MAT 21:25 Parallel Verse View

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

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT The baptism of John—from where was it? From heaven or from men?” But they were reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘For what reason then did you not believe him?’

UST Who authorized John the Baptizer to baptize people? Did God authorize him from heaven, or did people authorize him?” Then the ruling priests and the Jewish leaders told each other, “Suppose that we answer that God authorized John from heaven. Then, he will tell us that we should have listened to John.

BSB What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?”
§ They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

BLB From where was the baptism of John? From heaven, or from men?" And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'from heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

AICNT The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they {reasoned among themselves},[fn] saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

21:25, among themselves: Later manuscripts read “reasoned with themselves.”

OEB It is about John’s baptism. What was its origin? Divine or human?’ But they began arguing among themselves, ‘If we say “divine,” he will say to us “Why then didn’t you believe him?”

WEBBE The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
¶ They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

WMBB The immersion of Yochanan, where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
¶ They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

NET Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’

LSV the immersion of John, from where was it? From Heaven, or from men?” And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, “If we should say, From Heaven, He will say to us, Why, then, did you not believe him?

FBV Where did the baptism of John come from? Was it from heaven, or was it from human beings?”
¶ They argued with each other. “If we say ‘it was from heaven,’ then he'll ask us why we didn't believe him.

TCNT Where did John's authority to baptize come from? From heaven or from men?” So they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

T4T Where did John the Baptizer get his authority to baptize those who came to him? Did he get it from God or from people? [MTY/EUP]” The chief priests and elders debated among themselves about what they should answer. They said to each other, “If we say, ‘It was [MTY/EUP] from God’, he will say to us, ‘Then ◄you should have believed his message!/why did you not believe John’s message?► [RHQ]’

LEB From where was the baptism of John—from heaven or from men?” And they began to discuss[fn] this[fn] among themselves, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

21:25 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to discuss”)

21:25 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE The baptism of John, where did it come from? from heaven or from men? And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did you not have faith in him?

Moff No Moff MAT book available

Wymth John's Baptism, whence was it? —had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. "If we say `a heavenly origin,'" they argued, "he will say, `Why then did you not believe him?'

ASV The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

DRA The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying:

YLT the baptism of John, whence was it? — from heaven, or from men?' And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, 'If we should say, From heaven; he will say to us, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

Drby The baptism of John, whence was it? of heaven or of men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say to us, Why then have ye not believed him?

RV The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

Wbstr The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, if we shall say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him?

KJB-1769 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
( The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye/you_all not then believe him? )

KJB-1611 The baptisme of Iohn, whence was it? from heauen, or of men? and they reasoned with themselues saying, If we shall say, From heauen, hee will say vnto vs, Why did ye not then beleeue him?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps The baptisme of Iohn, whence was it, from heauen, or of men? And they reasoned with them selues saying: if we shall say from heauen, he wyll say vnto vs, why dyd ye not then beleue hym?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva The baptisme of Iohn, whence was it? from heauen, or of men? Then they reasoned among themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say vnto vs, Why did ye not then beleeue him?
(The baptism of Yohn, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? Then they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say unto us, Why did ye/you_all not then believe him? )

Cvdl The baptime of Iho, whece was it? from heaue, or of men? Then thought they amoge them selues, and saide: Yf we saye it was from heaue, then shal he saye vnto us: Why dyd ye not then beleue him?
(The baptime of Iho, whece was it? from heaven, or of men? Then thought they among themselves, and said: If we say it was from heaven, then shall he say unto us: Why did ye/you_all not then believe him?)

TNT The baptisme of Iohn: whence was it? from heven or of men? Then they reasoned amonge them selves sayinge: yf we shall saye from heven he will saye vnto vs: why dyd ye not then beleve hym?
(The baptism of Yohn: whence was it? from heaven or of men? Then they reasoned among them selves saying: if we shall say from heaven he will say unto us: why did ye/you_all not then believe him? )

Wycl Of whennys was the baptym of Joon; of heuene, or of men? And thei thouyten with ynne hem silf,
(Of whennys was the baptism of Yohn; of heaven, or of men? And they thouyten within them silf,)

Luth Woher war die Taufe Johannes? War sie vom Himmel oder von den Menschen? Da gedachten sie bei sich selbst und sprachen: Sagen wir, sie sei vom Himmel gewesen, so wird er zu uns sagen: Warum glaubtet ihr ihm denn nicht?
(Woher what/which the Taufe Yohannes? War they/she/them from_the heaven or from the Menschen? So thoughtn they/she/them at itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself and said: Sagen wir, they/she/them be from_the heaven gewesen, so becomes he to us/to_us/ourselves say: Warum glaubtet you/their/her him because nicht?)

