Passage

Matthew 11

Book: Matthew · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities. 2. Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples 3. and said unto him, art thou he that comes, or look we for another? 4. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5. the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them. 6. And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me. 7. 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? 8. But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft clothes? Behold, they that wear soft clothes are in kings' houses. 9. But why went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 10. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee. 11. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14. And if you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, that is to come. 15. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. 16. But whereunto shall I compare this generation? It is like unto sons sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows 17. and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn. 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon. 19. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works. 20. Then began he to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. 21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23. And you, Capernaum, shall you be exalted unto heaven? you shall go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day. 24. But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 25. At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you did hide these things from the wise and understanding, and did reveal them unto babes: 26. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. 27. All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knows the Son, save the Father; neither does any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomever the Son willeth to reveal him. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:1-30, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. When Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2. Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3. and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” 4. Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5. the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.” 7. 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? 8. But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9. But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 10. For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11. Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. 12. From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14. If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come. 15. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions 17. and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’ 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” 20. Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent. 21. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23. You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today. 24. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you.” 25. At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants. 26. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight. 27. All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him. 28. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”" (Matthew 11:1-30, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3. And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4. Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7. 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? 8. But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11. 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. 12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. ^{suffereth: or, is gotten by force, and they that thrust men} 13. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 16. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17. And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. 20. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 25. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:1-30, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And it came to pass, when Jesus ended directing his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2. And John having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having sent two of his disciples, 3. said to him, 'Art thou He who is coming, or for another do we look?' 4. And Jesus answering said to them, 'Having gone, declare to John the things that ye hear and see, 5. blind receive sight, and lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear, dead are raised, and poor have good news proclaimed, 6. and happy is he who may not be stumbled in me.' 7. 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? 8. 'But what went ye out to see?, a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things are in the kings' houses. 9. 'But what went ye out to see?, a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet, 10. for this is he of whom it hath been written, Lo, I do send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. 11. 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. 12. 'And, from the days of John the Baptist till now, the reign of the heavens doth suffer violence, and violent men do take it by force, 13. for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy, 14. and if ye are willing to receive [it], he is Elijah who was about to come; 15. he who is having ears to hear, let him hear. 16. 'And to what shall I liken this generation? it is like little children in market-places, sitting and calling to their comrades, 17. and saying, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite the breast. 18. 'For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon; 19. the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a man, a glutton, and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners, and wisdom was justified of her children.' 20. Then began he to reproach the cities in which were done most of his mighty works, because they did not reform. 21. 'Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! because, if in Tyre and Sidon had been done the mighty works that were done in you, long ago in sackcloth and ashes they had reformed; 22. but I say to you, to Tyre and Sidon it shall be more tolerable in a day of judgment than for you. 23. 'And thou, Capernaum, which unto the heaven wast exalted, unto hades shalt be brought down, because if in Sodom had been done the mighty works that were done in thee, it had remained unto this day; 24. but I say to you, to the land of Sodom it shall be more tolerable in a day of judgment than to thee.' 25. At that time Jesus answering said, 'I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes. 26. Yes, Father, because so it was good pleasure before Thee. 27. 'All things were delivered to me by my Father, and none doth know the Son, except the Father, nor doth any know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish to reveal [Him]. 28. 'Come unto me, all ye labouring and burdened ones, and I will give you rest, 29. take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls, 30. for my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.'" (Matthew 11:1-30, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Jesus Said

Notes

Your annotations.

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.