Matthew 11 · Verse 7

Matthew 11:7

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Matthew 11:7, King James Version

Matthew 11:7 in other translations

BSBAs John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
WEBAs these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
ASVAnd as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?
YLTAnd as they are going, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, ‘What went ye out to the wilderness to view? --a reed shaken by the wind?
DARBYBut as they went away, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed moved about by the wind?
BBEAnd when they were going away, Jesus, talking of John, said to all the people, What went you out into the waste land to see? a tall stem moving in the wind?
WebsterAnd as they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken with the wind?

What does Matthew 11:7 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7. And as they departed, etc. Jesus took occasion, form the inquiries made by John's disciples, to instruct the people respecting the true character of John. Multitudes had gone out to hear him, when he preached in the desert, (Matt. iii) and it is probable that many had been attracted by the novelty of his appearance or doctrines, and many had gone simply to see and hear a man of singular habits and opinions. Probably many who followed Christ had been of that number. He took occasion, therefore, by some striking questions, to examine the motives by which they had been drawn to his ministry.

A reed shaken with the wind? The region of country in which John preached, being overflowed annually by the Jordan, produced great quantities of reeds, or canes, of a light, fragile nature, easily shaken by the wind. They were therefore an image of a light, changing, inconstant man. John's sending to Christ to inquire his character, might have led some to suppose that he was changing and inconstant, like a reed. He had once acknowledged him to be the Messiah, and now, being in prison and sending to him to inquire into the fact, they might have supposed he had no firmness, or fixed principles. Jesus, by asking this question, declared, that notwithstanding this appearance, this was not the character of John.

(f) "What went ye" Lk 7:24-30 (g) "with the wind" Ep 4:14, Jas 1:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 What went ye out into the wilderness to see? - The purport of our Lord's design, in this and the following verses, is to convince the scribes and Pharisees of the inconsistency of their conduct in acknowledging John Baptist for a divinely authorized teacher, and not believing in the very Christ which he pointed out to them. He also shows, from the excellencies of John's character, that their confidence in him was not misplaced, and that this was a farther argument why they should have believed in him, whom the Baptist proclaimed as being far superior to himself. A reed shaken with the wind? - An emblem of an irresolute, unsteady mind, which believes and speaks one thing to-day, and another to-morrow. Christ asks these Jews if they had ever found any thing in John like this: Was he not ever steady and uniform in the testimony he bore to me? The first excellency which Christ notices in John was his steadiness; convinced once of the truth, he continued to believe and assert it. This is essentially necessary to every preacher, and to every private Christian. He who changes about from opinion to opinion, and from one sect or party to another, is never to be depended on; there is much reason to believe that such a person is either mentally weak, or has never been rationally and divinely convinced of the truth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 11:7-15
What Christ said concerning John, was not only for his praise, but for the people's profit. Those who attend on the word will be called to give an account of their improvements. Do we think when the sermon is done, the care is over? No, then the greatest of the care begins. John was a self-denying man, dead to all the pomps of the world and the pleasures of sense. It becomes people, in all their appearances, to be consistent with their character and their situation. John was a great and good man, yet not perfect; therefore he came short of glorified saints. The least in heaven knows more, loves more, and does more in praising God, and receives more from him, than the greatest in this world. But by the kingdom of heaven here, is rather to be understood the kingdom of grace, the gospel dispensation in its power and purity. What reason we have to be thankful that our lot is cast in the days of the kingdom of heaven, under such advantages of light and love! Multitudes were wrought upon by the ministry of John, and became his disciples. And those strove for a place in this kingdom, that one would think had no right nor title to it, and so seemed to be intruders. It shows us what fervency and zeal are required of all. Self must be denied; the bent, the frame and temper of the mind must be altered. Those who will have an interest in the great salvation, will have it upon any terms, and not think them hard, nor quit their hold without a blessing. The things of God are of great and common concern. God requires no more from us than the right use of the faculties he has given us. People are ignorant, because they will not learn.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 11:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤούτωνToutōnAs theseG3778
δὲdenowG1161
πορευομένωνporeuomenōnwere going awayG4198
ἤρξατοērxatobeganG757
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
λέγεινlegeinto speakG3004
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
ὄχλοιςochloiscrowdsG3793
περὶpericoncerningG4012
Ἰωάννου·IōannouJohn:G2491
τίtiWhatG5101
ἐξήλθατεexēlthatewent you outG1831
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἔρημονerēmonwildernessG2048
θεάσασθαι;theasasthaito see?G2300
κάλαμονkalamonA reedG2563
ὑπὸhupoby [the]G5259
ἀνέμουanemouwindG417
σαλευόμενον;saleuomenonshaken?G4531

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 11:7

  • James 1:6

    But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

  • John 5:35

    He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

  • Luke 8:18

    Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

  • Luke 7:24-30

    And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. …

  • Ephesians 4:14

    That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

  • Mark 1:3-5

    The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

  • Genesis 49:4

    Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

  • Matthew 21:25

    The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

  • Matthew 3:1-3

    In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

  • Matthew 3:5

    Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,

  • 2 Corinthians 1:17-18

    When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

  • Luke 3:3-7

    And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jesus.
Lu 7:24-30
What.
3:1-3,5; 21:25; Mr 1:3-5; Lu 3:3-7; 8:18; Joh 1:38; 5:35
A reed.
Ge 49:4; 2Co 1:17,18; Eph 4:14; Jas 1:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 11:6

    And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

  • Matthew 11:7

    And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

  • Matthew 11:8

    But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

Read all of Matthew 11

Matthew 11:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		E idos ellos, comenzó Jesús á decir de Juan á las gentes: ¿Qué salisteis á ver al desierto? ¿una caña que es meneada del viento?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme ils s’en allaient, Jésus se mit à dire de Jean aux foules: Qu’êtes-vous allés voir au désert? Un roseau agité par le vent?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als diese aber hingingen, fing Jesus an, zu der Volksmenge zu reden über Johannes: Was seid ihr in die Wüste hinausgegangen zu sehen? ein Rohr vom Winde hin und her bewegt?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Illis autem abeuntibus, cœpit Jesus dicere ad turbas de Joanne: Quid existis in desertum videre? arundinem vento agitatam?