ClVg Baptismus Joannis unde erat? e cælo, an ex hominibus? At illi cogitabant inter se, dicentes:
(Baptismus Yoannis whence was? e cælo, an from hominibus? At illi cogitabant between se, saying: )

UGNT τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου, πόθεν ἦν? ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων? οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο παρ’ ἑαυτοῖς λέγοντες, ἐὰν εἴπωμεν, ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν, διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ?
(to baptisma to Yōannou, pothen aʸn? ex ouranou aʸ ex anthrōpōn? hoi de dielogizonto par’ heautois legontes, ean eipōmen, ex ouranou, erei haʸmin, dia ti oun ouk episteusate autōi?)

SBL-GNT τὸ βάπτισμα ⸀τὸ Ἰωάννου πόθεν ἦν; ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο ⸀ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λέγοντες· Ἐὰν εἴπωμεν· Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν· Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;
(to baptisma ⸀to Yōannou pothen aʸn; ex ouranou aʸ ex anthrōpōn; hoi de dielogizonto ⸀en heautois legontes; Ean eipōmen; Ex ouranou, erei haʸmin; Dia ti oun ouk episteusate autōi;)

TC-GNT Τὸ βάπτισμα [fn]Ἰωάννου πόθεν ἦν; Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; Οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο [fn]παρ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς, λέγοντες, Ἐὰν εἴπωμεν, Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν, Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;
(To baptisma Yōannou pothen aʸn; Ex ouranou aʸ ex anthrōpōn; Hoi de dielogizonto par heautois, legontes, Ean eipōmen, Ex ouranou, erei haʸmin, Dia ti oun ouk episteusate autōi; )

21:25 ιωαννου ¦ το ιωαννου NA SBL TH ¦ το ιωανου WH

21:25 παρ ¦ εν NA SBL WH

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo

τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου, πόθεν ἦν

the baptism ¬which ˱of˲_John from_where ˱it˲_was

Here, Jesus first introduces the baptism of John and then asks a question about it. If stating the topic and then referring back to it with the word it would be redundant in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [From where was the baptism of John]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου

the baptism ¬which ˱of˲_John

Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe a kind of baptism that was performed by John. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [The baptism that John performed]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου

the baptism ¬which ˱of˲_John

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of baptism, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [When John baptized people]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

(Occurrence -1) ἐξ οὐρανοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου πόθεν ἦν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο παρʼ ἑαυτοῖς λέγοντες ἐὰν εἴπωμεν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ)

Here, heaven represents God because it is where he dwells. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [From God … From God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἐξ ἀνθρώπων

from from humans

Although the term men 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: [from humans]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

and

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

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

παρ’ ἑαυτοῖς

among themselves

Here, the phrase among themselves could mean: (1) that the chief priests and elders were reasoning with each other. Alternate translation: [with one another] (2) that the chief priests and elders were thinking this without saying it. Alternate translation: [within themselves]

Note 8 topic: writing-quotations

λέγοντες

saying

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [and they said]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

ἐὰν εἴπωμεν, ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν, διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ?

if ˱we˲_/may/_say from heaven ˱he˲_/will_be/_saying ˱to˲_us for_reason why therefore not ˱you_all˲_believed ˱in˲_him

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there are not quotations within a quotation. Alternate translation: [If we say that it was from heaven, then he will ask us for what reason we did not believe him.]

Note 10 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

ἐὰν εἴπωμεν, ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν, διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ

if ˱we˲_/may/_say from heaven ˱he˲_/will_be/_saying ˱to˲_us for_reason why therefore not ˱you_all˲_believed ˱in˲_him

Here the chief priests and elders use an imaginary situation to help them decide how to answer the question. Use a natural method in your language for introducing an imaginary situation. Alternate translation: [Imagine that we say, ‘From heaven.’ In that case, he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ?

for_reason why therefore not ˱you_all˲_believed ˱in˲_him

The chief priests and elders expect that Jesus would use the question form to rebuke them. 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: [Then you should have believed him.] or [You certainly should have believed him, then!]

Parallel MAT 21:25