Matthew 21:16

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?

📖 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 ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
• Matt 11:25 : 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.
• Matt 12:3 : 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
• Matt 19:4 : 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at 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, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
• Luke 19:39-40 : 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
• John 11:47-48 : 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
• Acts 4:16-18 : 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.