Matthew 11:16 AV
But whereunto shall I liken this generation?
It is like unto children sitting in the markets,
and calling unto their fellows,
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Other translations
New International Version
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
New Living Translation
“To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
English Standard Version
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
Berean Study Bible
To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
Berean Literal Bible
But to what will I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the markets and calling out to others,
King James Bible
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
New King James Version
“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,
New American Standard Bible
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other [children],
NASB 1995
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children,
NASB 1977
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other [children],
Amplified Bible
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market places, who call to the others,
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Whereunto shall I liken this generation
This generation, that is, the men of this age.
The Christ proceeds to reprove the inconsistency and fickleness of that age of people.
The men of that age, the stubborn and perverse Jews; who were pleased with nothing, with no man’s ministry, neither with John’s, nor with Christ’s, but found fault with whatever they heard, or saw done.
May I ask how it is with you?
▪︎ Are you pleased when you hear a message urging you to repent?
▪︎ Are you pleased when you hear a Gospel message?
▪︎ Do you open your heart to both?
▪︎ Or don’t you like either of them?
it is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows
That is, the case of such persons may be fitly represented by children in a public market, calling to their companions, to pipe or mourn with them, and who are so morose and sullen as to do neither.
It is like unto children
He says they were like children; nothing pleased them.
He refers here to the “plays” or “sports” of children.
Instrumental music, or piping and dancing, were used in marriages and festivals as a sign of joy. (See Isaiah 5:11-12. Compare Job 21:11; 2 Samuel 6:14; Judges 11:34; Luke 15:25).
Children imitate their parents and others, and act over in play what they see done by others.
Among their childish sports, therefore, was probably an imitation of a wedding or festal occasion. We have seen also (Matthew 9:23) that funerals were attended with mournful music, and lamentation, and howling.
It is not improbable that children also, in play: imitated a mournful funeral procession.
One part are represented as sullen and dissatisfied.
They would not enter into the play: nothing pleased them.
The others complained of it. We have, said they, taken all pains to please you.
- We have piped to you, have played lively tunes, and have engaged in cheerful sports, but you would not join with us;
- and then we have played different games, and imitated the mourning at funerals, and you are equally sullen; “you have not lamented;” you have not joked with us. Nothing pleases you.
So, said Christ, is this generation of people.
“John” came one way, “neither eating nor drinking,” abstaining as a Nazarite, and you were not pleased with him.
I, the Son of man, have come in a different manner, “eating and drinking;” not practicing any austerity, but living like other people, and you are equally dissatisfied – no, you are even less pleased.
You calumniate him, and abuse me for not doing the very thing which displeased you in John. Nothing pleases you.
You are fickle, changeable, inconstant, and abusive.
It is like unto children sitting in the markets
It was usual in Judea,
▪︎ At feasts, to have music of an airy kind, accompanied with dancing (Luke 15:25);
▪︎ And at funerals, melancholy airs, to which were joined the lamentations of persons hired for that purpose.
The children, therefore, in that country, imitating these things in their diversions, while one band of them performed the musical part, if the other, happening to be froward, would not answer them by dancing or lamenting, as the game directed, it naturally gave occasion to this complaint, We have piped, etc, which at length was turned into a proverb.
So we see that this comparison is drawn from one of the common amusements of the children of an Eastern city. They form themselves into companies, and get up a dramatic representation of wedding festivities and funeral pomp.
- They play their pipes, and expect others to dance;
- they beat their breasts in lamentation, and expect others to weep.
- They complain if others do not comply with their demands.
To such a company our Lord likens the evil generation in which He and the Baptist lived.
- They were loud in their complaints of the Baptist because he would not share their self-indulgent mirth;
- they were bitter against Jesus because He would not live according to the rules of their hypocritical austerity.
Thus interpreted, the whole passage is coherent.
The more common explanation inverts the comparison, and sees in our Lord and the Baptist those who invite to mourning and to mirth respectively, and are repelled by their sullen playmates.
This would in itself give an adequate meaning, but it does not fall in with our Lord’s language, which specifically identifies the children who invite the others (this rather than “their fellows,” is the true reading) with the “generation” which He condemns.
The verses that follow, giving the language in which the same generation vented its anger and scorn against the two forms of holiness, agree better with the interpretation here adopted.
Markets
Places to sell provisions; places of concourse, where also children flocked together for play.
And calling unto their fellows
They are like those froward children, of whom their fellows complain that they will be pleased no way. Saying, We have piped unto you, etc.
Greek
Whereunto / what ☆ Τίνι (Tini) ☆ Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun – Dative Neuter Singular ☆ Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.
Liken / compare ☆ ὁμοιώσω (homoiōsō) ☆ Verb – Future Indicative Active – 1st Person Singular ☆ To make like, liken; I compare. From homoios; to assimilate, i.e. Compare; passively, to become similar.
This ☆ ταύτην (tautēn) ☆ Demonstrative Pronoun – Accusative Feminine Singular ☆ This; he, she, it.
Generation ☆ γενεὰν (genean) ☆ Noun – Accusative Feminine Singular ☆ From genos; a generation; by implication, an age.
Is ☆ ἐστὶν (estin) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular ☆ I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
Like ☆ ὁμοία (homoia) ☆ Adjective – Nominative Feminine Singular ☆ Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar.
Children ☆ παιδίοις (paidiois) ☆ Noun – Dative Neuter Plural ☆ Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.
Sitting ☆ καθημένοις (kathēmenois) ☆ Verb – Present Participle Middle or Passive – Dative Neuter Plural ☆ To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.
In ☆ ἐν (en) ☆ Preposition ☆ In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; ‘in, ‘ at, on, by, etc.
The ☆ ταῖς (tais) ☆ Article – Dative Feminine Plural ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Marketplaces ☆ ἀγοραῖς (agorais) ☆ Noun – Dative Feminine Plural ☆ From ageiro; properly, the town-square; by implication, a market or thoroughfare.
And ☆ ἃ (ha) ☆ Personal / Relative Pronoun – Nominative Neuter Plural ☆ Who, which, what, that.
Calling out ☆ προσφωνοῦντα (prosphōnounta) ☆ Verb – Present Participle Active – Nominative Neuter Plural ☆ From pros and phoneo; to sound towards, i.e. Address, exclaim, summon.
Others ☆ ἑτέροις (heterois) ☆ Adjective – Dative Neuter Plural ☆ (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one’s neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.
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