MAT 11:7 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

11:7 We’ve left the original idiom here in the OET-RV as something to puzzle over, because no one now really knows what aspect of Yohan’s behaviour or appearance that Yeshua was referring to here.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 Now, as these were going on their way, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

UST When John’s apprentices left, Jesus started to talk to the large groups of people about John. He said, “Surely you did not travel to John in the desolate area to see someone who often changed his mind, who was like the thin stalk of a plant that the wind shakes.

BLB And as these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

AICNT As these went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

OEB While John’s disciples were going back, Jesus began to say to the crowds with reference to John,

WEBBE As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

WMBB As these went their way, Yeshua began to say to the multitudes concerning Yochanan, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

NET While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

LSV And as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out to the wilderness to view? A reed shaken by the wind?

FBV As they left, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. “What were you expecting to see when you went out into the desert? A reed tossed about by the wind?

TCNT As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

T4T When John’s disciples had gone away, Jesus began to talk to the crowd of people about John. He said to them, “Think about what sort of person you went to see in the desolate area when you went there to see John. ◄You did not go there to listen to a man who constantly changed his message, like a reed that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind [MET]!/Did you go there to listen to a man whose message changes continually like long grass that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind changes its direction?► [MET, RHQ]

LEB Now as[fn] these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

11:7 *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were going away”)

BBE And when they were going away, Jesus, talking of John, said to all the people, What went you out into the waste land to see? a tall stem moving in the wind?

Moff As the disciples of John went away, Jesus proceeded to speak to the crowds about John:
⇔ "What did you go out to the desert to see?
⇔ A reed swayed by the wind?

Wymth When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?

ASV And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?

DRA And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind?

YLT And as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, 'What went ye out to the wilderness to view? — a reed shaken by the wind?

Drby But as they went [away], Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed moved about by the wind?

RV And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?
(And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye/you_all out into the wilderness to behold? a red shaken with the wind? )

SLT And these going forth, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, What went ye forth into the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

Wbstr And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken with the wind?

KJB-1769 ¶ And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
(¶ And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye/you_all out into the wilderness to see? A red shaken with the wind? )

KJB-1611 ¶ And as they departed, Iesus began to say vnto the multitudes concerning Iohn, what went ye out into the wildernesse to see? a reede shaken with the winde?
(¶ And as they departed, Yesus/Yeshua began to say unto the multitudes concerning Yohn, what went ye/you_all out into the wilderness to see? a reede shaken with the wind?)

Bshps And as they departed, Iesus began to say vnto the multitude cocerning Iohn: What went ye out into the wildernesse to see? A reede shaken with the winde?
(And as they departed, Yesus/Yeshua began to say unto the multitude concerning Yohn: What went ye/you_all out into the wilderness to see? A reede shaken with the wind?)

Gnva And as they departed, Iesus beganne to speake vnto the multitude, of Iohn, What went ye out into the wildernes to see? A reede shaken with the winde?
(And as they departed, Yesus/Yeshua began to speak unto the multitude, of Yohn, What went ye/you_all out into the wilderness to see? A reede shaken with the wind? )

Cvdl Whan they wente their waye, Iesus beganne to speake vnto the people, concernynge Ihon: What are ye gone out for to se in the wyldernes? Wolde ye se a rede shaken with the wynde?
(When they went their way, Yesus/Yeshua began to speak unto the people, concerning Yohn: What are ye/you_all gone out for to see in the wilderness? Would ye/you_all see a read shaken with the wind?)

TNT And as they departed Iesus begane to speake vnto the people of Ihon. What for to se wet ye out in to the wyldernes? wet ye out to se a rede shake with the wynde?
(And as they departed Yesus/Yeshua began to speak unto the people of Yohn. What for to see wet ye/you_all out in to the wilderness? wet ye/you_all out to see a read shake with the wind? )

Wycl And whanne thei weren goon awei, Jhesus bigan to seie of Joon to the puple, What thing wenten ye out in to desert to se? a reed wawed with the wynd?
(And when they were gone away, Yhesus began to say of Yohn to the people, What thing went ye/you_all out in to desert to se? a red waved with the wynd?)

