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Matthew 11:17

15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
KJV
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
WEB
and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned for you, and you didn’t lament.’
ASV
and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.
DARBY
say, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced: we have mourned to you, and ye have not wailed.
BLB
saying: ‘We played the flute for you⁺, and you⁺ did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you⁺ did not mourn.’
ÅB
‘Vi spilte fløyte for dere, og dere ville ikke danse; vi sang sørgesanger, og dere ville ikke gråte.’
OTB
‘Vi spilte fløyte for dere,
og dere danset ikke;
vi sang en sørgesang,
men dere klaget ikke.’
B1930
Vi blåste på fløite for eder, og I vilde ikke danse; vi sang sørgesanger, og I vilde ikke gråte.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 28:9–13

    Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 9:17–20

    Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 30:29

    Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 9:15

    And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 31:4

    Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

    Read in context

  • Luke 15:25

    Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 9:23

    And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

    Read in context

  • 1 Corinthians 9:19–23

    For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

    Read in context