Matthew 21:16

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ, Ἀκούεις τί οὗτοι λέγουσιν; Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς, Ναί· οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε, ὅτι Ἐκ στόματος νηπίων καὶ θηλαζόντων κατηρτίσω αἶνον;

Transliteration

And eipon to him, Do you akoueis what these legousin? The de Iēsous legei to them, Yes; oudepote have you anegnōte, that Out of stomatos of nēpiōn and thēlazontōn you have katērtisō ainon?

Grammar Details

• *eipon*: aorist active indicative, 3rd plural - said/told
• *akoueis*: present active indicative, 2nd singular - hear/do you hear
• *legousin*: present active indicative, 3rd plural - are saying
• *de*: conjunction - but/and/now
• *Iēsous*: nominative, masculine, singular - Jesus
• *legei*: present active indicative, 3rd singular - says
• *oudepote*: adverb - never
• *anegnōte*: aorist active indicative, 2nd plural - you read
• *stomatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of mouth
• *nēpiōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - of infants/babes
• *thēlazontōn*: present active participle, genitive, neuter, plural - nursing/suckling
• *katērtisō*: aorist middle indicative, 2nd singular - you prepared/ordained/perfected
• *ainon*: accusative, masculine, singular - praise

Word Meanings

• *akoueis*: do you hear/are you hearing/are you listening to
• *anegnōte*: have you read/did you ever read
• *nēpiōn*: infants/babes/very young children
• *thēlazontōn*: nursing ones/suckling ones/nursing infants
• *katērtisō*: you have prepared/you have ordained/you have perfected
• *ainon*: praise/commendation

Referenced Verses

• Ps 8:2 : 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, because of thine adversaries, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
• Matt 11:25 : 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:
• Matt 12:3 : 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;
• Matt 19:4 : 4 And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made [them] from the beginning made them male and female,
• Matt 22:31 : 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
• Mark 2:25 : 25 And he said unto them, Did ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him?
• Luke 19:39-40 : 39 And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.
• John 11:47-48 : 47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.
• Acts 4:16-18 : 16 saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all {G2730} that dwell in Jerusalem; and we {G1410} cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further {G1909} among the people, let us {G547} threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.