Luth Da die hingingen, fing JEsus an zu reden zu dem Volk von Johannes: Was seid ihr hinausgegangen in die Wüste zu sehen? Wolltet ihr ein Rohr sehen, das der Wind hin und her webt?
(So the went_there, caught Yesus at/to to/for talk to/for to_him people from Yohannes: What are you(pl)/their/her went_out in the desert to/for see? Wolltet you(pl)/their/her a Rohr see, the the/of_the wind there/therefore and her webt?)

ClVg Illis autem abeuntibus, cœpit Jesus dicere ad turbas de Joanne: Quid existis in desertum videre? arundinem vento agitatam?[fn]
(Thoses however abeuntibus, he_began Yesus to_say to crowds from/about Yoanne: What existis in/into/on desert to_see? reedm with_the_wind actsatam? )

11.7 De Joanne. Præcursor Christi de Christo certificare discipulos voluit, quia sensit eos dubitare. De præcursore, Christus turbas dubitantes ne dubitent docuit, mollem eum levemque putantes.

11.7 From/About Yoanne. Præcursor of_Christ from/about to_Christ/Messiah certificare disciples wanted, because felt them dubitare. From/About beforecursore, Christ/Messiah crowds dubitantes not dubitent taught, mollem him levemque they_thinkes.

UGNT τούτων δὲ πορευομένων, ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγειν τοῖς ὄχλοις περὶ Ἰωάννου, τί ἐξήλθατε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι? κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον?
(toutōn de poreuomenōn, aʸrxato ho Yaʸsous legein tois oⱪlois peri Yōannou, ti exaʸlthate eis taʸn eraʸmon theasasthai? kalamon hupo anemou saleuomenon?)

SBL-GNT Τούτων δὲ πορευομένων ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγειν τοῖς ὄχλοις περὶ Ἰωάννου· Τί ἐξήλθατε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι; κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον;
(Toutōn de poreuomenōn aʸrxato ho Yaʸsous legein tois oⱪlois peri Yōannou; Ti exaʸlthate eis taʸn eraʸmon theasasthai; kalamon hupo anemou saleuomenon;)

RP-GNT Τούτων δὲ πορευομένων, ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγειν τοῖς ὄχλοις περὶ Ἰωάννου, Τί ἐξήλθετε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι; Κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον;
(Toutōn de poreuomenōn, aʸrxato ho Yaʸsous legein tois oⱪlois peri Yōannou, Ti exaʸlthete eis taʸn eraʸmon theasasthai; Kalamon hupo anemou saleuomenon;)

TC-GNT Τούτων δὲ πορευομένων, ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγειν τοῖς ὄχλοις περὶ [fn]Ἰωάννου, Τί [fn]ἐξήλθετε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι; Κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον;
(Toutōn de poreuomenōn, aʸrxato ho Yaʸsous legein tois oⱪlois peri Yōannou, Ti exaʸlthete eis taʸn eraʸmon theasasthai; Kalamon hupo anemou saleuomenon; )

11:7 ιωαννου ¦ ιωανου WH

11:7 εξηλθετε ¦ εξηλθατε CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words 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.

11:7a

As John’s disciples were leaving,

¶ While John’s disciples were going back,
¶ Then the disciples of John began to leave. As they were going away,

As John’s disciples were leaving: The Greek word that the BSB translates as John’s disciples is the pronoun “they.” They turned around and started to leave Jesus to return to John.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

While they were going away (NET)

As they went away (NRSV)

11:7b

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:

Jesus started talking to the crowd about John and asked,
Jesus turned to the crowds and began talking with them about John. He said,

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: Jesus changed from speaking to John’s disciples to speaking to the crowd. John’s disciples had probably walked a small distance away when Jesus began to speak to the crowd. The text does not say whether they heard Jesus when he spoke the words of 11:7c–15.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

Jesus turned to the crowd and began to talk with them about John

11:7c

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see?

“What kind of person did you go into the wilderness to see?
“When you^(plur) went out in the wilderness, did you go to see
“When you^(plur) went into the desert, you certainly did not go to see

What did you go out into the wilderness to see?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus repeated a shortened form of this same rhetorical question in 11:8a and 11:9a. In each case, this rhetorical question introduces another rhetorical question. Jesus used the first two pairs of rhetorical questions to state who John obviously was not. Then he used the last pair to emphasize who John actually was.

