Matthew 11:18
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
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.
20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
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
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
- KJV
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
- WEB
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
- ASV
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.
- DARBY
- For John has come neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon.
- BLB
- For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
- ÅB
- For Johannes kom og hverken spiste eller drakk; og de sier: ‘Han er besatt.’
- OTB
- For Johannes kom verken spisende eller drikkende, og de sier: ‘Han er besatt av en demon.’
- B1930
- For Johannes kom; han hverken åt eller drakk, og de sier: Han er besatt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 3:4
And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Read in contextLuke 1:15
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
Read in contextJohn 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Read in contextMatthew 10:25
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Read in contextJohn 8:48
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Read in contextJeremiah 15:17
I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.
Read in contextJohn 7:20
The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
Read in contextHosea 9:7
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
Read in context