Matthew 21:16

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?

📖 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

• 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?'

• 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?

• 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 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, you have ordained strength because of your enemies, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
• Matt 11:25 : 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.
• Matt 12:3 : 3 But he said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him;
• Matt 19:4 : 4 And he answered and said to them, Have you not read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female,
• Matt 22:31 : 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,
• Mark 2:25 : 25 And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he needed and was hungry, he and those with him?
• Luke 19:39-40 : 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the crowd said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. 40 And he answered and said to them, I tell you that if these should be silent, the stones would immediately cry out.
• John 11:47-48 : 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, What shall we do? for this man does many miracles. 48 If we let him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.
• Acts 4:16-18 : 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? For indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak 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.