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that indicates that Jesus knew the kind of person John was but wanted the people to think about what kind of person John was. Jesus was not asking these rhetorical questions to criticize the people for going out to see John.

Here are some other ways to translate this introductory question:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
What sort of person did you go out into the desert to see? (CEV)
When you went out into the wilderness to see John, what kind of man did you expect to see?
As the introductory clause in a rhetorical question or statement. For example:
When you went into the wilderness, did you go to see…
When you went into the wilderness, you certainly did not go to see…

Use a natural way in your language to translate this type of expression.

wilderness: The Greek word that the BSB translates as wilderness refers to a wild, desolate area where few people lived. Some versions like the NIV translates this word as “desert.” It was often a dry area, but it was not just sand and barren. Some wild grasses and bushes grew there. The focus here is that few people lived there, not that it was dry.

Some languages have a special word to refer to such an area, such as “the bush” (Africa) or “steppes” (Asia). It may be appropriate to use such a word here.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

desert (NIV)

empty land

region where no one lives

11:7d

A reed swaying in the wind?

A man who is like tall grass that the wind blows?
a man who easily changes his mind like tall grass that the wind sways? No!
a man who is easily swayed by the opinions of others like tall grass that easily bends in the wind!

A reed swaying in the wind?: The Greek word that the BSB translates as reed refers to tall grass that grows beside the Jordan river.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Use a general term. For example:
tall grass (CEV)
Use a specific term in your language for a type of reeds/grass that grows beside rivers and lakes.

There are four issues to consider when translating this clause: implied information, passive, metaphor, and rhetorical question.

Issue 1: Implied information

Some words from the previous rhetorical question are implied but not repeated here. It may be more natural in your language to include some or all of the implied words. For example:

Did you go out into the wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind?

Issue 2: Passive

This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
A reed swayed by the wind? (NIV)
Use an active verb. For example:
A reed that the wind sways?

Issue 3: Rhetorical question

This clause is also a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize that the people did not go out to see a reed shaken by the wind.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Was he anything like a reed swayed by the wind?
A reed swayed by the wind? Certainly not!
As a statement. For example:
You certainly did not go out to see a reed swayed by the wind.
You certainly did not go out to see a man who is like a reed swayed by the wind.

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

Issue 4: Metaphor

Also, this clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus asked whether John was like a reed. A reed represents a man who has a weak character. He often changes his opinions because he is influenced by what other people think of him.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
Tall grass swaying in the wind? (GW)
Change the metaphor to a simile and make the topic explicit. For example:
Was he like tall grass blown about by the wind? (CEV)
Make the topic and point of similarity explicit. For example:
Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? (NLT)
Did you go out to see a man who is weak/wavering like a reed blowing in the wind?
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
A man who always changes his mind?

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τούτων Δέ πορευομένων ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγειν τοῖς ὄχλοις περί Ἰωάννου Τί ἐξήλθατε εἰς τήν ἐρῆμον θεάσασθαι Κάλαμον ὑπό ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον)

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

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

τούτων

these

The pronoun these refers to John’s disciples. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer more directly to these people. Alternate translation: [John’s disciples]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί ἐξήλθατε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι? κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον?

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 did not go out into the wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind!] or [I know what you went out into the wilderness to see. It was not a reed shaken by the wind.]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τί ἐξήλθατε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι

Jesus implies that the people went out to see and hear John the Baptist. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [When you visited John in the wilderness, what did you go out to see]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον

The phrase a reed being shaken by the wind could describe: (1) a person who changes his or her mind or message whenever there is any trouble or difficulty, just like a reed moves whenever the wind blows. Alternate translation: [a man who changes his message whenever it is convenient] or [a man who changes his mind as easily as a reed is shaken by the wind] (2) something or someone ordinary, just like a reed being shaken by the wind was a common or normal sight in Matthew’s culture. Alternate translation: [something ordinary, like a reed being shaken by the wind]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive