Matthew 21:16

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

They said to him, 'Do you hear what these children are saying?' Jesus replied, 'Yes, have you never read: Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies, you have prepared 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

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And said to him, Do you hear what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise?

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

• 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?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and sayde vnto him: hearest thou what these saye? Iesus sayde vnto them yee: have ye never redde of the mouth of babes and suckelinges thou haste ordeyned prayse?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and sayde vnto him: Hearest thou what these saye? Iesus sayde vnto them: Yee. Haue ye neuer red: Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklinges thou hast ordeyned prayse?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And said vnto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Iesus said vnto them, Yea: read ye neuer, By the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast made perfite the praise?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And sayde vnto hym: Hearest thou what these saye? But Iesus sayth vnto them, yea, haue ye neuer read: Out of the mouth of babes & suckelynges thou hast ordeyned prayse?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, ‹Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?'"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and they said to him, `Hearest thou what these say?' And Jesus saith to them, `Yes, did ye never read, that, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou didst prepare praise?'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Have you any idea what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, Yes: have you not seen in the Writings, From the lips of children and babies at the breast you have made your praise complete?

• World English Bible (2000)

  and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?'"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  and said to him,“Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them,“Yes. Have you never read,‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have prepared praise for yourself’?”

Referenced Verses

• Ps 8:2 : 2 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
• Matt 11:25 : 25 At that time Jesus said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.'
• Matt 12:3 : 3 He said to them, 'Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?
• Matt 19:4 : 4 He answered, "Have you not read that the Creator, from the beginning, made them male and female?"
• Matt 22:31 : 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you:
• Mark 2:25 : 25 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
• Luke 19:39-40 : 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples.' 40 He answered, 'I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would cry out.'
• John 11:47-48 : 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council and said, 'What are we going to do since this man is performing so many signs?' 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.
• Acts 4:16-18 : 16 They said, 'What are we to do with these men? For it is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been performed through them, and we cannot deny it.' 17 But to prevent this from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them not to speak to anyone in this name again. 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.