the˒_born_‹ones› ˱of˲_women

The phrase those born of women refers to all people who have lived. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [among all the people who have ever lived]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν

among ˓the˒_born_‹ones› ˱of˲_women

If you would like to retain the idiom but your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [among those whom women have borne]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐκ ἐγήγερται & μείζων

not ˓has_been˒_raised & greater_‹than›

Jesus is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning, greater. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: [there have only arisen ones lesser than]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οὐκ ἐγήγερται

not ˓has_been˒_raised

Jesus speaks of people having lived as if they had arisen, or stood up. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [there has not existed] or [there has not lived]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ὁ & μικρότερος

¬the & ˓the˒_least

Matthew is using the adjective least as a noun to mean people who are not very important. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this phrase with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [the least important person]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστιν

greater_‹than› greater_‹than› he (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν οὐκ ἐγήγερται ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν μείζων Ἰωάννου τοῦ Βαπτιστοῦ ὁ Δέ μικρότερος ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστίν)

The implication is that being part of the kingdom of the heavens is greater than any human distinctive. So anyone who is part of the kingdom is greater than even John, whom Jesus said was the greatest person who had ever lived before the coming of the kingdom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [is greater than John is because he or she is part of something greater than anything that is human]

Parallel MAT 11:11

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

11:11

11:11a

11:11b

11:11c