Matthew 21:16

Matthew 21:16

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?

a. ASV: 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 hast perfected praise?

  

b. YLT: 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?'

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And they said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus replied to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have made (provided) perfect praise?

1. “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say?”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. said [Strong: 2036 épō, ep'-o; a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from G2046, G4483, and G5346); to speak or say (by word or writing):—answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell.]

c. [unto] him [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. Hearest thou [Strong: 191 akoúō, ak-oo'-o; a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):—give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

e. what [Strong: 5100 tís, tis; probably emphatic of G5100; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):—every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.]

  

f. these [Strong: 3778 hoûtos, hoo'-tos; from the article G3588 and G846; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):—he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.]

g. say [Strong: 3004  légō, leg'-o; a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 and G5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:—ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

1). The reason they were sore displeased or indignant was because the children were calling Jesus the Son of David, which is a Messianic term for the Messiah. They were calling Jesus the Messiah.

a). Matthew 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.]

2. “And Jesus saith unto them…”

a. And [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).

b. Jesus [Strong: 2424 Iēsoûs, ee-ay-sooce'; of Hebrew origin (H3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:—Jesus.]

c. saith [Strong: 3004  légō, leg'-o; a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 and G5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:—ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

d. [unto them [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

3. “...Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?”

a. Yea [Strong: 3483 naí, nahee; a primary particle of strong affirmation; yes:—even so, surely, truth, verily, yea, yes.]

b. [have ye] never [Strong: 3763 oudépote, oo-dep'-ot-eh; from G3761 and G4218; not even at any time, i.e. never at all:—neither at any time, never, nothing at any time.]

c. read [Strong: 314 anaginṓskō, an-ag-in-oce'-ko; from G303 and G1097; to know again, i.e. (by extension) to read:—read.]

d. [Strong: 3754  hóti, hot'-ee; neuter of G3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:—as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

e. Out of [Strong: 1537 ek, ek; a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):—after, among, × are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, × hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, × thenceforth, through, × unto, × vehemently, with(-out).]

  

f. [the] mouth [Strong: 4750 stóma, stom'-a; probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of G5114; the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon):—edge, face, mouth.]

g. [of] babes [Strong: 3615 nḗpios, nay'-pee-os; from an obsolete particle νή- nḗ- (implying negation) and G2031; not speaking, i.e. an infant (minor); figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature Christian:—babe, child (+ -ish).]

h. and  [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

i. sucklings [Strong: 2337 thēlázō, thay-lad'-zo; from θηλή thēlḗ (the nipple); to suckle, (by implication) to suck:—(give) suck(-ling).]

  

j. [you have] perfected praise [Strong: 2675 katartízō, kat-ar-tid'-zo; from G2596 and a derivative of G739; to complete thoroughly, i.e. repair (literally or figuratively) or adjust:—fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect(-ly join together), prepare, restore.]

1). Personally I feel the KJV is clumsy. I like the NIV “called forth your praise”. Or the Christian Standard Bible “You have prepared praise.”

2). Jesus was teaching here that praise is a vehicle of power, strength, and might. God ordained it to be that way. Praise is a foundational vehicle of power!

a). Psalm 8:2  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.

b). ordained [Strong: 3245 yacad yaw-sad' a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult:--appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.] [Gesenius: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation, to found, establish, begin to fix or seat themselves close together, sit in conclave, to be founded, to found, to establish, appoint, ordain, to be founded, be laid, to be founded.]

c). Psalm 8:2 [NIV] Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

d). Psalm 8:2 [NLT] You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.